A Brief History Of Private Jets-00-4305

By Author: 4Ps Marketing
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Of course, the traditional supplier of mass air travel has been the hundreds of commercial airlines available across the globe. Commercial air travel initially took off in the 1950s with Pan-Am and TWA flying Boeing 307s across the United States and in to Latin America. Since then, air travel has transformed in to an immense global industry with airlines supplying hundreds of thousands of flights to passengers annually.

And whilst commercial air flights have enabled worldwide travel and connectivity, passengers are often restricted by the airlines' limited schedules and destinations. For this reason many companies and individuals have turned to private jets as an alternative form of travel offering an unmatched level of flexibility, productivity and comfort.

There are roughly 11,000 business jets available today worldwide with the large majority based in the United States. Some are owned by private individuals and companies, whilst others are available for on demand charter by high net worth individuals, corporations, and governments. Much like commercial airlines, business jets have come a long way over the ...
... past 50 years as people developed a universal desire to go further and faster.

The birth of the private jet began when Dr. Hans von Ohain, considered to be one of the founding fathers of the modern jet engine, orchestrated the first successful flight of a turbojet-powered aircraft in 1939. But it was not until the 1960s that private jet travel took off with a small number of high net worth individuals using the aircraft for both personal and business purposes.

Private jets became increasingly popular and accessible over the next twenty years, and it is then that we saw the launch of some of the first successful private jet brokers.

The 1980s then marked a major time of development for the private jet industry as entrepreneurs looked to revolutionize the market with the concept of fractional private jet ownership. Similar to a hotel time share, this model allowed for the partial ownership of a private jet with the cost of crew, on-going maintenance, management, etc being shared across multiple owners who bought a set number of flights hours on a given aircraft.

The range of private jet products would eventually evolve even further as travellers sought on-demand access to private jets without the long term commitment of the fractional product. This is when the market saw the launch of the jet card programme to complement the flexibility of ad-hoc charter.

With ad-hoc private jet charter the price agreed is the price you pay based on the aircraft type, flight distance and length of the trip. It is the easiest way to gain access to any private jet, at any time, and to any destination.

With jet cards clients buy flight hours in advance, typically 25, for travel in a chosen private jet category and guaranteed aircraft availability.

And even seventy years after Dr. Ohain's first successful flight, the private jet industry continues to evolve. Aircraft manufacturers, brokers, and operators continue to develop new aircraft categories, technologies, and product offerings to ensure they always meet the needs of today's private jet traveller.

About the Author:

About Air Partner
Air Partner plc is a world-class provider of private jet, among other, services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The company has earned global recognition as a leading business jet supplier and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant (as Supplier of Aircraft Charter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) a globally recognised mark of excellence.