Flying Into A New Year – What The Holiday Season Teaches Us About The Future Of Private Aviation
- Brainz Magazine
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Elliot Ross Surgenor is the founder and CEO of Fly Business Aviation, with operational bases in Miami, Scottsdale, and Cabo. With a background in media, entrepreneurship, and luxury aviation, he specializes in elevating private travel through innovation and exceptional client service.
December has a very particular sound in private aviation. It’s the sound of hangar doors opening before sunrise. Of crews checking weather patterns across three time zones. Of families landing just in time to make it to Christmas dinner in Aspen, Los Cabos, or Courchevel. From the cockpit to the catering, the holiday season compresses everything we do into a few intense weeks where reliability, flexibility, and real human connection matter more than ever.
As someone who has spent the last decade building a private aviation company that operates across multiple countries and cultures, I’ve come to see the festive season not just as a busy period, but as a clear lens into where our industry is headed.
In this article, I want to share what Christmas and New Year’s travel reveals about the future of private aviation, and how leaders in this space need to think if we want to stay relevant in 2026 and beyond.
1. Holiday demand proves one simple truth: Time is the real luxury
Every December, business aviation data tells the same story, flight activity spikes. In recent years, analysts have repeatedly reported that the last two weeks of December are among the busiest of the year for private jets, especially on routes to winter and sun destinations in North America and Europe.
Behind those numbers, there’s a very simple truth, what our clients are really buying is time.
At Christmas, time becomes non-negotiable. The CEO, who is usually relaxed about delays, will not accept arriving late to open presents with his kids. The family flying from New York to Mexico or from London to the Alps doesn’t just want a comfortable cabin, they want to control the schedule.
For leaders in private aviation, that means our product is not an aircraft. Our product is time, delivered through:
Multiple bases and strategic locations. Smart crew and aircraft positioning.
Data-driven scheduling that anticipates peaks and constraints.
When we plan Christmas and New Year’s operations, we are not just “selling flights”, we are engineering hours of life that our clients will never get back. That mindset changes everything.
2. The rise of “emotional logistics”: Why experience design matters
Something interesting has happened over the last five years, our clients have become much more intentional about how they travel, not just where.
During the holidays, private jet trips often have a strong emotional component:
A surprise Christmas trip for a spouse or children. A multi-generational family reunion in a ski chalet.
A New Year’s escape to the beach after a difficult year.
This is where what I call “emotional logistics” comes in. Yes, we still coordinate flight plans, permits, and slots, but we also coordinate:
The right playlist when they board with their children.
Holiday-themed menus with our catering partners, from traditional turkey to healthy, gluten-free, or vegan options.
Subtle winter or festive touches in the cabin, scents, textures, and lighting that calm people down the moment they step on board.
Globally, surveys show that today’s luxury travelers prioritize experiences and personalization over material status symbols. Private aviation is no exception. The operators who will lead the next decade will be those who understand that operational excellence and emotional intelligence have to coexist in the same flight plan.
3. Sustainability and reality: Having the conversation honestly
The holiday season is also when many of us in aviation feel the weight of another conversation: sustainability.
Business aviation represents a small fraction of total aviation emissions globally, but that does not mean the concern is irrelevant. Clients, especially younger entrepreneurs and next-generation inheritors, are asking harder questions:
What are we doing about our footprint?
Are there credible offset or SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) options? Is private flying always the right answer for every trip?
As leaders, I believe we have a responsibility to answer honestly:
Acknowledge the impact. Pretending private jets have no environmental cost is not leadership.
Show what is already possible from more efficient aircraft types to route optimization, weight reduction, and the gradual adoption of SAF where available.
Offer informed choices. Some of our clients choose to consolidate trips, share legs, or use “empty legs” strategically to reduce waste.
The festive season is a great moment to introduce these conversations because people are naturally reflecting on values, legacy, and the kind of world they want their children to inherit.
4. Data, AI, and the invisible work behind a “perfect” Christmas flight
From the outside, a holiday flight looks simple, guests arrive, bags are loaded, champagne is poured, and the aircraft departs on time.
Behind that departure, there are hundreds of invisible decisions driven increasingly by data and technology:
Historical patterns tell us which days, times, and routes will be critical bottlenecks.
Dynamic pricing models allow us to position aircraft intelligently and make better use of empty legs.
AI-assisted tools can help us predict the best routing, anticipate weather disruptions, and even support our charter sales teams with faster, more accurate quotes.
Industry analyses show that business jet traffic has become more geographically diverse and operationally complex since 2020. To keep up, operators can no longer rely on manual processes and “experience in someone’s head” alone.
At Fly Business Aviation Group, we are investing heavily in what I call an “operational brain”, the combination of human expertise with digital tools that help us simulate scenarios, optimize aircraft use, and respond in real time.
The goal is not to replace humans, but to free them. When my team spends less time chasing spreadsheets, they spend more time doing what really matters, understanding our clients and making smart judgment calls in dynamic situations.
5. Human relationships still decide everything
For all the emphasis on aircraft, data, and systems, the holiday season always brings me back to the same conclusion, this is still a human business.
No AI can replace:
The pilot who chooses a slightly different approach because he knows a nervous flyer is on board.
The charter broker who calls the client personally when a snowstorm threatens to disrupt plans, offering alternatives before the client even asks.
The flight attendant who remembers that a passenger is allergic to nuts and quietly adjusts the catering without making them feel difficult.
Interestingly, trust has become one of the most valuable currencies in private aviation. During peak holiday periods, clients are not just asking, “Can you fly me there?” They are asking, “Can I trust you with my family, my time, and my peace of mind?”
In my view, the companies that will stand out in 2026 and beyond will be those that cultivate long-term relationships, not transactional bookings. That means investing in teams, training, culture and communication not just in aircraft.
6. Looking ahead: My predictions for holiday travel in the next 5 years
Based on what we’re seeing across multiple markets, here are a few things I believe will define Christmas and New Year’s private aviation in the near future:
Greater demand for secondary airports and bases. To avoid congestion and get closer to private villas, ski resorts, or coastal hideaways.
Hyper-personalized onboard services. From wellness-oriented menus and sleep-optimized lighting to curated experiences for children and pets.
Transparency as a differentiator. Clear communication about pricing, safety, and sustainability will become a competitive advantage, not a risk.
Smarter empty leg use. Technology will make it easier to match last-minute leisure travelers with repositioning flights, making the system more efficient and accessible.
Every year, as I watch our aircraft depart full of families, friends, and teams heading to close their year somewhere meaningful, I am reminded that private aviation is about more than logistics and luxury.
It is about stepping into deeply personal moments, proposals, reconciliations, last holidays with aging parents, first Christmas trips with newborns, and handling those moments with the seriousness they deserve.
Leadership in this industry is not just measured in fleet size or revenue. It is measured in how we show up when everything is on the line, tight weather windows, full holiday schedules, emotional passengers, complex regulations, and zero room for excuses.
As we fly into a new year, my commitment is simple, to keep combining precision with empathy, innovation with integrity, and speed with safety, so that every holiday flight we operate is worthy of the trust our clients place in us.
Because in private aviation, especially at Christmas, we are not just moving people from A to B. We are carrying their year, their stories, and sometimes, their entire hearts on board.
Read more from Elliot Ross Surgenor
Elliot Ross Surgenor, Visionary Entrepreneur and Founder
Elliot Ross Surgenor is a leading entrepreneur in private aviation and the founder of Fly Business Aviation, based in Miami, Scottsdale, and Cabo. With a background in media and international business development, he has built a company known for its innovation, personalized service, and refined operational standards. Elliot also leads Lusso Jet Design and Air Dining Cabo, subsidiaries focused on luxury jet interiors and in-flight catering. His expertise spans brand strategy, client experience, and aviation operations. He is also the host of a podcast exploring leadership and the future of the industry. Passionate about giving back, Elliot supports philanthropic efforts, including initiatives for children in need.
