Jamie Walker, executive chairman of Jetlink, recently returned to a more active role after a 2-year break.

Jetlink focuses on a local market approach, with private terminals or partnerships in over 20 locations. They have found success in acquiring and integrating smaller local charter operators.

However, they have struggled with illegal charter competition in some markets. Walker emphasises Jetlink's commitment to safety and quality, and their plans to continue growing their domestic footprint through organic expansion and strategic partnerships.

The challenges of attracting talent to the business aviation industry have not gone away. Especially for roles like pilots and mechanics. Neil believes there may be a shortage of talent but there is also a shortage of attracting talent.

Retaining talent, especially mechanics, can be difficult due to compensation differences compared to commercial aviation. Providing career development opportunities and making employees feel valued are important.

There are cultural differences between business aviation and commercial aviation that impact the type of candidates that thrive in each environment. Assessing cultural fit is crucial when hiring.

Owners of private aircraft often rely heavily on their pilots' input when selecting aircraft models, showing the importance of the pilot-owner relationship in business aviation.

Advice for those looking to enter business aviation includes being proactive, getting exposure to the industry, and being honest about the demands of the work.

Thank you Neil for sharing your insights!

Join us this week with Mark Hardman, the founder of the business aviation company RightJet. Mark and Alasdair discuss the company's growth over the past 5 years, including expanding their showroom presence in the UAE and focusing on providing a full suite of services - from aircraft sales and charter to management.

Mark shares his extensive background in the industry, having started in aviation 40 years ago at Stansted Airport. He talks about the evolution of business aviation, particularly in the Middle East market, and how RightJet differentiates itself through a focus on ethics, transparency, and delivering exceptional service.

Thanks for joining us Mark!