Analysis of Covid’s Impact on the Sector and the Search for Solutions to Meet the Current Scenario’s Demands and Opportunities
The year 2020 is already considered the most challenging in the history of private aviation. The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was felt across the entire aviation ecosystem: aircraft manufacturers, air operators, service providers, airports, and related sectors such as tourism and corporate event agencies. All of them, without exception, consider the months following the official declaration of the global pandemic in March last year as the most difficult ever experienced — surpassing even major disruptions like 9/11 and the 2008–2009 U.S. financial crisis.
Hard Numbers
The data confirms this grim outlook. According to a study released by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN-affiliated agency, the civil aviation sector (excluding commercial aviation) accumulated losses of US$ 370 billion between March and December of last year, with a 50% reduction in seat availability. The number of passengers transported also plummeted — from 4.5 billion in 2019 to just 1.8 billion in 2020. As for new aircraft deliveries, the drop reached 20.4%, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), during a virtual event held in February.
Lessons and Opportunities
With all these losses tallied, the question remains: what’s next for the private aviation industry one year after the pandemic began?
The scenario remains complex, but challenges are only one side of the coin. The pandemic also taught valuable lessons and created new opportunities for the sector — which helped many companies achieve a quick recovery, with activity levels bouncing back to 80–90% by the second half of 2020.
Among the key takeaways, according to Brazilian aerospace giant Embraer in its Market Outlook 2020 report, is the notion that fleets from now on should be smaller, more agile, and composed of regional-range aircraft — a result of closed international borders and multinational companies’ growing interest in concentrating operations within the same region. This shift places a renewed focus on short-haul travel. Another critical takeaway is the emphasis on developing more sustainable jets — a non-negotiable in the post-pandemic world.
Another lasting impact of the pandemic is the heightened awareness of private aviation’s health and safety advantages. Flying private has always offered more protection than commercial flights in terms of passenger health. Private flights involve no crowds — not at boarding, not during the journey, and not at the destination, where disembarkation is handled with exclusive procedures. During a health crisis, this dramatically reduces the risk of virus transmission. Sanitary protocols have also become stricter, reinforcing the sense of safety for those using private aviation.
Efficiency has also become undeniable. As commercial aviation collapsed, private aviation seized the opportunity to serve routes that were previously covered by major airlines but were no longer economically viable. Moreover, private aviation’s capillarity is a major asset.
In Brazil, for example, while commercial airlines access just over 100 airports, private jets and helicopters have access to more than 1,300 certified landing and takeoff sites throughout the country. This presents a tremendous advantage for reaching specific destinations, whether for business or leisure.
New Opportunities
The Covid-19 pandemic also created several new opportunities for private aviation. Among them:
Expatriation and Repatriation Missions
In the first half of 2020, missions to repatriate and expatriate corporate employees grew significantly. With border restrictions, reduced commercial flight options, and concern for employee health, private aircraft became the smartest choice. This perception is likely to persist even after the pandemic wanes. Moving key personnel with safety and efficiency is now seen as an investment, not a cost.
Aeromedical Transport
Medical teams, supplies, respirators, airborne ICUs — private aviation became a key ally in the logistics of combating Covid-19. Many companies in Brazil and abroad have now incorporated these services into their portfolios, a trend likely to continue even after the virus is under control.
Business Model Flexibility
In August 2020, Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) authorized air taxi companies to sell available seats on their flights — the so-called empty legs. The aim was to help operators mitigate the cost of underutilized missions. ANAC also allowed for the sale of predefined flight segments with weekly ticket quotas on chartered flights. These measures have significantly helped reduce operational expenses.
Technology, Innovation, and Sustainability
Although this is a moment of cautious rebuilding, the private aviation industry is also boldly seeking solutions to meet the demands of the so-called “new normal.”
Investments in in-flight connectivity are becoming increasingly common among key players. Since most aircraft are used for business purposes, these flying offices must stay connected at all times. The arrival of 5G technology promises to solve one of private aviation’s oldest dilemmas: achieving high-quality, high-speed connectivity in the air.
Innovation is now a requirement, and the most exciting news of the decade is the return of supersonic flights — this time with a focus on private aviation. Multiple companies worldwide are investing millions into the development of jets capable of breaking the sound barrier to serve clients needing faster intercontinental travel. By the end of this decade, it may be possible to attend a business meeting in New York in the morning, have lunch in London, and return to São Paulo in time to tuck your kids into bed.
Another advancement over the past year is the development of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Many of them are already being used to carry cargo over short distances, but soon, we may see these drones flying across countries or even continents, autonomously and safely.
Lastly, 2020 also marked progress in the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). The private aviation sector is increasingly concerned with minimizing its carbon footprint. Aircraft manufacturers and the oil industry are heavily investing in the research and production of cleaner fuels.
Conclusion
Private aviation has proven its resilience amid the most challenging period in its history. As soon as companies were forced to reinvent themselves and offer new services, they responded quickly — and within three months of the pandemic’s onset, signs of a strong recovery were already evident.
In the wake of the crisis, private aviation reaffirmed its role as an agile, efficient, and above all, safe mode of transportation. It proved essential for transporting passengers and cargo, for medical emergencies, and for strategic business trips where the physical presence of leadership is, first and foremost, an act of resilience.
Looking ahead, 2021 is expected to be a year of consolidation for the private aviation industry — not just as an industry, but as the best choice for safe, protected, and efficient travel.
