Business jet operators see demand surge on U.S. travel restrictions, coronavirus

New US restrictions on Europeans entering the US are fueling additional bookings for business jet flights, which were already in higher demand this year because of coronavirus, executives said Thursday. Travellers are rushing to return to the US before a 30-day US ban starts on Friday on foreign citizens entering the country if they have travelled to Europe in recent weeks. The US order, announced Wednesday to curtail the coronavirus outbreak, applies to citizens of 26 European countries but excludes Britain and Ireland as well as American citizens. “We’re seeing a significant number of requests in the past few hours from Americans currently in Europe, looking to fly back to the US,” said Adam Twidell, CE of Private Fly, a global booking service for charter flights. While airlines hit by the outbreak are bracing for a further blow from the new restrictions, Private Fly and others have seen higher demand this year from affluent customers keen to avoid commercial flights and potential coronavirus exposure. Given market turmoil, it is not yet clear whether demand for private flights will translate into new orders for planes from jet makers like France’s Dassault Aviation, Canada’s Bombardier and Gulfstream.<br/>