October 7, 2023
British Airways IT meltdown has meant an increase in private jet bookings.
A side effect of this weekend’s IT meltdown for British Airways which stranded over 100,000 travelers was a 76% increase in requests, according to jet card seller Air Partner.
“Colleagues have worked over the weekend to support new enquiries and our existing JetCard clients – to help get them to their destinations at the last minute,” said Julia Timms, group marketing director. She added, “While private jets supply has held up – landing and take-off slots into popular and restricted destinations, such as Ibiza – have become hard to come by as the number of people turning to private jets increased.”
“Colleagues have worked over the weekend to support new enquiries and our existing JetCard clients – to help get them to their destinations at the last minute,” said Julia Timms, group marketing director. She added, “While private jets supply has held up – landing and take-off slots into popular and restricted destinations, such as Ibiza – have become hard to come by as the number of people turning to private jets increased.”
The incremental bookings have been a combination of vacation and business travel. “The most popular destination enquires have been for Barcelona, Lisbon, Nice, Palma and Faro – often for family holidays,” Timms said.
In some cases Air Partner has helped reunited families. “One client and his wife were separated from their two young daughters and nanny, when their original flight from London to France was cancelled. Air Partner arranged a charter as quickly as possible to reunite the family,” she added.
Even though BA is getting its flying schedule back in order, Air Partner is continue to pick up business. One FTSE 100 CEO was unable to get from Geneva to Heathrow and Air Partner was able to arrange a charter to get him to a meeting.
