Why Private Jet Travel Is Here To Stay Empty Legs

With the month of May already flying by, the global demand for private jet rental in 2022 is growing & set to continue doing so for the foreseeable future.

MERLIN1 offers clients a choice of top destinations to fly to by private jet charter from our primary bases in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas & Houston. Whilst you plan your next trip, we’re exploring just some of the reasons why private jet travel is here to stay.

The impact of the pandemic on private jet travel
During the pandemic, many of us have felt the effects of the decrease in scheduled commercial flights. In 2021, Statista estimated the number of scheduled passengers carried by the global airline industry amounted to just over 2.2 billion people. This represents a 50 percent loss in global passenger traffic compared to 2019.

Despite this decrease, the demand for flying is still there. Many people across the US & the world are now seeing the benefits of travelling by private jet. According to a recent report by Morgan Stanley, private jet take-offs & landings in the U.S. are up 40% year-on-year. At the end of 2021, they were at their highest point since before the 2008 financial crisis.

With the risk of infection & travel disruption still present, Covid-19 has been a major factor in travellers opting to fly by private jet. A recent report by Goldman Sachs shows that since the start of the pandemic first-time entrants to the private jet market now make up over 30% of buyers. With private boarding, fewer touchpoints & less contact with strangers, passengers can be confident of their Covid status when they arrive at their destination. MERLIN1 work closely with partners across our supply chain to ensure the safety of our crew & passengers through every step of their journey with us. Private jet travel also allows passengers to take control of their travel itineraries without the worry of last-minute disruption & cancelled commercial flights.

A more affordable way to travel
As well as a more reliable way to fly, private jet rental has become more affordable & accessible to in recent years. MERLIN1 offer simple one-way pricing as well as ways to save. This includes regular empty leg trips for our private charter jets, available on a first come first served basis.

Our empty leg offers consist of one-way travel on our Citation III 650s at heavily discounted prices. Empty leg flights are one-way, & will have a pre-determined private jet type, departure date & time, & destination. They are available when our private charter jets are repositioned to a different location for various reasons.

If you have some time available & are looking for a last-minute weekend trip, empty leg travel could be the perfect option for you. Or if you fancy a spontaneous holiday & are completely flexible about where you go, it could be a great cost-effective choice. Departure times on empty leg flights can be subject to change. Therefore, if you can be flexible & don’t mind the possibility of some last-minute delays or schedule changes, you could bag an awesome deal with MERLIN1 & an experience to remember!

The extraordinary empty leg prices are for the entire private jet & are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Don’t forget that empty leg flights are only one-way, so you will always need to organize your return journey separately.

Our clients’ value MERLIN1’s affordability, saving you treasured time as well as money. Here’s what they had to say:

“I’ve looked at many a corporate jet program & finally, someone has figured out how to make corporate aircraft travel affordable while maintaining the standards we have come to expect.” – Tom C

“If I flew commercial, I would have to usually fly out the night before, & be one night away from my family, do a hearing, & probably not get back until the following day or late that night—two days out of work for a 20-minute hearing. It makes more sense to charter & get back to work & to be with family—MERLIN1 is more value!” – Michael C

Get in touch
MERLIN1’s Charter Jets San Antonio & Charter Jets Austin private jet rental services are completely customized to our clients’ needs. Whether you’re travelling with family, your partner, friends, colleagues or even your pets, our Concierge Team is available 24/7 to discuss all of your requirements. Give us a call on 210.851.9967 or leave us a message online & we’ll be in touch soon. We can’t wait to welcome you on board our private charter jets!