Bernhard Fragner
CEO of GlobeAir
The on-demand charter fl ight operator
What’s your business model?
Because we operate our own fleet, we
are in a unique position to be able to
offer customers fast, short notice and
all-round package booking. We have a
fleet of 20 Cessna Citation Mustang jets
whose position we track in real-time, and
we provide this data to the customer. If
one of the jets is already at the requested
departure airport, GlobeAir can assure a
takeoff within one hour.
Do you think the business aviation
sector is old-fashioned?
I don’t think business aviation is oldfashioned.
It’s actually a sector that is
always looking to invest in new technologies
to support every department, from pilots
to customer care, maintenance to
accounting. Unfortunately, a lot of
young pilots have an incorrect
perception about business
aviation. The latest generation
of pilots are afraid they’re going
to walk into a 1970s style
business jet company, where
the only benefit is to build flying
hours. Nowadays everything has
changed, and we can offer pilots
I N N O V A T I O N
a very good career similar to what they
would find at a commercial airline company.
Overcoming this stereotype is a big barrier
to recruiting the right pilots into the industry.
How has business aviation changed in
recent years?
Customers today are more interested in
using the service as a necessity rather
than seeking exclusivity. In the past luxury
was a big factor but this is becoming much
less important. What’s more important
to customers now is flexibility, availability
and time. Being able to depart and land at
almost any airport at any time and ahead of
schedule – these are the qualities that are
most valued.
What will business aviation look like
in 2025?
More people will be gaining access to
business aviation as its costs come down.
Technology is moving fast and electric
engines will play a big role. Customers
will be able to order a business jet just by
talking to a virtual assistant. Meanwhile, a
new generation of supersonic jets will allow
you to fly to the other side of the world
within a few hours.
BUSINESS AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL O C TO B E R 2 0 1 9 |
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“In the past luxury
was a big factor but
this is becoming
much less important”