Private aviation to merge

Kanika Tekriwal, CEO & Founder, JetSetGo Aviation
Services, shares how the private aviation sector has been
affected by COVID-19 and how it will reshape after the pandemic.

Manas Dwivedi

“The aviation industry has been hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 crisis and when flying through such turbulence, it’s critical to focus in the horizon. One of the important points is consolidation. It is usually perceived that private aviation sector is not consolidated, and few players are still working on solo mode which will make survival difficult,” comments Kanika Tekriwal while briefing about the survival, revival and resurgence strategy in the private aviation sector which includes the operation of charter flights.

Explaining further about the need of the hour in the sector, she says, “Another important step is to have a data-driven, action-oriented plan to help us emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis. All this needs to take into account the demands of flying private, safety and security of all our customers which is our utmost priority, and the market structure scenarios.”

According to Tekriwal, there was a nine-fold increase in the number of international inquiries they were receiving for charter flights, but the lockdown and travel ban came as a major setback. “Whether it is health risk concerns or just getting where you need to be, people and companies that have the means to fly privately, but had previously eschewed it, are now looking at the options. The industry as a whole is working on a requirement basis to help people reach their destinations. No two days will be same again in private aviation and we need to stay braced for some turbulence,” she adds.

Explaining that it is not the correct time to predict how long it will take for businesses to bounce back, Tekriwal shares that they are looking at six months to a year post-COVID-19 to revive from the losses incurred due to the lockdown. “Most of our customers are HNIs and business travellers, who will resume booking services once the lockdown is lifted, pertaining to their travel requirements. Also, there will be a surge in first-time travellers as people with money will move to charter aviation due to its safety, hygiene and convenience. Unlike commercial aviation, there are fewer touch points in private aviation wherein the flyer is in contact with others, which makes it safer,” she says.