The regional NBAA forum at West Palm Beach International (PBI), Fla., on March 10 served a slice of business aviation with complex ingredients. Fractional ownership has added occupants to the back of the cabin without always expanding the industry pie. In response, the supply side has retreated to its own back office to refine and customize menus for individual tastes in finance, aircraft and cabin service, as well as the growing need to backfill assets on short notice.
Despite mergers and new alliances, the supply side is evolving to a pot-luck: solo freelancers serving single end users, with traditional service providers acting as host. The recipe requires substantial new effort in the portions but fewer complete meals. A squad of reluctant freelancers approached the 39 exhibitors and 14 static displays,
chef-to-chef, as the entire banquet watched for its elusive diners.
