HONG KONG: Vista Global’s private aviation platform, VistaJet, is well-positioned to capitalise on the surge in demand for private aviation, driven in part by the Subang Airport Regeneration Plan (SARP).
Its chief commercial officer, Ian Moore, stated that the ongoing revitalisation of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (LTSAAS), also known as Subang Airport, is expected to further fuel demand for private aviation services in Malaysia.
“With its strategic location and enhanced infrastructure, LTSAAS is definitely well-positioned to attract more private jet travellers seeking premium travel experiences and seamless connectivity,” he told Bernama recently.
He also shared that VistaJet is looking forward to having more flights to and from LTSAAS, thereby contributing to businesses in Malaysia and aiding the growth of the country’s economy.
In 2023, VistaJet captured more market share in the private aviation sector, now accounting for over five per cent of the total market share, thanks to two decades of strong and consistent performance.
The company has grown its on-fleet hours globally by 17 per cent to 200,000 hours through double-digit growth across all geographies last year. For the Asia Pacific region, it recorded a 54 per cent increase in flight hours.
“What has been interesting for Malaysia to date is that the flight numbers increased to about seven or eight per cent coming in and out of the country, and at the same time our membership grew to 14, which means that our members in Malaysia may not necessarily be using us for flying in and out of the country but are using us in global locations,” he explained.
Elaborating on the pattern of clients, Moore said most of the clients range between the ages of 50 and 53. However, 33 per cent of VistaJet’s customer base is now under 40.
As for the Asia Pacific region, he said it significantly grew last year, although there is still a lot of recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This region itself is still relatively new for private jets compared to Europe and North America. Hence, we feel there’s going to be growth for the next five to 10 years,” he said.
VistaJet’s total fleet size stood at 300 aircraft, ranging from short-range to global-range jets, including Bombardier Challenger 350, Cessna Citation XLS jets, and Bombardier Global 7500.
“In 2023, 93 aircraft refurbishments were completed, meaning over 230 aircraft now offer the iconic silver and red service and feature the same onboard products customers are used to experiencing,” he said.
Touching on customer experience, he said the company also offers the VistaJet Wellness programme, which is an extension of its Private World offering for members, spanning four continents and over 20 therapies and wellness practices for everyone seeking to improve their health and wellbeing.
“We also ensure that our members land feeling their best as we have introduced a series of pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight features and services that support optimal health and maintain energy when flying with us,” Moore said, adding that the private jet also accommodates pets to fly with their paw parents. – BERNAMA
