New EBAA report surveys Millennials on the future of Business Aviation

How Millennials see the future of flying

Environmentally-friendly aircraft, ride-sharing and the ability to fly when and where you want: these are the expectations of Millennials when it comes to flying, according to a new survey published on May 29 by the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).

The survey, ‘Expanding Horizons: How Millennials see the Future of Business Aviation’, was publishedin cooperation with ThinkYoung and released at the 2018 European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE2018) in Geneva. It asked young people between 18 and 25 in four key European countries – Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Switzerland – about mobility, Business Aviation and the future of sustainable personal air transport.

The findings reveal that Millennials are hopeful that flying will become easier and cleaner in years to come. They also expect Business Aviation to become much more accessible for the Next Generation of users and for individuals seeking lucrative career opportunities.

Three key findings from the survey are that:

•   Millennial views on transport are closely linked to concerns about the environment: 40% said that climate change is the megatrend that will have the biggest impact on the development of sustainable personal air transport. Artificial intelligence and digitisation come next. They also expect most research on innovation in aviation to focus on making air transport more sustainable.

•   Millennials say the best thing about Business Aviation is the freedom and flexibility that it offers: 62% believe that the main benefit of Business Aviation its ability to take people where they need, when they need.

•   Millennials believe that while technology will find solutions to mobility questions, there will still be concerns about cost, trust and safety. For example, 60% of Millennials are ready to use ride-sharing air services, but only 46% are ready to use automated ride-sharing air services.

  The findings show that Millennials have an inherent commitment to our planet, technological advancement and equal opportunities. They see future mobility as an efficient, environmentally- friendly whole. They recognise the potential for Business Aviation to drive technological change in the wider aviation sector. And they can see its increasing accessibility and democratisation.

  EBAA Chairman Jürgen Wiese said the survey gave the Business Aviation sector a valuable platform to connect to young people in an ever-changing environment. “Integrating the Next Generation into ourindustry is paramount for the sector to master the transition into the next age of aviation. This report shows how this can be done and is just a starting point for many more encounters to follow. We arecommitted to listening and engaging with Millennials to expand our horizons together,” he said.

  ThinkYoung’s Founder and Chief Thinker Andrea Gerosa said the survey would be a valuable resource for the Business Aviation sector as it moved to expand its reach. “Millennials are rarely asked whatthey think, but they will determine our future. EBAA has looked two steps ahead: they have asked the Next Generation for their opinions on the future of transport, and they have pledged to take on board the messages from Millennials.”

The full report is available at www.expandinghorizons.com/news/new-ebaa-report-surveys- millennials-future-business-aviation.

About EBAA

European Business Aviation Association or EBAA, is a non-profit association based in Belgium that has existed since 1977. Its 715 member companies span all aspects of the business aviation sector inEurope and elsewhere. The EBAA’s aim is to promote excellence and professionalism amongst itsmembers and to ensure that business aviation is properly recognized as a vital sector of the European Economy. EBAA represents corporate operators, commercial operators, manufacturers, airports, fixed-base operators, and business aviation service providers.

About ThinkYoung

ThinkYoung is the first think tank to focus on young people. It was founded in Brussels in 2007 and now has offices in Geneva, Madrid and Hong Kong. ThinkYoung conducts studies and surveys, makes documentary movies, writes policy proposals and develops education programmes. ThinkYoungprojects have reached over 600,000 young people to date.