UK private jet booking app TailHail has seen its bookings increase by 55 per cent this year, with a more than 100 per cent increase in flight requests over the past two months.

Amid uncertainty in the travel sector, the start of the 2022 summer season has seen thousands of commercial flights cancelled, ruining what is the first holiday abroad for many British people since the advent of Covid-induced restrictions in early 2020. In turn, this turmoil has presented an opportunity for the private aviation industry to exploit the strong growth experienced during the pandemic.

As new customers are finding out, private aviation allows travellers to book a private flight from their nearest available airfield, to be ready within 24 hours, and they can share the cost with colleagues or friends. According to TailHail, group bookings are in popular demand as they help mitigate the cost of a private jet and reduce the risk of flight cancellation amid the current travel chaos.

TailHail has commissioned nationally representative research that found that 25 per cent of Brits are willing to share the cost of a private jet with friends and family; it helps to allay the fear of crowded airport terminals and reduces the time spent at departure gates. Around half of Brits feel less inclined to travel on commercial airlines due to health and safety concerns as well as the number of people in airports and on board flights. According to Robb Report, private aviation is set to increase by 50 per cent in 2022, while ARGUS predicts another record year as 2021 saw a 54 per cent increase on 2020.

The industry seems to be opening up to a wider critical mass, not just A-listers and the elite, and the appetite for Brits to travel privately remains strong. Flying on a private jet is on the bucket list for many Brits, and many more would fly more frequently if they could arrive at the airport only 30 minutes before their flight.

Chief aviation officer James Moon says: "For those who are willing to spend a little more to avoid long queues and uncertainty, but not by paying the ridiculously unaffordable cost of a traditional private jet charter, there is an alternative out there. We are seeing ordinary people who would never have chartered a private jet teaming up with friends, relatives and neighbours to bring the price down and ensure they not only catch their flight, but have the holiday they want."