The Covid-19 outbreak has had some extraordinary effects on the aviation market, but Jet Maintenance Solutions (Jet MS) has reported a remarkable and possibly unexpected statistic for the private aviation sector. The Lithuania-based business and regional aviation MRO company says it has seen private aviation companies report an increase of 400% in queries and bookings, a figure which it says can be attributed to the benefits of private aviation in the light of travel restrictions and social distancing measures recommended by health officials.
Health Services around the world currently recommend practicing social distancing, which has resulted in people turning to private jet services to help them relocate elderly parents or travel freely without being subject to the government-imposed restrictions on airlines. According to a report made by GlobeAir, compared with commercial flights, flying private is 30-times less risky in terms of exposure to an infected person. With a minimal risk of infection and the ability to fly long distances, private aviation has proven attractive to those who can access it.
Business aviation to grow after Covid-19 ends
With analysts predicting a U-shaped rather than a V-shaped recovery for the aviation sector, there are some doubts about when global connectivity will recover to the pre-crisis state. However, according to Jet MS, business aviation companies have already reported a “massive number” of new clients who have never flown private before. Therefore, by becoming more and more popular because of the limited contact with other people during a flight, business aviation is set to continue its growth and support post-crisis recovery of the sector, adds the company.
Growing demand for business aircraft MRO services
The massive growth in the private aviation sector is, in turn, predicted to result in a growth of demand for MRO services. According to Jet MS, the global business jet MRO market was projected to be worth US$4.36 billion by 2024, but the upcoming wave of new private operators requiring MROs to perform maintenance on their aircraft could rapidly adjust the market, taking it beyond US$5 billion.
“This aggressive pandemic heavily impacted the entire population and businesses across the globe; business aviation is not an exception. Despite that fact, it is a good moment to take care of customers’ fleets and prepare aircraft for the high season flights when travelling will become normal routine, as it was before the Covid-19 outbreak,” stated Vytis Zalimas, CEO of Jet Maintenance Solutions.
He added that in Lithuania, its main airport in Vilnius is now permitted to allow private jets with up to five crew members. Jet MS is welcoming customers for aircraft maintenance from the 1st of May, 2020, with measures taken to ensure hygiene compliance in customers’ private jets. All aircraft entering its hangar for maintenance tasks will be disinfected.
