As the world's major airlines stagger under the burden of rising costs and intrusive security precautions, small jets for rich people and prosperous businesses are taking off.
Manufacturers of corporate jet aircraft - those planes with up to 19 seats - report that they have recovered from the slump that inflicted a body blow to the small jet industry after 2001.
Leo Knaapen, media relations manager at Bombardier, which produces corporate jets in Canada, the United States and Northern Ireland, said the market was recovering 'quite nicely'.
'We have emerged from a very difficult economic period in the US, which is the No1 market for corporate jets in the world. Seventy per cent of the corporate jets in the world are based in the US. What we have seen is a slow but steady recovery,' he said.
After the 2001 peak, when 780 corporate jets were manufactured worldwide, the bottom fell out of the market. But the recovery has been quick: 508 planes were produced last year and this year the forecast is for about 550 units.
'When the GDP [growth] is measuring 3 per cent and higher, that's always a bellwether sign for corporate aviation. That means that decisions set aside by corporations to replace aircraft are now back on the table, so the discussions start again and negotiations begin again,' Mr Knaapen said.