From safety to transatlantic flights, costs to cards and brokers, this article answers commonly asked private jet charter questions. It’s a Q & A based on the intimate industry knowledge of Airvel’s air charter specialists.

What is air charter?

Private air charter involves booking an entire aircraft for a flight between the destinations of your choice. You can fly at anytime and usually fly without restrictions.

This is a contrast to commercial flights, where you only pay for an individual seat and fly on scheduled routes. Commercial flights routes have pre-determined destinations and times. Air charters allow you to fly anywhere, anytime.

You charter the aircraft and like most of other charter services, you can enjoy enormous flexibility. It’s your charter, so customize it to your needs.

How much does it cost to charter a private jet?

Private air charters cost from USD 2000 – 6000 +.

Private jet charter costs are dependent on the size and type of the private jet you charter. Understandably, larger and faster jets cost more per hour, just like larger and faster motor vehicles cost more to rent.

Like most commercial flights, the price is dependent on the length of the journey. Each jet has its own price per hour. So the cost of any private jet flight is heavily dictated by flight duration.

Remember, with an air charter you cannot buy a seat but must charter the entire aircraft. So the price per person reduces significantly when the plane is full. This article explains how much is a private jet flight and gives tips on reducing the cost of your flight. You may also want to know how private air travel is cheaper than you think and compare private jet vs first class commercial flights.

You can explore a private jet charter cost estimator and use Airvel to calculate the instantly price of any air charter, between any destinations on any type of aircraft.

How much to charter a jet per hour?

Private jets can be chartered from as little as USD 1400 per hour. Most jets for charter cost less than USD 6000 per hour. This guide to aircraft for charter will explain different jets and their prices per hour.

The luxury of an air charter is the time you save. Most charters are on not on incredibly luxurious aircraft. The aircraft are simple, comfortable and affordable. They can transport you efficiently between any destinations and they create value by creating time. So instead of thinking about a celebrity or presidential jet, consider the seven most average private jets and their cost.

How much to charter a jet to Europe?

USD 50,000 is a good starting point for understanding single leg air charters from the US to Europe. Return flights depend on when you plan to return but are usually less than the price of two single flights.

New York to London is almost the minimum flight distance. That is close to 3500 miles so you need to charter a private jet that has significant range. Even mid-sized jets cannot make transatlantic private flights so heavy jets answer the call when you need to fly further. These larger jets, like Gulfstream G4, Gulfstream 500, Falcon 900 and Bombardier’s global aircraft, cost significantly more per hour versus light jets and turboprops.

Read more about transatlantic private jets here.

How much does it cost to charter a small jet?

Powered by turbine propeller engines, turboprops are extremely fuel efficient at low speeds and low altitudes. Another turboprop advantage is their ability to land on short or dirt runways. Prices are usually USD 1400 – 2200 per flying hour.

Light jets can typically cruise at around 440 mph and have a range of around 1500 miles. They still have the flexibility to land on short airstrips and minor airports. Price per flying hour car vary from USD 2000 – 3200.

Both turboprops and light jets can be considered small as they can carry four to nine passengers.

How much to charter a King Air 350?

Beechcraft King Air dominate the turboprop market and are some of the most popular aircraft for charter. These aircraft provide excellent value for short flights and are a very popular solution for both private and corporate travel. The King Air 200 is the best selling turboprop business aircraft of all time.

The King Air 350 has a standard cabin configuration of nine seats and is one of very turboprops that can cruise at altitudes over 30,000 feet. Typical costs are around USD 1900 – 2200 per flying hour for round trip flights.

Read more about King Air charter in this article.

How safe are private jets?

All flights and aircraft in the US are governed by Federal Aviation Authority regulations.

The minimum requirement for all private jets is a FAA Part 91 certification, including all jets flown for personal purposes. All commercial flights are governed by Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. To ensure safety, all air charter operators and aircraft should have FAA Part 135 certification. This rigorous protocol make private jets safe for passengers. The rules and requirements cover the operator, aircraft, pilots and personnel.

Statistics show that you are 12 times more likely to have an incident on a Part 91 aircraft than a Part 135 aircraft. However, it is possible for an operator to get paid for flights under Part 91. At Airvel we do not think this is acceptable. We do not believe that FAA Part 91 is a marker of safety and our booking engine only offers aircraft operating under a Part 135 certification.

Read what you need to know about FAA Part 135 Air Charters. You may also be interested in exploring the proposed changes to FAA Part 135 operations, or this more detailed article on how private jets are safe.

What is an air charter broker?

Air charter brokers are agents brokering the charter of private aircraft between operators and customers. Although they are a mainstay of the air charter industry, brokers need no formal qualification or certification. Up until the end of the 20th century, air charter brokers were the most popular method of chartering a private jet.

Brokers are limited by their own networks but do offer a pay as you fly solution. There are over 2500 air charter operators and more than 4000 aircraft for charter in the US, so individual brokers can only tap into a small percentage of the market. A lack of transparency over pricing also led to brokers being replaced by private jet cards.

Read everything you need to know about a private jet broker here.

What is a private jet card?

Private jet cards are prepaid membership programs that allow holders to fly on specific aircraft for an agreed hourly rate. Jet card programs can be purchased for different aircraft and for varying numbers of hours. Unlike pay as you fly, jet cards tie customers into a long-term commitment, but do provide a more straightforward solution. Customers have a pre-agreed lead-in time and call up their operator to charter their aircraft, using hours they have already purchased.

Jet cards typically start at USD 50,000 and will cost around USD 5000 per flying hour for light jets. There are more than 350 jet card programs in the US and the variety is remarkable. Some of these have over 20 surcharges and fees. Others have peak date restrictions, so hours cannot be used on popular flying days (e.g. around Thanksgiving).

Read the complete guide to private jet cards and how to compare private jet card membership schemes.

This article explores whether you still need a jet charter membership.

How to charter a jet?

Private jet brokers and private jet cards are two different options for chartering a jet. The simplest means of chartering a jet is to use an online booking engine. This provides the flexibility and financial ease of paying as you fly, and doesn’t restrict you to a single aircraft type of operator. Prices are transparent and you can compare more aircraft and operators than booking through a jet broker.

Airvel is the world’s leading booking engine for private jet charters. You can search over 4000 aircraft and fly to more than 2500 airports in the US. There are no upfront fees, no membership schemes, and no restrictions. Anyone can charter a jet, anywhere, anytime.

Who is the best private jet charter company?

There are more than 2500 jet charter companies in the US. The best private jet charter company is the company that offers the best solution for your charter needs. Every flight is different so the best operator is likely to be different every time you fly.

Airvel aggregates safety data from the FAA, Wyvern, Argus and other non-governmental organizations. This ensures that all aircraft and operators on the Airvel booking system meet the strictest safety standards.

With Airvel you can compare and inspect different operators before booking a flight. You are in control and can find the solution that works for you.

What is the cheapest air charter service?

The cheapest air charter service depends on where you are, where and when you are flying, and the specific requirements of each flight. Usually you will enjoy a cheaper air charter service by comparing many local operators and aircraft, and by utilizing a locally based operator. This article will show you how to slash your private jet costs with 15 top tips.

With a private jet card you are restricted to a single operator and type of aircraft. With a booking engine like Airvel you can access over 4000 aircraft. It’s easier to find the cheapest air charter service when you start with the widest possible choice of aircraft and operators.

Airvel is free to use. Try it today at Airvel.com