Ready For Takeoff

The private aviation industry is sharpening its edge on all fronts as it evolves to meet the demands of a younger, faster-moving clientele.

- Haziq Yusof

PRIVATE AVIATION HAS long carried an air of predictability. The image of leisurely magnates luxuriating in mahogany-lined interiors while sipping champagne may be a little embellished, but it does ring true. Yet, change is in the air.

Today’s private flyers paint a more dynamic picture. No longer the exclusive domain of seasoned executives, private jet travel now caters to a new generation of fast-moving entrepreneurs who view their aircraft as a vital extension of their lifestyle and business. Couple this with an increasingly globalised world and the emergence of new markets in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand, and you have a renewed standard in the world of private flying.

“We are seeing changes in demographics and the sources of wealth,” says Simon Bambridge, commercial director of TAG Aviation. “Fifteen years ago, our typical aircraft owner’s age was likely in the mid-60s. These days, we're seeing more customers in their 40s and 30s.”