Do you live in a small town / city close to an airport and want to make money? If Yes, here are 50 best profitable aviation related small business ideas.
The aviation industry is one of the most active industries in almost all countries of the world. The truth is that there is hardly any country that you won’t find airports. This goes to show that the aviation industry is one very busy and profitable industry with loads of business opportunities.
One good thing about the aviation industry is that the business opportunities that are available in the industry are not meant for accredited investors alone. As a matter of fact, entrepreneurs with little startup capital can still find their footings in the industry as there are smaller aviation related business ideas that an entrepreneur can start and make good money from.
It is important to state that the aviation industry is highly regulated, but the governments of most countries usually make the industry welcoming to both local and foreign investors. If you are interested in starting an aviation related business, here are some aviation related business ideas that you can choose from.
Best Aviation Business ideas
1. Airline Company
If you are a big time accredited investor or you have rich business partners, one of the aviation related business ideas you can consider starting is to launch your own airline. Launching an airline company is not a joke as it is highly capital intensive, but if you do your due diligence, you will realize that it is a profitable investment and if properly managed, you will breakeven earlier than expected.
You can start with local flights and if you have been able to build customer confidence and gain exposure, you can start flying international routes.
2. Helicopter Transportation Services Company
Similar to airline company is helicopter transportation services company. If you interested in the aviation industry but you cannot muster the startup capital to launch an airline company, then one of your best options is to go into helicopter transportation services.
There is indeed a large market for helicopter transportation services. You can sign a long – term contract with oil servicing companies so as to be the official carrier of their staff to and from offshore.
3. Private Jet Charter Services Company
Another thriving and profitable aviation related business that is open to big – time investors and accredited investors is private jet charter services business. Private jet charter companies basically provide air transport services on an irregular or non scheduled basis for passengers and cargo.
Private jet companies give their clients the room to fly wherever they want (in terms of destination and airport) and when they want, as opposed to commercial airlines that operate on a fixed schedule of destinations and time. It is important to state that private jet charter companies also offer scenic tours and sightseeing services.
4. Airport Shuttle Services Company
Airport shuttle services company is yet another good business idea in the aviation industry. The truth is that airports are known to be very busy with travelers most times of the year. When these passengers land, they usually take airport shuttles to an area where they can easily take taxi or their cars to their destination.
So, if you are interested in the aviation industry, then one of your options is to start airport shuttle services company. Please note that you may have to get the required license and permits to be able to run airport shuttle services.
5. Aviation Magazine (Travel Guide)
There are several businesses that an entrepreneur can launch in the value chain of the aviation industry and one of them is to start publishing aviation magazines. Information is key in any industry and all you need to do to gain ground with this type of business is to ensure that you have relevant contents in your magazine.
Part of the information that you should make available in your aviation magazine are the various business opportunities in the industry, the latest trends, news and information as it relates to the industry, and advisory services to investors who are looking towards investing in the aviation industry.
6. Flight Catering Services
Of course, you know that the foods and drinks that passengers eat during their flight are prepared by caterers. There are caterers that are major contractors to various airline companies. If you are a caterer in the aviation industry, you are sure going to make good money with less stress.
So, if you are looking towards starting a business in the aviation industry, one of the low startup aviation related businesses you can start is flight catering services.
7. Airport Cleaning Services Company
Airport cleaning services business is another aviation related business idea that an aspiring entrepreneur who has little startup capital but interested in the aviation industry can successfully start. As a matter of fact, airports are meant to be cleaned on a regular basis hence the need to hire the services of several cleaning companies at the same time.
8. Start Blogging on Aviation Related Topics
Another means of earning income from the business value chain of the aviation industry that an entrepreneur can successfully launch with little or no startup capital is to start blogging in related topics. It is interesting to note that there are loads of people out there who are making millions annually from blogging.
If you are an aviation professional or someone who has sound knowledge in the aviation industry, one of the businesses that you can consider starting is to start blogging on aviation related subjects.
The truth is that if your blog has useful and helpful contents, you will attract loads of traffic and if you have loads of traffic on your blog, you can easily secure good advertising deals from stakeholders and other businesses. Just ensure that you update your blog regularly with trendy and useful aviation tips and you will continue to attract traffic.
9. Ticketing and Reservation Services
Ticketing and reservation services are perhaps some of the most popular money spinning businesses in the aviation industry that an entrepreneur who is interested in starting a business in the industry should consider. Once people scale through the difficult hurdle of getting a visa, the next thing they begin to consider are tickets.
It is for this reason that the business is a very profitable one. You too may consider cashing in on the industry by starting a ticketing and reservation business. In starting this business, you will need a great wealth of knowledge in the industry.
10. Start an Aviation Related Talk Show on Radio
Another interesting aviation related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start is aviation related talk show on radio. If you are looking towards starting an aviation related talk show and you don’t have the finance to purchase airtime on TV, then going on radio is your best option.
The truth is that if your radio talk show is well organized to address key issues in the aviation industry, then you will sure attract large listenership and of course mouthwatering sponsorship deals from major players in the aviation industry in your country.
It is a cool way of making money, but you must always be on your toe when it comes to developing interesting and useful contents.
11. Start an Aviation Related TV Program
Another profitable and thriving business idea in the aviation industry that an entrepreneur who intends starting a business in the industry should consider is an aviation related TV show.
One thing is certain, if your TV program is well – packaged to address key issues as it relates to the aviation industry, then you will surely attract large viewership and of course mouthwatering sponsorship deals from major players in the industry in your country.
12. Luggage Delivery Services
Another aviation related business idea that an entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a business in the industry should consider is luggage delivery services. Luggage delivery business is all about helping travelers avoid the hassles of baggage merry-go-round waiting and security checks.
As a matter of fact, luggage delivery services go the extra mile to deliver luggage for their customers. All the customer needs to do is just pack their luggage, and the luggage delivery company takes and stores the luggage on their behalf. They also help in encoding the contents online so that the owner can update its contents against another trip.
13. Start an Aviation Consulting Business
Aviation consulting business is yet another thriving and profitable business in the aviation industry. If you have robust qualification and experience in the aviation industry, you can successfully start your own aviation consulting business.
There are several clients you can work for as an aviation consultant. Your clientele base will range from corporate organizations to government agencies and from individuals to businesses in the aviation industry. It is a cool way of earning good income from the industry.
14. Start an Aviation Training School
People that work in the airports in various capacities usually attend aviation school and in most cases, they get all the training required for them to get the needed certifications that will position them to grow in their chosen profession.
So, if you are interested in the aviation industry and you have what it takes to run a standard and accredited aviation school, then by all means you should open your own aviation school. Just ensure that you get all the required licenses and permits before launching the school.
15. Start a Travel Agency
Another highly thriving and profitable aviation business idea that an entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a business in the industry should consider starting is a travel agency. Travel agencies render services that cover all aspects of traveling.
They help their clients in securing visas, purchasing flight tickets, book hotels, book taxi cabs and bus shuttle services, make arrangement for sightseeing amongst other services.
So, if you are looking towards starting a business in the aviation industry, then one of your options is to start a travel agency. It is a cool way of making money from the industry and with little startup capital a serious-minded entrepreneur can successfully launch this type of business.
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Supply of Aviation Fuel
Another thriving and profitable business venture that an entrepreneur who is looking towards starting a business in the aviation industry should consider starting is the supply of aviation fuel.
The supply of aviation fuel isn’t a common type of business, but people are smiling to the bank every day as a result of supplying aviation fuel to airlines. This means that you will be saddled with supplying various airlines with aviation fuel at very competitive prices.
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Airline Servicing, Repair and Maintenance Company
The fact that planes are subjected to wear and tear means that there will be room for servicing, repair and maintenance. If you are interested in the aviation industry and you are in the engineering industry, you can consider starting your own airline servicing, repair and maintenance company.
It is important to state that you would need to prove your competence before you can be handed any plane to service, repair or maintain and one of the ways of showing your competence is to take and pass related certification programs.
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Plane Sewage Disposal Company
Have you ever thought of how the toilet in planes are emptied and disposed? In case you’ve not thought of it, it is disposed by sewage disposal companies.
So, if you are looking for an aviation related business to start, then you should consider starting a plane sewage disposal company. Your responsibility is ensuring that as soon as a plane lands, you empty the sewage and dispose them accordingly.
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Aviation Branding Company
Another aviation related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can start is to go into aviation branding business. Aviation branding companies are responsible for branding/customizing headphones, mugs, pens, and many other stuffs for airlines.
Once you have proven to be an expert as an aviation branding company, then you won’t struggle to get branding deals from airlines especially local airlines.
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Sewing Uniform for the Aviation Industry
From pilots to cabin crew members, to customer care officers, to security guards to tarmac control officers, all of them wear different uniforms.
As a matter of fact, there is hardly any airport staff that doesn’t wear a uniform. So, if you are looking for an aviation related business to start, then you should consider starting a business that specialize in sewing uniform for the aviation industry.
Just ensure that your finishing is pretty good and you won’t struggle to get contracts from airlines to make the uniforms of their staff.
Developing software apps for the aviation industry is yet another promising and profitable aviation related business that an aspiring entrepreneur can successfully start. In this dispensation, there is hardly any industry that does not work with software apps.
If you are a software app developer, then you should consider starting your own aviation software development company. If you can develop unique software for the aviation industry, then it won’t be long before your brand becomes an international brand.
Another aviation related business idea that someone who is already a player in the recruitment industry should consider starting is an agency that specializes in recruiting employees for the aviation industry. Of course, there are recruiting agencies that only recruit employees for the aviation industry and they are doing just pretty well. You can start by recruiting contract and junior staff.
One business that thrives within airports all across the globe is coffee cafés. If you are interested in starting an aviation related business, a business that requires low startup capital and minimal business skills, then you should consider opening a coffee café in any airport that is close to you.
It is proven fact that the turnover for an average coffee bar can be as high as 50%, that is why entrepreneurs who intend making good money from a business open their own coffee shop; they either start their own coffee bar from the scratch or buy a franchise.
Another aviation related business idea that is profitable and viable is the airport security services company. If you have been to any airport, aside from government security agents that provide security, there are private security personnel that check the planes after all the passengers must have disembarked.
These security guys ensure that the plane is safe and ready for the next flight. Most airline companies contract the security of their airplanes and even their crew members to private security agencies.
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Aircraft manufacturing Company
Aircraft production company is yet another capital intensive but profitable aviation related business that an investor can start.
You will agree that aircraft manufacturing business requires huge investment. The truth is that an upcoming entrepreneur cannot go into this type of business; you would have successfully amassed wealth before venturing into the aircraft manufacturing business.
The amount required to construct your plant, acquire the needed tools and equipment and of course hire core professionals is not what an average investor can get, even if they opt for loans from banks.
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Air Ambulance Company
Have you ever wondered how seriously sick people especially people in coma are transported from a hospital in one country to another hospital in another country? If you have, the answer is not far-fetched – they are transported by air ambulance. Starting an air ambulance company requires huge startup capital.
Purchasing one well – equipped air ambulance can be very expensive and this is excluding the amount required to hire pilots, professional nurses and doctors amongst other key staff. So, if you are interested in starting a business in the aviation industry, one of the businesses you should consider is to start an air ambulance company.
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FBO Sales and Advisory Services Company
Another aviation related business idea that is open to those who are in the financial industry is to start FBO sales and advisory services company.
Your responsibility as a core professional with interest in the aviation industry is to work with aviation businesses, airports, professional organizations, and fixed base operators, you will be providing solutions that will assist with sales, acquisitions and marketing et al.
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Airplane Washing Services Company
Planes are subjected to thorough cleaning after every journey, this goes to show that those who are into airplane washing services will not run out of business as long as the aviation industry is still active.
So, if you are interested in starting a business in the aviation industry, then one of your options is to start an airplane washing services company. It is a thriving and profitable business especially if you are able to secure airplane washing contract with an airline company with fleet of planes in their hanger.
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Aircraft Spare Parts Sales
The fact that aircrafts are subject to wear and tear means that some of their parts would need to be changed regularly. This goes to show that there is a market for aircraft spare parts.
So, if you are looking for an aviation related business to start, then one of your options is to open a business that retails aircraft spare parts. It is indeed a profitable business if you to know how to reach out to aircraft repair, maintenance and servicing companies.
Starting an airport bureau de change is yet another profitable aviation related business idea that is open to entrepreneurs.
A bureau de change which is also known as non-bank foreign currency exchange company is a business in competition with other financial related businesses that make profit from selling currency at a higher exchange rate than a rate at which it buys the same currency.
In setting its exchange rates, they ensure that they keep an eye on the rates quoted by competitors, and the rates may be subject to government foreign exchange control and other regulations. Just ensure that your bureau de change office is strategically located within the vicinity of the airport.
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Meteorological Services for the Aviation Industry
One of the major reasons responsible for cancellation or delay of flights is bad weather. As a matter, if fact, the aviation industry largely depend on weather forecast to be able to effectively carry out their services. So, if you are looking towards starting an aviation related business, then one of your options is to start a meteorological services company that provides reliable weather information for the aviation industry.
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Aviation Data Analysis Company
Another aviation related business idea that an aspiring entrepreneur should consider starting is to go open a business that collects, and analyzes data for the aviation industry. The fact that data is key a component when it comes to planning and projecting for the future means that stakeholders in the aviation industry will be more than willing to pay premium for the purchase of aviation related data.
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Private Jet Booking Services
If you have the business exposure and network required to do business in the aviation industry, then one of the aviation related business ideas you can successfully launch and make good money from is to open a private jet booking services company.
Just ensure that you have an active online presence, and you have business network with owners/managers of private jets listed for charter, you will do pretty well.
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Airplane Cargo Company
There are loads of businesses that depend on the importation of perishable goods and most often than not, these goods are transported as cargo via airplane.
If you have the financial capacity to purchase one or more cargo planes, then one of the aviation related businesses that you should consider starting is an airplane cargo company. You core responsibility will be to transport goods from one country to another via your cargo airplane.
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Aircraft Tire Manufacturing Company
Another aviation related business idea that an investor who is interested in the industry should consider starting is aircraft tire manufacturing company. Just like automobiles, after a while, the tires of aircrafts are changed and replaced with new ones.
This goes to show that there is a large market for aircraft tires. So, if you are financially stable and you are looking towards starting an aviation related business, then one of your options is to go into the production of aircraft tires.
Another easy to launch business in the aviation industry is to go into customized laundry services for airplanes. This type of business is ideal for someone who is already into laundry services. Airline laundry services companies help in washing the clothes of pilots, cabin crew members and all fabric materials inside the plane. It is a profitable and thriving business if you know how to market your services.
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Tire Inflation Services for Airlines
Tire inflation services for airlines is yet another aviation related business idea that an aspiring entrepreneur can start. Those that are involved in tire inflation services for airlines ensure that the tire of all aircrafts and helicopters meet the required standard.
Although most airline companies have their own in – house team that takes care of the inflation of tires for their aircrafts and helicopters.
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Helipad Construction Company
There are construction companies that are specialized in the construction of helipads. A helipad is a place where helicopters land and a helipad can be constructed in any part of town. Little wonder most rich men all around the world have helipads in their country homes.
So, if you are into construction, one of the aviation related business idea that you can start is to go into the construction of helipads. Just ensure that you target wealthy men and women who are likely going to hire helicopter on a regular basis or those who own helicopter.
Another aviation related business that a big – time construction company can specialize in is to go into airport construction.
Airport construction companies are involved in the construction of airports especially for governments. So, if you know you have what it takes to start a standard construction company, then you should consider starting an airport construction company.
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Airport Management Company
When airports are constructed, they are not just left without proper systems in place that will ensure that the airport is properly managed. As a matter of fact, even government of most countries of the world usually handover the management of their airports to competent hands that can effectively manage the airport.
So, if you have what it takes to put up a management team that can effectively manage an airport, then you should consider starting an airport management company.
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Airport Servicing and Maintenance Company
Airports are subjected to wear and tear; the facilities and equipment that are in the airport can become very bad if they are not properly taken care of. There are teams of experts that are specialized in the servicing and maintenance of airports.
So, another aviation related business idea that is open to core professionals is to start an airport servicing and maintenance company.
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Airport Cargo/Warehouse Management Company
When cargoes land, they are warehoused before the owners come to claim them. In some countries and states, private companies are assigned to manage the warehouses in airports. If you know you have the expertise and you are looking for an aviation related business to start, then you should consider starting an airport cargo/warehouse management company. It is a thriving and profitable business venture.
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Airport Trolley Manufacturing and Supply Business
In airports all over the world, there are trolleys positioned in strategic positions to aid travelers in pushing their luggage from one point in the airport to another. This goes to show that those who are into the manufacturing and supply of airport customized trolleys won’t run out of services.
So, if you are looking for an aviation related business idea to start, then one of your options is to go into the manufacturing and supplying of airport trolleys.
Another easy to start aviation related business that an entrepreneur can successfully start is to go into airport lawn care services. The grasses in airports are always properly taken care of and they are usually lush green and presentable. So, if you are looking for an aviation related business to start, then you should consider starting airport lawn care services company.
Cigar lounge at the airport is yet another aviation related business idea that is open to aspiring entrepreneurs. The fact that there are ‘No Smoking’ signs all across the airports does not mean that smokers cannot smoke within the airport facility.
Smokers usually look for cigar lounges within the airport if they want to smoke. A cigar lounge or cigar bar is a place where smokers go to buy their preferred cigar brand and smoke freely without the fear of being embarrassed, arrested or fined.