Do you think that on-demand air transport is more resilient than scheduled transport? Is it still easy to sell the 'business aviation' product in an environment that is generally more hostile to aviation?
Simon Rochefort- There is no doubt about the resilience of air transport to demand. And the figures prove it. Since the first days of deconfinement in May/June this year, we've seen a real boom in demand. I would even go so far as to say that we are in a golden age. Never before have we seen so many passengers flying in private jets. We're targeting niche markets - in particular, major captains of industry and the economy. For them, their time is very precious. So business aviation is an efficient tool for them.
How does this translate into figures?
S.R.- Our sales of subscription products reached an all-time high in the first half of the year, with sales of more than 8,000 new annual subscription hours. That's 67% more than in 2020 and even 41% more than in 2019. A figure to be compared with the performance of traditional aviation! We even expect this trend to accelerate in the second half of the year.
What advantages do you offer your customers in the context of the pandemic?
S.R.- We offer an ideal product for our business customers. A private jet provides a health guarantee that cannot be found in other modes of transport - air or rail. For example, we have calculated that the number of public contact points on a business jet trip is no more than 20. The driver, dedicated security in the private terminal and on-board staff - pilots and cabin crew. This is roughly the total number of people with whom passengers come into contact. A figure to be compared with traditional air travel, with an estimated 700 points of contact! In addition, VistaJet is committed to an aircraft cleaning procedure similar to that used in hospitals, with complete disinfection of the aircraft.
How flexible are you in the face of the uncertainties associated with the pandemic?
S.R.- Flexibility means first and foremost taking passengers where they want to go. Travelling has become complicated since the start of the pandemic. You could even say that it's a luxury to go directly from A to B. Our current success is therefore to compensate for the sharp reduction in the number of frequencies and destinations offered by scheduled airlines. When I meet customers and we simulate a trip on a business jet or a scheduled airline, they very quickly understand the advantages of an aircraft that is in fact at THEIR disposal. What's more, we offer the option of cancelling and keeping your quota of hours at no cost. We have recorded an influx of new customers, with an increase in business of 30%. And many say that this habit of taking a business jet will remain...
Do customers include environmental considerations in their choices?
S.M.- We are responding to customer concerns about environmental impact. Firstly, with a brand new fleet. We currently have 76 aircraft, but will be receiving around twenty new ones in the next few months, equipped with technology that significantly reduces paraffin consumption and therefore CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. What's more, we are committed to being carbon neutral by 2025, 25 years ahead of the IATA targets. We already offer CO2 offsetting and over 80 of VistaJet's % members have applied it. We are also working with SkyNRG, a leader in sustainable aviation fuel, to be the first to offer a
SAF-certified fuel [editor's note: Sustainable Aviation Fuel].
Which destinations are seeing strong growth in business aviation?
S.R.- The resort business has been very strong since the restrictions were lifted. The Côte d'Azur has benefited enormously, with airports such as Cannes and Nice recording record numbers of visitors. In fact, the region offers a very high level of health security, which has attracted an influx of American passengers in particular. Other popular destinations include the Maldives and Dubai. For the next few months, I'm expecting a huge influx of applications for Londonthe world's leading market for private business jets. The recent reopening of the UK market is already stimulating demand. Traffic is also expected to pick up in Geneva, Moscow and Paris...
How does VistaJet compare with the competition?
I'm thinking of our global positioning. We are connected to 187 countries, offering flights in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and even domestic flights in India. I believe this is the best guarantee of our efficiency for the market of frequent business travellers looking for flexibility. Our global approach also allows us to play an increasingly advisory role, a bit like the concierges in the big hotels. More and more people are asking us what the rules are for visiting a country. This global vision is becoming a fundamental part of travel.
