Price of leasing
Leasing services start at a minimal rate of ₹3 crore. The price increases, depending on the number of hours and capabilities of the aircraft. For example, in case the lessee wants to lease a basic Cessna Citation model that can fly for around four to five hours for a period of 6 months, it would cost them around ₹3.5 lakhs, whereas a Hawker 900 XP or a Falcon 2000 with better capabilities might cost around ₹12.8 crore a year. But, the leasing rate of the basic model aircraft would cost around ₹180 to ₹200 crore, without maintenance charges. Private jet companies believe this gives them an upper hand to negotiate with their clients.
While the entrepreneurs expect an upward trajectory growth, industry experts acknowledge that the people, however, will fly only when necessary. While the number of inquiries has seen a surge, there is still doubt about how many of them would actually turn into clients.
The government allowed domestic air travel of private jets and charter flights from May 25, while issuing guidelines for operation. This includes specifications that do not allow meals to be served, require passengers to be screened, and download Aarogya Setu app and for the crew to be in full protective suit among others. The operators can decide how much to charge.
“Until recently, the government permitted charters and private jets to operate only to facilitate medical operations. Now, they are allowed to operate with certain restrictions. Businesses are looking for opportunities, but people will purely travel based on necessity. Luxury travel will be avoided. If anybody wants to hire planes for lease, it would mostly be corporates who want their senior executive members to travel safely for meetings. Big industrial houses would already have their aircraft,” said Captain Uday Gelli, president of Rotary Wing Society of India, Western region.
While COVID is expected to change air travel patterns of people with operations slowly resuming, a reality check can be done only when the aviation sector completely opens up.
Source: The Federal

Private jets soar on demand from super rich
So your flight’s canceled, but you need to get home or to that important business meeting ASAP. Perhaps you’re just nervous about transiting through a busy airport with other passengers.
Most of us are handling coronavirus-related disruption by staying put, but for those in a travel predicament with dollars to burn, there’s an increasingly popular alternative: private jets.
While much of the travel industry has been suffering as the infection spreads globally, the private jet industry has apparently been on a roll.
Those travelers turning towards the private jet market do so for a range of reasons, with one common denominator: they’re all able to spend thousands of dollars on the trip.
Operators say they’re now servicing customers who would usually take business or first-class options.
Private jet users seek solace in the fact that the aircraft’s exactly that — private. There’s no battling for armrests or ending up in close proximity to others. Plus, these flights operate out of small, private aviation terminals, not mass transport hubs.
While private jet companies might be more willing to fly in and out of lockdown zones, the aircraft still operate within the same framework, rules and regulations as commercial airplanes.
Flying into a lockdown zone involves a safety assessment and submitting a flight plan to airport authorities, who will send it to health authorities, who pass on a list of requirements.
Aircrew are given a full briefing on the route they’re flying, the level of risk and the government stance on the destination.
Source: CNN Travel