Whether you want to host a bachelor party or are simply looking to hop across for that important 9 am merger and acquisition breakfast meeting, private jets are now becoming an important part of corporate and "what-a-luxe-experience" flying. Kanika Tekriwal of JetSetGo gives her reasons as to why the private aviation industry is charting a noticeable growth.

People with large amounts of disposable income often have low amounts of disposable time - nothing saves time better than a private jet. Private jets are the travel choice for the rich and famous with their popularity only increasing. According to a report published by BCG the number of ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals in India has more than trebled to 928 in 2014 from 284 in 2013 whilst in the latest Forbes Billionaire's List, there are 1,741 members of the ultra-wealthy club around the world, so it is not surprising that private jet travel is increasing.

We are beginning to see an increasing trend wherein even on a plane travellers like to keep their own way of living: Eating and cooking, body care, sport, entertainment, latest technology. In no particular order of priority the above seem to form the privatejet lifestyle of the rich and famous with requests for particular type of inflight-entertainment, crockery or even video games for the 8 year old!

There are two types of customers JetSetGo caters to: the business traveller and the leisure traveller. Both of these consist of domestic and international clientele. The international traveller is accustomed to using private jets world over and comes with requirements which could range from a particular type of caviar being served on board to the thread count of the bed sheets – our business is to turn every wish into a command. The domestic traveller understands the ground reality in India and definitely comes with lesser requirements yet at the same time his expectations are increasing every day.

The business traveller

The ultra rich using private jets for business generally do so to travel to airports not being serviced by commercial airlines in India today or to save time or even a combination of both. We often see cases wherein business people who are traveling with three or four colleagues in business class, say “why wouldn't we fly private for close to the same price?" Over and above which it saves on airport time. Adding to that is the fact that the aircrafts are business enabled with sat-phones and Wi-Fi keeping the discerning business traveller ever connected today. The business travellers priority is flexibility so if a customer calls five minutes ahead of departure and says reschedule departure to tomorrow – we have to make it happen.

The leisure traveller

Travel advisors report that the number of affluent travelers between the ages of 40 and 55 has skyrocketed. Not only that, more well-off families in their 30s and 40s are planning vacations and adventure trips with their young children. The reason: they love to travel and want their children to experience the world. At JetSetGo we have seen this trend takeover where leisure travellers use private jets to travel to off-beat locations with the desire for never tried before experience only increasing.

The leisure traveller likes to be pampered and spoiled with fine dining, superior service and his choice of entertainment. At JetSetGo our USP is reimagining private aviation so we convert a private jet ride to a travellers holiday destination into an experience by itself. Since leisure travellers involve travellers of all ages special care is taken to ensure there is something for everyone.

The leisure traveller loves unique experiences – for example we recently hosted an all out bachelor party on a private jet for a customer. On another instance we hosted a little birthday party for young kids at a helipad along with joy-rides on a helicopter.

Our customers who range from the likes of the Ferragamo family to CEO’s of fortune 500 companies to Billionaire’s love the fact that post a phone call all their travel requirements are taken care of by us along with which the brand delivers an unsaid assurance of true luxury, quality, comfort and safety. Our biggest learning has been that in the world of luxury today, experience and perception are far more important than utility. Every customer using a private jet irrespective of the purpose likes the image that comes along with it – which simply reads rich and busy. 

The future of the industry is all about bespoke, exclusive, discreet experiences. The customers exist and so does an active market – its all about delivering what they want. In the world of private jets – the sky is literally the limit.

 About the author

Kanika Tekriwal is a relentless pursuer of optimism; her focus is on bringing the luxury back into the business of aviation and the bespoke experience into life. Having worked in the private aviation industry for close to nine years in both India and the UK, she is determined to revolutionise the private aviation business in India by systematically leveraging technology and partnerships to address deep-rooted bottlenecks that exist in the industry.