The cost of hiring a private jet depends on several factors. We look at these factors and discuss the cost of chartering different classes of private jets.
What does it cost to charter a private jet?
The cost of hiring a private jet depends on a number of factors, including the size and type of aircraft, the distance to your destination, and any specific onboard requirements you may have. This guide breaks down what could impact the average cost to charter a plane, with examples across different jet categories and use cases to help you understand your options. Whether you’re traveling for business, a special occasion, or simply prefer the elevated experience of flying private, you will learn what costs to expect when arranging a private jet charter.
Understanding the costs of flying private
As the demand for luxury private jet charters is growing, understanding pricing factors is key to planning your next trip. Before diving into cost breakdowns, let’s answer a few frequently asked questions (FAQs) that help clarify the value of this premium travel experience.
Is it cheaper to buy a private jet or charter one?
Even if you fly frequently, it’s usually more time- and cost-effective to charter a private jet than to purchase an aircraft outright. The cost of owning a private jet isn’t just a once-off expense. When you buy a private jet, you will also need to plan for operational costs like maintenance, fuel, storage, and staffing.
By choosing private jet charter services from a reputable brokerage like Air Charter Service (ACS), you can still enjoy all the benefits and flexibility of flying a private jet without all of the long-term financial commitments associated with ownership. Not only that, but you get to decide which aircraft best suits your requirements for every trip you take, as opposed to being limited by a single aircraft.
What else is included in a private jet charter?
Chartering a private jet with ACS offers unmatched, personalized solutions for both business and leisure travel.
When you charter with us, you travel in the aircraft that best suits your unique requirements. With access to more than 50,000 private aircraft, we are always able to source the most appropriate aircraft for your journey. On top of that, our more than 30 years of experience in jetting our customers across the globe, our buying power, and our reputation allow us to negotiate the best possible charter cost for you.
Every time you request a private jet charter with us, you’re assigned a dedicated account manager, who you can contact 24/7 to answer any questions or handle any last-minute requests. You are in control of your schedule at all times, with your account manager often even able to arrange an earlier or later departure time at reasonably short notice.
To enhance your journey, The Travel Division at Air Charter Service can arrange concierge services, ground transportation, and hotel bookings. These tailored itineraries make ACS an all-in-one travel partner.
Why do private jet charter costs vary?
It’s understandable to question why the costs of private jet charters vary so much. There are typically a number of factors that influence how much a private jet rental will cost. These include:
- Aircraft type and size
- Distance
- Refueling
- Airport fees
- Crew salaries
- Taxes
- Repositioning costs
- Number of passengers
- Amount of luggage
The size of the aircraft and the distance to the destination tend to have the biggest impact on the cost. This is why it is so important to find the right aircraft to suit your budget, route, and the number of passengers who fly with you.
Why you should charter a private aircraft
Chartering a private jet comes with many benefits compared to commercial options:
- Time efficiency: Avoid lengthy airport queues and wait times, and fly according to your own schedule.
- Flexibility: Choose times and dates that work for you, with the flexibility to adjust departure times on short notice.
- Privacy: Privacy is one of the key benefits of a private jet charter. You will be taken through a private terminal straight to your waiting aircraft, and the only other passengers on the flight will be those who you want to travel with you.
- Access to remote destinations: Private jets can reach remote locations that either have runways that are too small for bigger aircraft or that are not serviced by commercial airlines.
- Hassle-free: You don’t have to worry about long passport and security queues or have anxiety about your flight being delayed/canceled and spending hours waiting in the airport.
What is included in a private jet charter price?
Private jet charter costs typically cover:
- Hire fee: This is the direct cost of hiring the aircraft.
- Fuel for the distance you travel: Prices change constantly, so a surcharge is usually added to make up the difference between the projected cost of your private jet charter quote and the actual cost of flying.
- Landing fees: These are calculated on the size and weight of your aircraft. These vary from airport to airport and go towards maintaining airport facilities.
- Airport fees: Fees for managing an aircraft on the ground by an FBO (fixed-base operator) or aircraft handling company. This includes arranging fuel and passenger transport to and from the terminal and rest facilities for the crew.
- Crew hire: Pilots and attendants' salaries, accommodation for any overnight stays, and transport. Catering: If requested, catering will be covered in the hire fee.
- Insurance and taxes: Liability insurance, in-flight insurance, crew insurance, and an array of taxes that are applicable to every private jet.
- Maintenance and cleaning: Aircraft need to be maintained to a high standard when they are on the ground and thoroughly cleaned between every flight.
- Extra amenities: Wi-Fi, video systems, and other extra amenities.
- Additional services: Ground transportation, concierge services, and booked accommodations.
What does it cost to fly private?
Here are a few examples of private jet flight costs, separated by the different types of private jet charter.
Please note that all prices are based on operators' pricing profiles as well as their past quoting behavior. Prices are exclusive of sales taxes. Prices quoted in this article are an estimate based on a variety of factors. Please contact our charter experts for a fixed price.
What is the cost of a charter flight on a turboprop or light jet?
For a short flight, turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 can be a very cost-effective option. For example, this popular commuter plane can cost between $5,000 and $7,000* for short hops like a flight from New York to Boston. Turboprop aircraft are perfect for ultra-short-haul journeys on a budget.
Other economical options include light jets like the Cessna Citation CJ3+, which is a common (and comfortable) light jet charter choice for business travel. This aircraft can complete a two-to-three-hour journey at a cost of around $9,000–$11,000.
The Phenom 300E is another popular and cost-effective choice. This super-light jet can get you and three other passengers from, for example, Los Angeles to Las Vegas in about an hour and cost between $9,000 and $11,000. Or, if you wanted to fly from New York to Palm Beach, it could cost in the range of $15,000 to $20,000.
In short, the cost of chartering a light jet depends on the aircraft choice and route. However, they are best for shorter journeys. If you’re looking to reduce your private jet charter costs by chartering a smaller plane over a greater distance, keep in mind that this may end up making your journey more expensive. Smaller private jets that have to cover long distances will need to stop to refuel. This will likely increase the cost because of landing, refueling, and the extra time added to your journey.
What is the cost of a charter flight on a midsize or super-midsize jet?
Your charter plane cost will likely increase as your need for additional passenger and luggage space increases. Chartering a midsize plane does, however, allow you to cover greater distances at higher speeds. There’s a lot of choice when it comes to midsize jet charter, as different combinations of range, speed, and comfort make midsize jets viable for both short-haul and long-haul flights.
A more efficient alternative to the larger heavy jets, their lower operating costs, along with ample luggage compartments, fold-out divans, and enclosed bathrooms, make them a popular choice. Most also offer full stand-up cabins, and some have a flight attendant on board.
If you’d like to fly back to New York after a vacation in Palm Beach, a midsize jet charter from Palm Beach International to Teterboro Airport can cost between $25,000 and $30,000. Or, if you need to fly across the country, the five-hour journey from New York to Los Angeles on board the sleek, midsize Gulfstream G150 will cost anywhere between $30,000 and $35,000. The same journey in the popular eight-seater Cessna Citation X can cost more than $40,000.
Alternatively, the five-hour journey from Atlanta to San Francisco can cost between $40,000 and $50,000 in a super-midsize Bombardier Challenger 300.
What does it cost to charter a heavy jet?
If you require more space or if you’re embarking on a long journey, heavy jets are typically the most viable option. Although the price of chartering a private heavy jet is usually higher than that of a light or midsize jet, it does enable you to take more passengers with you over longer distances.
For example, a long-haul flight from New York to London is best suited to a heavy jet such as the Gulfstream G450. This private jet typically accommodates 14 passengers and would cost between $80,000 and $90,000 to complete the trans-Atlantic flight.
If you need to travel across the Pacific without stopping, your choices are more limited due to the number of aircraft capable of such a long flight. A 13- or 16-seat ultra-long-range Bombardier Global 6000 is one aircraft capable of the 14-and-a-half-hour flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. The cost to charter this jet for this mission can exceed $190,000.
The most popular private jets in the USA
If you’re not sure which private jet to choose, perhaps one of the most popular private jets around will suit your needs. Here are a few of our most popular private aircraft:
1. Cessna Citation XLS+
Combining exceptional performance and fuel efficiency with passenger comfort, the midsize Cessna Citation XLS+ remains one of the world’s most popular private jets. The six-seater aircraft is renowned for its spacious interior, boasting the largest cabin in its class and features that are usually reserved for larger commercial jets. The roomy interior features six extra-wide reclining seats complete with consoles that allow passengers to control the light and temperature. It also has a maximum range of approximately 2,100 miles.
2. Beechcraft King Air 200
The Beechcraft King Air 200 is the most successful turbine-powered business plane in history. This twin-engine turboprop plane can take up to seven passengers, and the squared-oval cabin can be designed to a club four, single chair, and two-seat divan configuration. With a max range of just over 2,100 miles, it’s a quiet, economical jet perfect for leisure and business travel.
3. Bombardier Learjet 60
The Bombardier Learjet 60 is renowned for its fuel efficiency and NASA technology. It’s also one of the most competitively priced midsize jets. It can accommodate up to eight passengers and has a spacious, comfortable cabin suitable for both work and leisure. Its luggage compartment is also relatively large for the aircraft’s size. The maximum range of this aircraft is just short of 2,800 miles.
4. Cessna Citation X
The Cessna Citation X has long been one of the country’s most popular private charter jets. The cabin can typically fit eight passengers, and it usually has two club suites separated by fold-away tables that can double up for work and dining. There is also a heated and pressurized baggage compartment, which protects belongings from external weather conditions. It also has a maximum range of roughly 4,000 miles.
5. Gulfstream IV
Gulfstream is one of the most trusted names in the private aviation industry, and the Gulfstream IV is one of its most popular aircraft. Also known as the G-IV or GIV, it has a completely customizable interior and most commonly will seat up to 14 passengers. Given its sizeable luggage compartment and range of around 4,500 miles, it’s the perfect choice for groups.
6. Hawker Beechcraft 800XP
The Hawker 800XP is a stand-out choice regarding features and amenities, striking an excellent balance between comfort, availability, fuel economy with a maximum distance of around 2,800 miles, and cruise performance for its class. This makes it a popular choice for private charters, and it can seat up to eight passengers in a variety of layout options.
Ready to charter your own private aircraft?
Whether you're planning a vacation, corporate trip, or a special occasion, ACS can help you charter private jet flights tailored to your needs. From light jets to long-range options, we provide expert support at every stage of your journey.
Private jet charter costs are always subject to change, so for a full quote on private jet charter flights or to find out more about how to charter a plane, simply contact us.
* A reminder that all prices are based on operators' pricing profiles as well as their past quoting behavior. Prices are exclusive of sales taxes. Prices quoted in this article are an estimate based on a variety of factors. Please contact our charter experts for a fixed price.