How is business aviation coping with the current situation?
 

Seeing a lot of the larger operators with significantly reduced daily flight numbers over the last few days, however every broker is reporting in the media that there is huge increase? What does the future of business aviation hold for everyone with the ongoing situation?

My guess is very busy in the short term but then with border controls and closers we will see the market dry up?

Without the airlines the infrastucture will be gone. ATC, agents, catering, etc. So what use is having your own aircraft?

Really tough times ahead I am afraid.

Unless something changes for the better very quickly we will all be living (or not) in a very different world soon?

Yes, completely agree.

Looks like this is already happening, with a well known EU VLJ operator only having 14 movements today when they would well over double this usually. And a large heavy jet operator having only 17 movements shows its drying up quick. Tough times for all ahead, fingers crossed all come out ok.

Yes, passengers and operators WANT TO fly, but more and more countries/authorities are making this impossible.

Well, if certain operators do not quote request, which other operators quote and operate those flight, they should not complain or cry if their volumes go down!

Farnborough movements up 67% on same period last year.

Yep, not good. We have been placed on technical unemployment since Weds. Sad an crazy times. We have still had flights. But like one a day to rescue people. I've fled back to UK while I could to be with my girlfriend. (normally based in Belgium). Stay safe everyone

Yes, some tough tomes ahead. Seen VJ have 7 movements today to/from/in Europe, Globe Air have 11, NJ have 16, Air Hamburg 18. Presume these operators should and would usually have a lot more?

Yes bookings would be higher.

The sector may be in a slightly better position than the airlines - except maybe for businesses with significant debt / leverage, they could be in for a bumpy ride. Can’t see the tax payers being inclined to bail out the private jets

I think after the crisis there will be a spike in demand for business aviation, especially short sector shuttle services on VLJ's. Many people will be very anxious to fly inside a crowded airliner with recycled air circulation and hang around big crowds inside airport terminals. I foresee more corporates flying their mid and top tier personnel in batches of 6, 8, 10 etc for health and hygiene reasons. Let's see...

yeah sure...

inevitable!

NetJets USA is down about 80% now. Offers for unpaid (except for benefits) leaves of absence on the table for up to a 1000 pilots. Currently any flights to Europe have 4 pilots to fuel and return to the US immediately after dropping off and/ or picking up. Similar with flights into Australia and NZ using Guam as the hub. Hopefully it boils over quickly.

Where is that figure coming from and how many Pilots are employed there in total ?

Google is your friend.

https://www.njasap.com/

Figures are from management and the union. There are a little more than 2400 pilots on the seniority list. The LOAs are for 1 to 12 months with the company having the ability to require pilots to come back with 14 days notice if needed again.

Seems like there are a few business jet operators shutting up now shop till we see the end of this. Interesting strategy just to ground your planes and wait till everything opens up again. Could be a while until we see that.

So what you guys are saying is that NetJets US already plans to get rid of 1000 Pilots of their payroll ?

if NetJets US can't cope, how will others ?
Not every operator has a Warren Buffett, I thought they would be in a sort of comfortable position.

No, I don't think that's what was said. Leave of absence (LOA) is temporary and can be as short as one month, for example. It's not the same thing as getting rid of a thousand pilots. Noteworthy is that NJA have furlough rules in their CBA which means everybody that does get let go has to be offered his job back before external candidates can be hired again. They keep their seniority number and some pay/benefits such as insurance would be continued to be paid at least for the initial period of being furloughed. Having said all that, I'm not aware that furloughs have been suggested at this point.