Episode summary
VistaJet US President Leona Qi on Global Private Jet Expansion | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
· · 11 min · Hosts: Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec · Guests: Leona Qi
Summary
Private aviation demand is still surging, and Leona Qi said VistaJet is seeing that growth across both the U.S. and international markets. She described VistaJet as an asset-owning operator with close to 300 aircraft and a subscription model that guarantees availability, positioning private flying as a business tool rather than a pure luxury purchase.
Qi said the strongest demand comes from wealth creation in the U.S., especially the West Coast, energy, and financial sectors, while international growth is showing up in new corridors across Asia, China, Africa, and the Middle East. She also said private flying is getting younger, with more first-time flyers under 45 and a shift among tech and new wealth clients who value productivity and mobility.
She argued that private aviation can be an early indicator of where capital is moving, citing demand tied to infrastructure, energy, and M&A activity. Qi also said airports are responding with premium terminals and facilities, even as pilot supply remains tight and expensive long-range international trips can cost $150,000 to $250,000 one way.
Key takeaways
- Qi said VistaJet owns its fleet and sells a subscription model with guaranteed availability, including 24-hour notice in the U.S. and Europe.
- She said U.S. demand is still the largest in private aviation, with especially strong activity from the West Coast, energy, and financial sectors.
- Qi said first-time private flyers are getting younger and increasingly view private aviation as a business tool, not just a luxury.
- She said international demand is building in new corridors across Asia, China, Africa, and the Middle East, including 63% growth between Hong Kong and Tokyo.
- Qi said private aviation can signal where capital is flowing, with demand tied to infrastructure, energy, and M&A rather than tourism.
Notable quotes
“We own our entire assets. We have close to 300 aircraft fleet and growing. Our flagship model is subscription based”
“The demand is literally everywhere. Um, there's the wealth creation is really fast as you guys probably know reporting all the IPOs, the creation of multi-millionaires”
“Private aviation or general aviation, business aviation really is not in the bucket of a luxury purchase like like a supercar or a yacht rather is a management tool for productivity and mobility”
“For sure. I think we're a early indicator of where the capital is flying uh flowing”
“so you're looking at somewhere around 150,000 to $250,000 and if you're looking at a round trip that's half a million dollar so that's very different”
How the episode opens
Bloomberg Audio Studios podcasts, radio news.
You're listening to Bloomberg Business Week with Carol Masser and Tim Stenc on Bloomberg Radio. Demand for private aviation just surging right now. Our Bloomberg News team reporting just last month that the Canadian business jet maker Bombardier wants to expand its manufacturing and maintenance capabilities as demand surpasses expectations and acquisitions may be part of the strategy.
Bombardier announced in January that it would build a new manufacturing center near Montreal to boost production mainly for its smaller Challenger models. Leona Key understands the supply and demand when it comes to private aviation. She's president of Vista Jet US.
She joins us here in the Bloomberg Interactive Brokers studio. I love talking aviation and planes. Nobody nobody will be surprised by that if they listen or watch us regularly.
We do speak to a lot of folks in in private aviation. There are a lot of different models in private aviation, whether it's fractional ownership, whether it's the jet card. Uh where does Vista Jet fall in that spectrum?
Uh so we're kind of unique in that way. We own our entire assets. We have close to 300 aircraft fleet and growing. Our flagship model is subscription based. The people buy number of hours per year. And what in return what we're guaranteeing our members around the world is guaranteed availability on our fleet
Within 24-hour notice in the United States and in Europe and 48 hour uh 48 hour notice for international flights. — Where are you seeing demand come from right now within the US and globally — Within the United States? So, United States traditionally and right now is still the biggest market in private aviation. The demand is literally everywhere. Um, there's the wealth creation is really fast as you guys probably know reporting all the IPOs, the creation of multi-millionaires.
From the episode’s captions: roughly the first two minutes, lightly cleaned. Keep watching on YouTube →
Topics
- private aviation
- airport investment
- premium travel demand
- business travel trends
- capital flows
Companies and tickers mentioned
- VistaJet
Watch the episode
Summary, takeaways and quote selection by Octagon. Quotes are short excerpts; the full conversation is in the episode.
More from Bloomberg Businessweek Daily
-
Bloomberg Businessweek Weekend - November 13th, 2026 | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Inside Jensen Huang’s Final Hours as Nvidia CEO | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Jensen Huang's Exit Kicks Off Nvidia Strategy Reset | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Special Episode: Bobby Jain on Why He Chose Millennium Again | Bloomberg Businessweek -
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily Podcast: Jensen’s Nvidia Departure -
Take-Two Releasing Long-Awaited Grand Theft Auto VI Next Week | Bloomberg Businessweek
Bloomberg Businessweek Daily, this episode and its artwork belong to Bloomberg. Octagon is not affiliated with the show; this page is an independent summary.
