COVID prompted a huge rise in the number of businesses whose staff fly privately, a trend that shows no sign of slowing post the pandemic. When flying privately, business people increasingly value the ability to walk onto the plane and leave immediately and fly home to be with their family in the evening. 

According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics’ report Australian Aircraft Activity 2021, there was a 16.3 per cent rise in non-scheduled flights in 2021 with 409,000 hours flown. This compares to the 351,800 hours of non-scheduled flights in 2020.

David Mackey, chief flight manager and CEO of private flight business FlightCharter.com.au says convenience is one of the main reasons people choose to fly privately. 

“If you’re chartering an aircraft, you determine the time your aircraft leaves or arrives. If you are flying on a commercial airline, you have to fit in with their schedule. Flying privately means you create your own schedule.”

Read more in the Australian Financial Review:

https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/covid-a-tipping-point-for-private-flying-20230217-p5clcf