Ad Astra – The Renaissance of Private Aviation

The last few years have seen a huge number of new entrants and business models radically disrupted the bizjet market

Change is the only constant

There has been an acceleration of new business models in private aviation.

NetJets shifted private aviation beyond simple ownership when it pioneered business jet charter and aircraft management in 1964, launching the first fractional aircraft ownership model in 1987. Over a similar timespan to the year 2000, the company was acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway; expanded into Europe and, according to Forbes, between 1995 and 1999 NetJets “purchased nearly 600 planes worth $10 billion — about 40% of the world’s business jet market”. NetJets was the “blue in bluechip”, largely without competition.