Private jets not sufficient for super wealthy: Charter companies struggle to find planes during pandemic.

  • Wingx reports that there has been an estimated 4.2 million private plane flights in the first half of this year. 
  • Increased wealth and a patchy return on commercial flight are driving demand
  • Last month, green hypocrisy was a common theme amid a parade of jets to COP26 










Private jet usage has risen to record levels, driven by the demand of super-rich. This is causing a shortage in planes and operators are struggling to meet demand.

WingX reports that more than 4.2m private flights have been made this year. According to aviation data provider WingX, they increased by 54% over the last week and by 16% in 2019 during the first week.

According to suppliers, the increase in wealth of the richest individuals in the world and in America is driving the increased demand.

Jeff Bezos' Gulfstream private jet - which reportedly cost him £48million - arrives at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow for the COP26 climate conference

Jeff Bezos’ Gulfstream private jet – which reportedly cost him £48million – arrives at Prestwick Airport near Glasgow for the COP26 climate conference

Mr Bezos (seen with his girlfriend, Lauren Sanchez) regularly lectures the world on climate change

Lauren Sanchez, Lauren’s girlfriend is seen with Mr. Bezos. They regularly lecture the world about climate change 

There were many claims that green hypocrisy was widespread after 400 private aircraft landed in Glasgow at the COP26 Climate Conference. Each one emits an average of two tonnes of carbon dioxide per hour.

Flexjet, the luxury fleet operator Flexjet, flew 53% more passengers in September than last month. Due to ‘exceptionally high demand,’ it has increased its fleet size by 40% already this year.

Marine Eugène, European Managing Director of Flexjet & PrivateFly, said: ‘The appetite for personal travel is not yet sated after a later start to summer due to restrictions, and now business flying is also taking off alongside.

“Many clients have started to fly again for business and there is a lot of demand for meetings in person.

“Key business hubs such as Paris (Zurich), Munich, Amsterdam, and Munich are back in our Top ten Destinations List in Europe. This is something that we have not been able to see for a long time.”

The UK government’s relaxation of travel restrictions from October 4 has also driven an increase in leisure flights, as has the US easing its ban on British travellers, Ms Eugène said.

Rival operator NetJets added more than 30 new jets to its existing 760-strong fleet last year, and is investing approximately £1.9billion to buy 100 new aircraft between now and the end of 2022.

A Dassault Falcon 8X belonging to the Monaco royal family and carrying Prince Albert touching down in Edinburgh for COP26

A Dassault Falcon 8X belonging to the Monaco royal family and carrying Prince Albert touching down in Edinburgh for COP26

The Financial Times reports that Flexjet cannot accept new customers to its entry-level Jet Card program because demand is so great.

There are only 861 used jets for sale this October, half of the amount available last year.

The influx of private aircrafts into COP26 put fresh emphasis on the discrepancy between public statements by business leaders regarding green issues, and actual behavior.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s £48million Gulf Stream private jet was among those landing in Glasgow.

Mr Bezos – who regularly lectures the world on climate change – arrived in Glasgow fresh from celebrating Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ 66th birthday on a £2million-a-week superyacht off the coast of Turkey.

Reports claim that he arrived at the boat using a helicopter. 

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