Taste
Trends in private aviation: "Travel is less about getting around and more about making optimal use of time"
Waiting for a delayed flight while your suitcase wanders around Schiphol? Not if it’s up to ASL Group’s clients. In the run-up to MASTERS SUMMER EXPO, MASTERS speaks with the exhibitor about the latest developments in private aviation. CEO Philippe Bodson discusses key trends, the growing need for flexibility, and why a private flight is increasingly often just the beginning.
Looking ahead to the coming period: what are the most visible trends within private aviation and business travel?
Customers today are looking more consciously at how they gain access to private aviation. Although the classic model, in which an aircraft is fully purchased and managed, will always exist, we are seeing rising interest in fractional ownership and other flexible models, such as hourly programs. Flexibility and discretion are the key factors here.
In addition, destinations are evolving as well. There is a growing preference for nearby destinations, such as Saint Tropez and Marbella, where saving time becomes a real luxury.
Finally, we see that aviation no longer stands alone. It is increasingly part of a complete travel experience, where not only the flight, but everything surrounding it is important.
Does your customers' behavior change towards the summer?
Absolutely. Summer brings a clear shift towards more spontaneity. Clients decide later, expect quick confirmations, and want to be able to adjust their schedules effortlessly.
In addition, we are increasingly seeing a combination of business and leisure. A meeting becomes an extended weekend, and a trip evolves into a total experience with family or friends.
Travel today is less about getting around and more about making optimal use of time.
What do you notice customers are looking for most right now?
Today, customers seek time savings, discretion, and privacy, combined with maximum flexibility. We notice that external factors play a significant role in this. During COVID, when the world went into lockdown, private aviation grew into a crucial sector. That period has permanently changed customer behavior.
Personal contact is more relevant than ever, and given the current geopolitical situation, private aviation continues to connect the world. For instance, in the spring, we operated multiple repatriation flights from the Middle East, where commercial aviation had come to a standstill.
In parallel, the demand for awareness regarding sustainability is growing within the sector, and as a group, we are taking ambitious steps in this regard.
Above all, customers expect an experience from A to Z. A private flight is only one part of the whole. From transport and hotel stays to full concierge services, every detail must fit together perfectly. It is no longer about a single journey, but about an organized travel experience from departure to arrival.
What is absolutely no longer possible this summer, and what actually is?
As in virtually all sectors, technology plays an important role within private aviation. We are also growing along with this as a company. However, personal contact is more important than ever. Accessibility and follow-up are crucial in this regard.
Travel doesn't stop at the aircraft. Customers expect a fully integrated journey. It's about the total package, where every detail is aligned. Being there for your customer when needed.
What does Brabant mean to you?
As a company, we have deep roots in Brabant. We have our office in Eindhoven, and a large proportion of our clients are located in the region. As a Belgian, I dare say that people from Brabant align closely with our way of doing business.
Brabant stands for entrepreneurship, trust, and long-term relationships. It is a region where things move quickly, but where there is simultaneously a strong focus on sustainable customer relationships and doing business together.
As a Belgian, I dare say that people from Brabant align closely with our way of doing business.
What are you personally looking forward to the most this summer?
For me, summer is about balance. Between dynamism and calm. Between international projects and moments closer to home. It is also the period when new ideas often arise spontaneously, for example during a morning run, away from the desk.
For our sector, summer is traditionally the peak season. The pace quickens and opportunities increase. I can still clearly remember the excitement of the first summers, when we had just a handful of aircraft in the fleet. We are now at more than 40 aircraft, and I still have that same feeling.
Personally, I am also looking forward to a short period in Marbella, a place that by now feels like a second home. I will always be reachable, but the pace is different there. It is precisely that combination that provides new insights.
What do you hope visitors to MASTERS SUMMER EXPO will come to discover or experience at your venue?
ASL Group stands for more than just arranging flights. Naturally, it is a price-driven market and we compete, but it is the personal experience and follow-up that make the difference for us.
During MASTERS SUMMER EXPO, we aim to focus on building valuable personal contacts and allowing these relationships to continue growing in the long term.
At our stand, everything revolves around personal contact and a strong personal touch. We showcase what we have to offer as a group, share inspiration for their next trip, and motivate visitors to take the step into private aviation.
But above all, it is about trust. Our customers want the assurance that everything is right, down to the smallest detail.
MASTERS SUMMER EXPO
MASTERS SUMMER EXPO is the summer sister of MASTERS EXPO. In June, The Duke Business Club in Nistelrode transforms into an exclusive summer paradise. Amidst the lush Brabant countryside, golf, gastronomy, and good times come together for four days. Inside the stylish clubhouse and outside on the sun-drenched terraces, grounds, and the beautiful golf course, a unique atmosphere of relaxation and inspiration emerges. An environment where entrepreneurship and Brabant conviviality effortlessly blend with sport, where wonderful encounters are formed at the table, in the suites, lounges, at the bar, on the green, and over a drink. Where you come not just to network, but to experience. By invitation only.
