Business aviation refers to the use of private or corporate aircraft for business purposes, such as transporting executives, employees to meetings, client sites, or other destinations. Unlike commercial aviation, which operates on fixed schedules and routes for the general public, business aviation offers flexible, on-demand travel tailored to the needs of companies or individuals. It typically involves private jets, turboprops, or helicopters, often owned, leased, or chartered by businesses or high-net-worth individuals.
Key features include:
- Flexibility: Flights can be scheduled at the user’s convenience, accessing smaller airports closer to destinations.
- Efficiency: Saves time by avoiding commercial airline delays, security lines, and layovers.
- Privacy: Allows for confidential meetings or work during flights.
- Productivity: Enables executives to visit multiple locations in a single day, maximizing business efficiency.
Examples include corporate jets used by companies for fractional ownership or charters. It’s a $150 billion industry globally, per recent estimates, supporting business travel, cargo transport, and specialized services like medical evacuations.