PrivateFly reports 15% of all European flights in June & July are to music events. Forget the trains and queues, those who can are adding a touch of luxury to their festival experience.
The official start of summer heralds the beginning of Europe's music festival season. And according to leading on-demand private jet service PrivateFly, more and more festival goers are choosing private aviation to make every second count – and to add a luxurious high note to their experience.
The private jet charter platform is reporting an annual increase in flights to music events, which represent 15% of all its European flights in June and July this year, versus 10% in 2018.
Whether it's to Glastonbury, Tomorrowland or a big club night in Ibiza or Mykonos, private jets are more and more in demand to transport not only artists and DJs, but festival goers themselves. According to Adam Twidell, CEO of PrivateFly, the flexibility benefits of private aviation are becoming compelling to many, in addition to the VIP polish it can add to the festival experience.
“With the hassles and delays often involved of getting in and out of these major events by traditional means, we’re seeing more demand for private air travel – from groups of friends celebrating a special birthday in style; to a growing number of corporate entertainment flights. It means the party can start the second you step foot on board.
“Many want to fly out early and back late, minimising travel time, beating queues, and keeping overnight stays to a minimum. So being able to choose your own departure times is a big advantage. Then there's the ability to delay the return flight if the program overruns. The artists and acts themselves work to a very tight schedule at this time of year, so many want to fly out fast as soon as their slot ends, and onto the next venue.”
PrivateFly also sees some festival-bound clients looking for highly-customised flight experiences, from special catering to decorating the aircraft. For one group, the company was asked to work to a very specific colour palette, branding both the aircraft and the crew in a particular shade of pink. And when it comes to the artists themselves, wellbeing onboard is a big priority.
Adam Twidell continues “You might think it’s champagne and caviar all the way on a private jet, but actually it’s just as common to see requests for copious amounts of specific mineral water and a dairy-free menu. And some vocal artists are also particular about cabin humidity. One who flies long haul chooses to fly in a Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft, as it comes with a humidifier and bacteria filter – lessening the chances of any voice issues before the big performance.”
Prices from PrivateFly include a £4,950 for a one-way helicopter flight (twin engine, 6 seats) from London to Glastonbury; and £8,050 for a 6-seater Nextant 400XTi private jet from London to Ibiza.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
