Business aviation buyer's guide Private Jet Card Comparisons has released the results of a new subscriber survey finding that most respondents were optimistic about both short- and long-term private jet travel.

The survey was conducted from March 17 to 19, 2020 among individuals who travelled an average of 111 private jet flight hours in 2019. According to the survey, given the current health and economic crisis, 33 per cent of respondents still expect private flying to increase compared to last year, with 30 per cent believing flight hours are likely remain flat and 37 per cent anticipating a decrease.

“The outlook for business aviation may not be as rosy as many reports about big increases in call volume, however core private jet travellers expect to keep flying, even if the reasons are changing,” says founder and editor-in-chief Doug Gollan. “The results of the survey demonstrate the critical role private jet travel plays in both relocating family members and completing critical business trips during this time of uncertainty.”

Key findings from the survey include 77 per cent of respondents saying that reducing potential exposure to Coronavirus is the most likely reason that will influence private travel in the next six months; respondents reported being most likely to use private aviation private aviation to either relocate family members as needed (46 per cent) or visit a second home (45 per cent) within the next 90-120 days; 35 per cent of respondents will still use private jet access for critical business trips; 36 per cent of respondents said they have made additional trips privately because of COVID-19, although 39 per cent have also cancelled trips; and 97 per cent expect to take vacations this summer, even if plans end up changing

In addition to reducing COVID-19 exposure, relocating family and employees and attending necessary business meetings, several subscribers reported using private aviation solutions as a result of commercial airlines reducing flights.

General aviation is responsible for over 1.2 million jobs and $247 billion in economic input in the US alone. Ultra-high net worth (UHNW) and high net worth (HNW) consumers are a critical segment for the travel market, with private jet users spending an average of over $80,000 dollars in the destinations they visit, excluding aviation and airport services.

Private Jet Card Comparisons, which has over 1,250 paid subscribers, conducted the survey from March 17 to 19, 2020 via Survey Monkey and has a low margin of error. Many Private Jet Card Comparisons subscribers have multiple private aviation solutions, with the majority (70 per cent) using jet cards, followed by on-demand private jet charter (44 per cent), full aircraft ownership (24 per cent), friends' private planes (16 per cent), fractional ownership (13 per cent) and aircraft owned by companies where respondents work (6 per cent).

An annual subscription to Private Jet Card Comparisons, inclusive of the Coronavirus Emergency Evacuation Private Aviation Options guide and personalised support, is $250.