Business jet travel rise 'will be good for private charter companies'

Date: 2/3/2010

News that companies are looking to increase business jet travel industry is a positive sign for private charter companies, but not for scheduled carriers, the editor of Business Travel Magazine has stated.

Editor Gill Upton was responding to a survey by London Executive Aviation, which found more than half of those polled (55 per cent) intend to book more business jet flights in 2010 in comparison to 2009.

The survey also found that 30 per cent of respondents believe reducing business jet travel during an economic downturn is immediately damaging to business prospects.

The view was based on respondents' own experiences.

The most common purpose of booking jets was for routine business operations (34 per cent), followed by acquisitions and corporate activities (21.8 per cent) and investor meetings (14.5 per cent).

However, Ms Upton commented that market improvements in the business travel sector are still very slow and fragile.