Here at Corporate Jet Insider, we like to spend some time peering in to the crystal ball from time to time. What does the future hold for air travel in general and private jets in particular? After seeing how pundits expect the commercial airlines to evolve, we think more fliers will be looking for a different mode of travel.
A few months ago, we talked about how smaller, regional airports are the way forward for air travel. The old model of huge hub airports is cumbersome for fliers. Often, consumers have to drive more than an hour just to reach the airport, and they then suffer through long lines at check-in, security, and baggage claim. A simple, quick flight can quickly turn into a day-long fiasco.
And if the recently announced merger of US Airways and American Airlines goes through, only three major carriers will serve the vast majority of Americans. Does this bode well for the flying public? The jury is out, but Charlie Leocha, director of the Consumer Travel Alliance, predicts higher prices. Many travelers also complain of poor customer service on commercial flights.
This brings us to another troubling view of the future of flying: automation and technology. In an attempt to ease flying, airlines look to automate check-in and boarding. Ben Minicucci, COO of Alaska Airlines, even predicts that “Your first interaction will be with a flight attendant.”
Is this what people really want? How about more leg room, more arm room? Do people really want to do their own check-in with a computer? For some travelers, the answer will be a resounding yes. For others, already juggling bags, stress, and documents, less help is less attractive. The automation sounds more like cost-cutting than improving the customer experience.
But we’re more interested in real changes in aviation, not just talking points for airlines. As people grow more frustrated with the inconvenience of airline travel, they will increasingly look to alternate routes. A few ways this will happen:
- More jet charter services, like Arrow, based in Seattle. Travelers pay a membership fee and get a reasonable rate and all of the convenience of flying on a private aircraft.
- Companies like Nextant Aerospace. This so-called “remanufacturer” builds new aircraft out of old parts, turning worn-out Hawker Beechjet 400A/XPs into Nextant 400XTs. Eager aircraft owners in the growing private aircraft market in India are jumping at this economical way to get in on the game.
It’s exciting to see companies looking ahead and innovating the way we fly. While the hub airport model and airline consolidations continue to limit choices and decrease customer service, private aircraft still offer control, comfort, and convenience.