The business world has been in a limbo since the Covid-19 pandemic reared its ugly head in early 2020. Every facet of human endeavor took a hit and still groaning to survive but it appears one sector of aviation has been singing a different song.
In the whole of the aviation industry, the only song to be heard seems to be coming from the private travel sector. The Chief Executive Officer of a premium travel company, VOMOS told Forbes recently how the sector has been spared and smiling to the bank.
“Before Covid-19, we had a steady flow of business and as soon as Covid-19 hit, we saw a surge in clients. A lot of our clientele consisted of athletes, entertainers and business owners. The surge was partly due to NBA players looking to reunite with their families once the NBA season came to a halt back in March,” he said.
“Travel by private jet in today’s climate with COVID-19 is smart for those who normally fly first class and are seeking the next level in safety, value, and convenience. We are seeing a significant uptick in friends and family pooling funds together to fly private versus commercial. We are currently running one-way routes from New York to Miami for roughly $1200 per person, which in some instances, cost less than a first-class ticket,” he added.
“Two or three days after stay-at-home orders were lifted in Miami and other locations, there was a two-and-a-half day period where we received 300 requests from clients looking for aviation and vacation rentals as they looked to relocate and reunite with their family and friends,” VOMOS founder and CEO Mark McNeil tells Forbes in an interview.
According to him, VOMOS played a role in reuniting players with family in the aftermath of the NBA season ending. The Philadelphia 76ers and VOMOS already had a multi-year partnership wherein VOMOS provided ground transportation for the team.
“Many people are still afraid to fly commercial,” McNeil says. “And as airline routes are being cut back, it is also more difficult to find space on available flights.”
According to the VOMOS boss, As concerns continue to rise, travelers want to reduce their chances of exposure and transmission by avoiding crowds. Flying private allows passengers the ability to control the number of companions on their flight, skip long security lines and avoid crowded airport lounges. These conveniences are now becoming more attractive from a time saving, health and safety perspective.
McNeil founded VOMOS in 2016 after combining several years of resources and connections in different industries.
VOMOS offers curated experiences such as private aviation, villa and mansion rentals, yacht charters and luxury rental cars for those seeking the absolute best in premium travel. Consumers can quickly access their high-end offerings and experiences anywhere in the world, versus spending countless hours of research over several platforms.