Charter broker ONEflight International has seen a 115% increase in its client base since the beginning of 2020 according to founder and ceo Ferren Rajput. As COVID-19 prompted worldwide lockdowns, travel restrictions and social distancing measures he believes many travellers who previously flew commercial airlines turned to private jet charters for health and safety reasons.

Rajput says: “Everyone is fearful of COVID-19, especially given the rise of the Delta variant. Mask requirements and social distancing measures are not issues when you fly private because it's just your inner circle who are boarding.” Travellers with ONEflight must provide COVID-19 declaration forms before every flight to ensure the crew's safety in the event a traveller has contracted the virus and plans to board.

According to McKinsey and Company global business travel expenses dropped by 52% in 2020. Despite the vaccine rollout, remote and flexible working arrangements are both common practices after nearly two years of office building capacity restrictions and social distancing requirements.

“Business travel was approximately half of our client's travel pre-COVID. Businesses have moved to their homes, so the need for this type of travel has dropped dramatically. On the other hand, pleasure travel such as weekend getaways and extended vacations went up dramatically from 50% of our business to 95%,” comments Rajput. “Even with freedoms coming back due to vaccine availability and access, we're only seeing 10 to 15% of our clients using the service for business as of right now. There will surely be a comeback, but it's far down the road.”

Additionally, ONEflight has appointed John Elway as a brand ambassador for the Colorado based charter broker. Elway is a three-time Superbowl champion, lifting the Lombardi trophy twice as a player and once as the general manager and is currently president of football operations for the Denver Broncos.

“I enjoy my membership so much that I am delighted to endorse ONEflight by becoming a brand ambassador and spokesman for this rapidly growing private jet provider,” says Elway. “I look forward to our long relationship and am excited to be a part of the ONEflight family as it continues its expansion into the future.”

“John is a very big name both locally in Colorado and nationally,” adds Rajput. “From Florida to California, everyone knows John Elway. He is a proven winner on and off the field, and we are fortunate that he has chosen to put his celebrated name behind our company. I don't believe someone like John would blindly do that.”