Deliveries of private jets fell by more than a fifth

Deliveries of private jets fell by more than a fifth last year as a result of the new coronavirus pandemic that affected production in the first half of the year. This was stated this week by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). According to the association, a total of 644 private planes were delivered last year. Compared to the record year of 2019, when deliveries reached 809 machines, a decrease of 20.4 percent. The new coronavirus pandemic damaged the sector the most in the first half of the year, when quarantine measures forced several companies to reduce production. In the second half of the year, private aircraft manufacturers such as Gulfstream, Bombardier and Textron recorded a recovery, recording the best quarter at the end of the year. Again, the pandemic contributed to this, increasing the demand from wealthier people for aircraft with fewer people due to the spread of the virus. However, despite a more pronounced recovery at the end of the year, the sector does not expect to return to pre-crisis levels this year. On the positive side, the area of ​​corporate travel is also slowly recovering. According to Tony Lefebvre of Signature Flight Support, he is recording the first signs of renewed interest from companies, which is mainly due to the ongoing vaccination against COVID-19.