Sometimes the world can seem as if it exists in two parallel universes. On the one hand, ordinary people are constantly encouraged to fly less by politicians, eco-activists and celebrities. On the other hand, there is no sign of slowing down in the demand for private jet travel, which increased rapidly during the pandemic period.
Such is the clamor of affluent travelers to avoid crowds, while some of the world’s leading luxury tour operators and hotel groups, constantly seeking new and innovative ways to keep their patrons happy, have come up with a new holiday concept: ” air travel ,” offering whistle-stop world tours by private plane.
“As the market leader in more classic escorted tours, we were keen to find something new,” says Andy Squirrell, managing director of Titan Travel, which last year had its first private jet adventure on a 23-day VIP expedition. A Boeing 737 covers Italy, Montenegro, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Turkey, among other destinations, for around £28,000 per person. “Coming out of Covid, we got the feeling that people were really saving money and didn’t want to wait any longer for once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences. “It felt like the right moment to launch the air tour concept, but at a more accessible price point than traditional private air travel.”
Travel among the very wealthy has long included private aviation. But what we’re seeing more of right now is a reinvention of the traditional private jet experience, catering to larger groups using larger aircraft, reconfiguring them to carry around 50 aircraft closer in size or sometimes similar to those used for commercial flights. and carries 80 passengers with great speed and comfort.
Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent offers private jet tours on Boeing 757s, allowing 48 customers to travel in first-class style with fully lie-flat beds. Flight schedules to exotic destinations that are not easily accessible through major carriers are created based on the itinerary, not the airline.
The cheapest of the next three trips starts from £142,210 per person. It circles the globe in exquisite style, taking in some of the world’s rarest wildlife, from the Sri Lankan leopard and Tasmanian devil landing in Hawaii, Fiji, Tasmania, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius to the migrating humpback whale. , Zambia and Brazil. The traveling party includes a valet, a doctor, and a “photo enhancement” coach.
Hotel groups have also played their part, with Four Seasons and Aman offering global adventures on private jets of varying sizes since 2015. Aman’s offering is a collaboration with luxury tour operator Remote Lands and offers trips that often stop at three different continents. all features. Airbus ACJ319s can carry up to 16 passengers, allowing them to think outside the box.
“You can’t fly commercially between the destinations we visited, so the only way to do it in one itinerary is to fly privately,” says Catherine Heald, co-founder and CEO of Remote Lands. “Expeditions provide the perfect blend of small group and private travel, where each couple or solo traveler has their own private car, driver and expert guide for the tour. “They allow guests who wouldn’t usually consider a small-group expedition to do exactly what they want to do each day, just like on a private trip, and that has been the key to our success.”
But it’s not just about running from place to place doing a box-ticking exercise; There is a growing thirst to gain more in-depth knowledge of a particular destination or topic and to spend more time in more places than you would in a luxury vehicle. to wander.
“These jet trips usually have a theme,” says Chris Brunning, co-founder and managing director of U.K.-based Untold Story Travel, which books private jets of all sizes for its clients. “Last year, a client wanted to witness the best of the Japanese cherry blossom season in early April, which included stops in Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Yoshino, Nara, Fuji Five Lakes, Naoshima and Niseko. They wanted an exclusive-use night in a castle, a helicopter ride to Mount Koya with the high priest, and exclusive access to a sumo stable. Traveling for six on a nine-seat ‘super midsize’ Citation Sovereign jet cost around £50,000 per person.”
According to Titan’s Andy Squirrel, the new spice route tour was inspired by Joanna Lumley’s. Spice Trail Adventure on ITV. “We realized we had a series of tours that touched on the history of the spice routes, the tastes, the smells, going to so many different incredible destinations that could work within that theme. So we thought we’d weave it all together.”
So how do these companies reconcile the issue of sustainability? Some are investing in sustainable aviation fuels (not yet a viable solution), while others are donating to carbon offset projects. Whether it goes far enough is debatable.
“We’re very conscious about carbon emissions, so work with a company called Climate Partner,” says Squirrel, who also notes that Titan will never make more than three or four of these trips a year. “We make sure we offset all our carbon emissions from flying by contributing to relevant projects in the places we visit.”
Shelley Cline, president of TCS Worldwide, a Seattle-based trailblazer in luxury travel, sums up the appeal of air travel: “Our guests travel with us because we offer luxury travel with a purpose and transformative journeys that resonate deeply on a personal level. And without losing adventure, discovery They also get rid of the troubles of their trips.”
Three extraordinary air rides are now on sale
Around the world by customized jumbo jet
Forty-eight guests will join A&K’s luxury travel pioneer Geoffrey Kent on a spectacular journey designed around a variety of fascinating destinations. From Kanazawa and Ladakh in Japan to historic Malta and colorful Senegal, guests will experience each locale at its authentic best, going where other travelers can’t and participating in private visits to famous cultural centers and historical sites. Flying on a customized Boeing 747 with fully reclining, first-class seats, a dedicated crew and an executive chef, you’ll be served first-class meals throughout and stays at the world’s finest luxury hotels. Prices start from £156,605 per person for double occupancy; 13 October – 7 November 2024.
Aman’s ‘Biggest Tour’
Named because it represents the company’s longest itinerary ever, this 21-night trip is the ultimate showcase of Aman properties, starting in Tokyo, Aman’s first urban property, and traveling around the world on a spacious Airbus ACJ319 jet, visiting every hotel in the collection. before moving on to Vietnam, Thailand, Bhutan, India, Türkiye and Greece. With the freedom of a private vehicle, driver and guide in every destination, you can combine your special experiences with activities shared with the group. In Tokyo, for example, you can join a group for a sushi-making and samurai sword fighting lesson, relax in animal cafes, and watch a baseball game before heading off with your chauffeur to explore Jyogai Market and lively areas like Ginza and Akihabara. . Prices start from $178,888 (£141,069) per person for double occupancy; April 13 – May 4, 2024.
Spice Route by private jet
Inspired by the legendary Spice Route, Titan’s latest private jet tour follows in the footsteps of ancient traders who brought exotic and highly sought-after spices such as pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon and cardamom to the Western world. It will be an aromatic, delicious journey brought to life with behind-the-scenes tours of spice farms and plantations, visits to vibrant bazaars and fragrant spice markets, and specially chartered cruises on Kerala houseboats and Omani sailboats. There will be four-wheel drive tours over the dunes and the chance to see beautiful Petra, creative workshops and art-themed walks in Venice, and feasts inspired by heritage recipes from the spice trade. Prices start from £34,995 per person for double occupancy; 13–29 March 2025.