Numerous sources branded Croatia as a country that has dealt with Covid-19 very well. Therein lies a specific opportunity for business aviation services, especially in the context of nautical tourism, private and isolated accommodation, luxury hotels and villas, etc.
Jung Sky, a business aviation operator based in Zagreb, Croatia, looks towards the next couple of months with a great deal of optimism, not just for themselves, but for the business aviation industry as well.
“April was difficult. Our sales and OPS worked really hard, but it was almost impossible to finalize deals and carry out flights because the restrictions were massive. In comparison to April 2019, the number of flights operated by Jung Sky dropped by 86%. But things have improved in May and especially so far in June”, said Kresimir Vlasic, the company’s COO.
Despite the crisis and the uncertainty, Jung Sky management succeeded to fight off the necessity for layoffs and the employees’ salaries also remained untouched. Vlasic is confident the business aviation industry will get back on track. But, besides the usual business aviation clientele, the Jung Sky team expects more people could explore this type of traveling in the near future, primarily due to smaller health risks and more personalized and individual service.
“It’s no secret business aviation is specific in regard to minimizing the epidemiological risk. It’s something the BA community has talked about from the beginning of this crisis and now, seeing how many of the countries eased off restrictions, we think it’s an important factor that should be emphasized as much as possible. Tourist communities all over the world are expecting a big hit on their incomes, so the focus must be on the type of experiences tourists will seek this year, as well as the profile of tourists the countries should expect. Here we see a connection between business aviation and nautical tourism or for example private and isolated accommodation, isolated luxury villas, etc.”
For business aviation operators, it is well known that Mediterranean destinations gain in popularity during spring and summer. Meanwhile, Jung Sky’s base country Croatia has been branded as a nation that has dealt with Covid-19 very well.
“It’s up to the Governments to decide what’s best for their countries, but nautical tourism and isolated luxury accommodation have great economic potential which can be fully utilized during these harsh times. There is no doubt tourist destinations are preparing themselves for a smaller number of tourists this year, but among them, high-paying guests will probably be the dominant group. However, it is highly questionable which commercial routes tourists will be able to rely on. Organizing a trip from point A to point B will be a great challenge. People will certainly take into consideration the alternatives to large gatherings at airports and closed spaces, as well as taking the roadways packed with vehicles and traffic. The demand for business aviation operators could be much stronger than usual”, Vlasic concludes.
