Fifty-eight percent of the respondents to the latest annual reader’s survey by AIN sister publication Business Jet Traveler said the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced their private flying, while 17 percent said they increased their private flying in response to the health crisis. Eighteen percent reported no year-over-year change in their flying habits and 3 percent said they flew privately for the first time due to health concerns during the pandemic. Looking to a post-pandemic world in 2021, 38 percent expect their private flying to resume at 2019 levels and 41 percent said they will fly even more.

Though the top-three reasons for flying privately remained static from the 2019 survey—save time, ability to fly into airports not served by the airlines, and more comfortable flights—the pandemic was on the minds of respondents this year, with health concerns coming in at a close fourth place.

Top aircraft attributes were range, economical operation, and cabin comfort and amenities. Preferred aircraft by category include the Pilatus PC-12 (turboprop single); Beechcraft King Air (turboprop twin); Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 (very light and light jet, respectively); Cessna Citation Latitude (midsize jet); Bombardier Challenger 350 (super-midsize jet); and Gulfstream G500 and G650/650ER (large-cabin and ultra-long-range jet, respectively).

Asked about what would most interest respondents, 28 percent cited supersonic business jets, indicating wide interest in this emerging category.