Airbus-sponsored attitudinal research from WingX on private aviation and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) indicates widespread acceptance among business decision-makers and likely future growth for the sector over the next several years. Those surveyed were from businesses with more than $500 million in annual revenue. 

Sixty percent said the companies they work for own at least one private jet and 58 percent of the remainder think their company could buy one within the next three years. When that group was asked the reasons for acquiring an aircraft, 86 percent indicated a substantial increase in the use of private aviation, 71 percent said the health and well-being of managers, 43 percent said the growing focus on sustainability in private aviation, 43 percent cited declining airline performance and availability, and 38 percent cited the growing appeal of new business jet models. 

Of companies that own a jet already, 90 percent said they want to upgrade over the next five years, with 76 percent of those citing the appeal of new models, 67 percent said the ability of aircraft to use sustainable aviation fuel, 44 percent said it related to the growing focus on operational costs, and 44 percent indicated they needed a larger aircraft. Also of this cadre, 34 percent said they expected aircraft use to increase dramatically over the next two years and another 38 percent expect use to increase only slightly. 

Airbus (Static AD_107) said 58 percent of U.S. business executives believe the use of SAF will increase significantly over the next five years and another 32 percent believe it will increase slightly. 

Of those surveyed, 86 percent believe SAF will help grow the business aviation market because it will provide greater control over the environmental impact of flights. Half believe that government will offer greater support for SAF via policy initiatives that will create the necessary confidence to dramatically boost investment and grow the market, while 35 percent said the situation will improve only slightly.  

Data provided by Airbus revealed that overall business aircraft departures in the U.S. increased 12.3 percent to 2.76 million during the first eight months of 2022 compared with the same period in 2019. The increases occurred in every month with the highest increase in March 2022, which recorded a 17.7 percent increase over the same month in 2019. Geographically, the business aircraft activity's largest gains were reported in August at Francis S. Gabreski (KFOK) in West Hampton Beach, New York, up 35.6 percent; Las Vegas International (KLAS), up 24.1 percent; and Washington Dulles (KIAD), up 21.2 percent.