When the chief executives of major US car companies flew their jets to Washington in 2008 to ask for a government bailout, it caused a public outcry. While the CEOs' travel followed corporate policy, the backlash led to many firms to avoid private jets during the economic downturn.

But after a two-year hiatus, jet use appears to be on the uptick again. The Wall Street Journal recently spoke to Edward Bolen, president and CEO of the US-based National Business Aviation Association, about the current climate.