Saving time is the number-one reason to fly privately, according to the recently released results from the eighth annual Business Jet Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey. The ability to use airports that airlines don’t serve came in a close second, followed by a desire for a more comfortable flight.
Among other findings in the poll, which attracted a record 1,487 respondents, include 45 percent expect to fly a bit or much more in the year ahead, 11 percent plan to fly a bit or much less, and 44 percent say they will fly about as much as they did last year.
The respondents ranked Mitsubishi, which made the MU-2 turboprop twin, tops among airplane OEMs for aircraft reliability, value for price paid, cost of maintenance, product support, and overall satisfaction. On the jet side, Gulfstream scored best for cabin amenities and technology. Among helicopter manufacturers, Bell had the top ratings for aircraft reliability, value for price paid, product support, and overall satisfaction. Leonardo earned the highest marks for cabin amenities and technology, while Robinson led in the area of cost of maintenance.
Among charter and jet card providers and membership clubs, Jet Aviation scored highest for aircraft model choices, while Sentient Jet won for availability of aircraft on short notice and overall satisfaction. JetSuite, which took first place for customer service and value for price paid, tied for number one with Million Air on peak-day policies.
The survey also asked readers what aircraft model they liked best in each of 13 categories. Among the most overwhelmingly preferred choices were the Pilatus PC-12 (single-engine turboprops), Beechcraft King Air (twin turboprops), Gulfstream G650/G650ER (ultra-long-range/heavy jets), Boeing BBJ1/BBJ2/BBJ3 (bizliners), Bell 427/429 (light twin-turbine helicopters), and Sikorsky S-92 (large twin-turbine helicopters).
Full results of the survey appear in the October/November issue of Business Jet Traveler, the magazine’s 15th anniversary issue, which also includes an article on how bizav has evolved since BJT began and how it might change over the next decade and a half.
