More business aircraft are becoming available for charter trips, according to charter broker Hunt & Palmer. Although many new entrants experienced charter flying during the Covid pandemic, leading to growth of air charter, that demand has also persuaded additional aircraft owners to make their aircraft available.
“This has released some high-quality aircraft for charter,” said Neil Harvey, Hunt & Palmer director of executive aviation. “Over the last 12 months, we have seen popular types like the Embraer Praetor 500 and 600, Cessna Citation Latitude and Longitude, and the Pilatus PC-24 becoming available to us.”
Many Hunt & Palmer clients use charter aircraft because airline flights aren’t available to some destinations. “For example, on routes where there is no, or limited, commercial service,” he said, “the need to move ahead of the competition to seal an important business deal, or when they want to celebrate a special anniversary.
“We also undertake medical-assistance flights when situations are difficult and challenging. These past 18 months it’s been a pleasure to welcome more first-time customers to fixed-wing and helicopter charter,” Harvey added.
U.S. activity has strengthened, with financial and business travelers buying more charter hours through the summer months. To accommodate that growth, Hunt & Palmer added Douglas McNabb to its U.S. office, as well as Bianca Lucas in the UK.