London, UK – At the Monaco Yacht Show 2024, VistaJet and Bombardier hosted an exclusive roundtable discussion at the new Aviator Lounge by Bombardier to mark the 20^th anniversary of their collaboration. The event brought together the two industry leaders and peers from Fraser Yachts and Benetti Yachts to share insights into the future of luxury private aviation and its inextricable links with the yachting industry.

Top executives, including Matteo Atti, VistaJet’s Chief Marketing Officer, and Simon Rochefort, Vice President of Sales – Europe, discussed how the company has shaped the private jet industry and what drives ultra-high-net-worth individuals. They shared the importance of understanding their client’s evolving preferences and needs and the value of staying agile and open to new technologies, with Rochefort sharing stories of how VistaJet goes above and beyond to personalize every flight mission for its unique clientele.

“We use technology with discretion, as you only need to change as fast as people need,” said Atti. “It supports our teams – who in turn, become the most trusted partners for our clients – to make them more efficient and dedicated.”

It was revealed that VistaJet operates from 2,700 airports worldwide, which requires providing multiple services to meet clients’ needs from locations all around the world. Atti shared that VistaJet, the first and only global business aviation company, “offers a unique business model and product — guaranteeing an aircraft available for its Members anytime and anywhere, with the highest level of service, and a consistent experience on every flight.” Rochefort expanded how this has not been done in private aviation before, as it requires an immensely complex level of coordination across multiple roles –– from Private Dining and Client Services to Flight Scheduling and beyond –– to be able to serve flight in 96% of the world, in as little as 24 hours’ notice, 365 days a year. VistaJet’s service is renowned and unparalleled in the industry, offering fully enabled business suites to relaxing family spaces, served by Cabin Hosts trained by the British Butler Institute, MedAire, Norland College and Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Although VistaJet arranges tens of thousands of flights each year, every flight is unique.

To keep up with these demands, VistaJet has also developed booking and food delivery apps, offering personalized services tailored to its clients’ preferences. With a dedicated tech team of hundreds of experts, VistaJet has a strong focus on technological innovation. Atti disclosed that one standout feature of the Bombardier Global 7500, of which VistaJet has 18 in its fleet, is the Soleil lighting system, a daylight simulation system that their clients highly appreciate for its capacity to help reduce the effects of jetlag.

In addition to technological advancements, Bombardier representatives Mathieu Noël, Director of Product Strategy and Sustainability, and Ettore Rodaro, Regional Vice President of Sales, Europe, delved into the company’s work towards sustainable aviation. They spotlighted the Global 7500 and 8000 aircraft as examples of industry-leading innovation. Ettore stated, “Sustainability, when combined with technology, is rooted in engineering.” Bombardier’s entire portfolio of in-production aircraft is also covered by Environmental Product Declarations (EPD), publicly disclosing the environmental impact of each aircraft model with the objective of gathering essential information to reduce their environmental footprint at all stages of the value chain. 

The Bombardier Global 8000 aircraft will allow clients to fly up to 17 hours uninterrupted: “We recently had a client who flew from the famous Ambani wedding in India to Paris in 16 hours straight and another who flew from Saint Martin in the Caribbean to the Galapagos in 15 hours,” revealed Ettore.

With its ability to fly several nonstop routes, the Global 8000 will reduce the need for additional fuel stops to help minimize overall fuel consumption and emissions during long-haul flights.

The panelists also discussed the importance of leveraging innovation to address the needs of private aviation and yachts customers. Mathieu Noël stressed that “customer feedback, and responding to their spoken or unspoken needs, is an essential driver of innovation. Our customers are world-leading businesses like VistaJet and some of the most discerning individuals who don’t have the time for compromises – so we have always worked hard to remove any need for them, from being able to land on even the shortest runways or taking off in any weather, to minimizing the effects of turbulence through wing design, and enhancing the cabin experience.”

The roundtable also featured special guests from the yachting world: Fraser Yachts CEO Anders Kurtén and Benetti Yachts Marketing Director Camilla Calza and Head of Product Sebastiano Vida, who explored the growing link between private aviation and yachting.

Discussing how both industries serve a shared, demanding clientele, Kurtén noted: “When you talk about market trends, it’s healthy to understand that these ecosystems (yachts and aviation) are extremely scarce”. According to Kurtén, the younger audience wants more diversity regarding yachts, as they are focused on social spaces and what they can do onboard. “Younger clients want to continue their lifestyle on board seamlessly,” disclosed Kurtén. Features such as tenders, water toys, wellness areas, fine dining, and remote trips are in high demand. “Trips to Greenland on explorer yachts have tripled this past year, for example,” reflected Kurtén.

Kurtén provided an example of how the yachting industry is adapting to evolving demands through yacht design and crew recruitment. “We recently posted a job listing for a new crew position with the following description: ‘Trilingual, teaches yoga, can make a mean martini, and plays a musical instrument,’” he shared with a smile. This reflects the growing expectation for crew members to offer more diverse skills that align with the modern, lifestyle-focused experiences younger clients seek on board.

Camilla Calza and Sebastiano Vida shared this sentiment, mentioning that at Benetti the first step in designing yachts is to understand and often anticipate what the client wants, as every aspect of the process is based on the client relationship. A key example Calza referenced is the need for a shipyard to keeping in close contact and communication with clients, as the building process can take up to 3 years. “It’s one of the largest investments someone will ever make without actually being able to touch the end product at point of purchase”, Calza added.