Wealthy people in England were booking private jets to escape the lockdown set to be introduced on Thursday, according to jet brokers.
根据飞机经纪公司的消息,英格兰的富人们纷纷预定私人飞机以逃离本周四(11月5日)开始实行的封锁。
Air Partner, one of the biggest aircraft charter firms, said there had been a "sharp rise" in private jet bookings "out of the country before Thursday", as people look to avoid the lockdown and instead spend the time overseas.
最大的飞机租赁公司之一航空伙伴称,由于人们想去国外避开封锁,“周四前”预定私人飞机出国的订单量“激增”。
The company, which supplies planes to Premier League footballers, celebrities, the royal family and six out of the eight governments in the G8, said it had been overwhelmed with enquiries from wealthy people seeking to escape the UK for second homes overseas.
这家公司向英超球员、名人、王室成员和八国集团中的6国政府提供飞机。该公司称,想要逃离英国前往海外住宅的富人们的咨询让他们应接不暇。
"Many of these flight enquiries are for individuals wishing to go to their second homes in Europe, with the Canary Islands, which are still warm at this time of year, being the most sought-after destination," the company said in a statement. "We do expect to continue to see some demand for private jet flights during the rest of the month for business travel, particularly as many commercial flights become grounded and unavailable."
该公司在一份声明中说:“许多查询飞机服务的都是想去欧洲第二住所的人,现在这个时候依然温暖的加那利群岛是最热门的目的地。我们预期这个月一些商务旅行人士还会对私人飞机有需求,尤其是在许多商业航班都被叫停、无法预订的情况下。”
The new lockdown in England, which has come into force on Thursday, will ban residents in England from travelling abroad except for essential work until at least 2 December.
英格兰的新一轮封锁于本周四实行,除以重要工作为目的外,英格兰居民被禁止出国旅行,封锁时间至少持续到12月2日。
Commercial airlines have dramatically reduced their flight schedules in anticipation of an even greater fall in demand for international travel, which has been moribund since the pandemic began.
由于预期跨国旅行需求量将进一步暴跌,商业航空公司已经大幅缩减了航班。自从疫情暴发以来,跨国航班基本处于停滞状态。
However, private jet operators have reported a much smaller decline in bookings. The operators say this is because the richest of the rich have continued to travel as much as before. In addition, more moderately wealthy people are seeking out private jets as they view it as a safer way to travel during the pandemic because it avoids potentially crowded commercial planes and airport terminals.
但是,私人飞机运营商报告称其预定量的降幅要小得多。运营商表示,这是因为最富的那群人的旅行数量和以往差不多。此外,一般的有钱人选择私人飞机是因为他们将其视为疫情期间更安全的旅行方式,可以避免商业飞机和航站楼拥挤的人群。
Private jet operators also reported a rise in bookings ahead of the first UK-wide lockdown in March. Private jet companies also marketed "evacuation flights" out of countries badly hit by the virus.
私人飞机运营商还报告称,三月份在英国实施首次全国封锁之前,预定量也有所上升。私人飞机公司还针对受疫情重创的国家进行“撤离航班”营销。
The number of private flights dipped by just 10% between 1 September and 15 October compared with last year, according to aviation consultancy WINGX. That compares to a more than 50% drop in scheduled commercial flights.
根据航空咨询公司WINGX的数据,私人飞机的航班数量在9月1日至10月15日期间同比仅下降了10%。相比之下,商业航班预订量下降了逾50%。
Richard Koe, managing director of WINGX said: "The advantages of flying private, notably hygiene-control and convenience, should continue to draw some customers from the airlines."
WINGX公司总经理理查德·高说:“私人飞机的优势显然是卫生管控和便利性,这一优势将继续从航空公司那里抢走客户。”
Oliver Stone, managing director of private jet brokerage firm Colibri Aircraft, said: "Covid-19 has also resulted in an increase in enquiries from potential first-time buyers of business aircraft as the crisis has helped raise the profile and benefits of flying privately amongst those who can afford to do this.
私人飞机经纪公司Colibri Aircraft的总经理奥利弗·斯通表示:“新冠疫情还导致有意初次购买商业飞机的问询量增加,因为在那些能够负担这一费用的人心中,这一危机使得乘坐私人飞机的地位和益处得到提升。”
"For many business owners and executives, travel is a necessary component to keep their business running. The use of private aviation is now often the only way to continue to travel and keep their companies operational."
“对于许多企业老板和高管来说,出行是保持企业运转的必要组成部分。乘坐私人飞机如今往往是继续出行、保持公司运转的唯一方式。”
Private jets emit about 20 times more carbon dioxide per passenger mile than commercial flights, according to industry data.
行业数据显示,乘坐私人飞机的二氧化碳每客位英里排放量比乘坐商业航班高出约20倍。