How to fly like F1 drivers, pop stars and billionaires

What do Taylor Swift, Elon Musk and Max Verstappen have in common besides being successful and wealthy? The answer is in how they travel, having left first class far behind. Private aviation, or business aviation as the industry calls it, is its own world entirely. And while it has long been associated with a very particular kind of wealth, the people actually using it might surprise you.

In this episode of TransportBT, a podcast of BT Correspondents, Derryn Wong speaks with Crystal Wong, president of APAC at Vista, one of the world’s leading business aviation companies, to pull back the curtain on a sector that is growing faster in Asia-Pacific than almost anywhere else. This is a genuinely fascinating conversation about time, money and what it actually takes to fly like that.

Why listen

• What private aviation actually costs and how the pricing models work  From subscription programmes guaranteeing availability to ad hoc charter flights, Wong breaks down the options and puts a number on it. Around US$15,000 per hour is the starting point, but the details matter.

• Who is actually flying privately and it is not who you think  Families flying between homes, founders under 30 built on AI money and Fortune 500 companies running two aircraft simultaneously across continents. Wong maps out a customer base that goes well beyond the celebrity cliché.

• Why Asia-Pacific is the most exciting growth market in business aviation right now  Vista‘s Asia-Pacific business grew 25 per cent in its most recent results. Wong explains what is driving that and why the stigma around flying privately is quietly disappearing among Asian business owners.

• What the Global 8000 actually does differently and why it matters for long-haul travellers  Cabin pressure, fatigue and the engineering behind feeling less exhausted when you land.

Time is the real luxury here. This episode explains exactly how the industry sells it. Listen now.

Discover more episodes at bt.sg/podcasts. Got feedback? Email us at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg.

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Written and hosted by: Derryn Wong (derrynwong@sph.com.sg)

With Crystal Wong, president of APAC, Vista.

Edited by: Howie Lim & Claressa Monteiro

Produced by: Derryn Wong, Howie Lim & Chai Pei Chieh

A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times, SPH Media

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Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice.

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