Wealthy jump to private jets to duck airlines and cut virus risk

FILE PHOTO: A woman wearing a protective face mask, following an outbreak of the coronavirus, walks past banners of the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building in Tokyo, Japan, February 28, 2020. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/

LONDON: Growing fear over coronavirus is battering commercial airline stocks, but private jet operators are seeing a spike in demand as well-heeled travelers look to minimize their public exposure and find alternatives to suspended flights.

"There’s undoubtedly been a rise in demand for short-notice, on-demand charter, ” said Adam Twidell, chief executive officer of jet charter provider PrivateFly. "We’ve had a very significant number of inquiries, for group evacuations, and from corporates and individuals.”