On Rich Karlgaard’s blog – digital rules – yesterday the Forbes publisher named his 10 predictions for 2010. Number one on that list is that private aviation will make a comeback.
Here’s the prediction:
Hurt by the Great Recession and Congressional cheap shots, new corporate jet sales fell about 40% in 2009. But the economy is healing, stocks are up and shareholders have lost their lynch-mob mood. The bad news is that commercial air travel convenience is sure to worsen–just when you thought it couldn’t get worse–in light of new security threats. (Are you ready to be seated and belted during the entire last hour of flight? Looking forward to those full-body scans with possible radiation risks?) Businesses will quietly return to private aviation.
We agree with the analysis. So long as we live with the constant threat of terrorism, airline travel never be convenient and will most probably get even worse than it is now after the Christmas day terrorist attempt.
Unfortunately, the lynch-mob mentality will take longer to diffuse. Business is already slowly but surely returning to private aviation – it will be interesting to see how attitudes towards private aviation change in 2010. This lynch-mob mentality is our industry’s greatest enemy.
Gad Barnea – CEO – FlyMiwok, Inc.
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