While private jets and helicopters have their own distinctive operational capabilities, they can often combine to provide travelers with a complete and more seamless journey to their destination. Global private jet company Bitlux explains how both aircraft combine to enhance the business aviation ecosystem.
Both offer a tailored experience where time efficiency is at the top of the menu. They can bypass most headaches one would normally have while flying commercially as a regular traveler, going a long way toward hitting specific spots with time limits on travel.
Large corporations mostly use private aviation for their executives since they know that time is money, and, therefore, traveling by private jet is cost-effective and more productive. Leisure travel is more the case for UHNWIs who wish to travel discreetly and avoid hassles from uncertain commercial itineraries.
Helicopters come into their own, able to take off and land on yachts, private estates, and downtown helipads. They are also perfect for short trips. The business aviation ecosystem recognizes the need for combined travel, specifically regarding the helicopter’s role of ‘last mile’.
Some actors like Bitlux combine and customize options to offer the ultimate in both experiences. A private jet shall be most appropriate for the average short- or long-haul flying, while a helicopter shall be suited for the transfer for the best and most convenient experience. By leveraging helicopter transfers, charter companies can offer a door-to-door bespoke experience. For instance, the Greek Islands are very fashionable during summer, and there are over 3000 to visit, but only occasionally have the infrastructure or airfields to cope with private jets.
Reaching Remote Locations
So, a helicopter journey is ideal, particularly if the island is inaccessible. Monaco and the French Riviera have always been very busy for helicopters, as Monaco does not have an airport—passengers fly into Nice and then have a transfer by helicopter. No long ground travel is required, which is very convenient and saves much time. It also works very well in Southern Italy.
Although helicopters in leisure travel appear to be mainly used for sightseeing tours, they come into their own when accessing some of the more unusual, perhaps remote locations. Having clients book double transfers to a location is not unusual. It would not be uncommon for a family to travel on the first transfer and then have their baggage transferred on the second one due to weight limitations.
In business, helicopters are known to play major roles in sectors such as air ambulance and traffic monitoring, worker transportation to oil rigs, and mines. Their ability to take off and land vertically in small areas is unrivaled; this comes in very handy where time is of essence or where there are peculiar conditions. However, their capabilities will be better utilized as private jet travel increases.
Latin America Snapshot
A car ride from the São Paolo Guarulhos International Airport to the city’s business central district can take over two hours, while using a helicopter only takes 20 minutes. The city has 400 helipads, and a helicopter lands every 45 seconds. The city has adapted to its needs and found solutions.
In Mexico City, 200 helipads are in use, compared with only three public-use heliports in New York. Thus, the combination of private jet and helicopter perfectly suits the schedule of the busy business executive. The synergy of private jets and helicopters works concurrently in the purview of private aviation, which adds comfort and reliability to it.
The two-in-one use is the current trend for providing a seamless and transparent travel experience where one can have the best of both worlds. Be it a busy business trip or hopping from one island to another, this flexibility is unparalleled and can be tailored down to every fine detail. The interaction between these two modes of transport is fast and fluid, making it very appealing to every discerning traveler.
With technology advancing and the demand for bespoke private jet travel on the rise, there are calls to marry both forms of air transport for easier travel. We should expect more charter companies to use this to drive efficiency, answer client demand, and explore new heights of the luxury experience.
