Private jet Blog

How much does it cost to fly a jet private

Taking a trip in a private jet is an experience that you are unlikely to ever forget. Whether it is a short flight or a long haul trip it is definitely the ultimate way to travel.

While it may be the ultimate way to get where you want to go is it a realistic one? While private jet hire was once just for rock stars and the mega rich it is now much more affordable. While still being far from cheap it is not out of the reach of anyone with a decent job or for groups travelling together. To start with here are some of the reasons why private jet charters are so popular.

First of all it is all about you. You decide exactly what time you want your flight to take off and exactly where you want to fly to. Private jets can fly to thousands of private airfields that are never used by commercial airlines. This makes your journey on either side of your flight super quick and easy. Secondly none of the usual airport hassles apply when you charter your own jet.

There is no check in queues to deal with, you don’t have to be at the airport hours before your take off, customs are a breeze and you can take as much baggage as you can reasonably fit on board. When you are in the air you have your personal choice of food and entertainment and enough space to stretch out and relax in comfort. So private jet hire gives you the ultimate in convenience and luxury but is it affordable? The cost of a private jet hire will depend to a large extent on the type of jet you want.

A turboprop such as the King Air 200 will have an hourly fee of between $1,200 to $1,800. As they can comfortably seat 9 passengers this isn’t incredibly expensive.Heavy and business class jets will however cost a lot more to charter.

Heavy jets such as those in the Gulfstream range, Falcon 2000 or Boeing Business Jets will be in the region of $10,000 per hour. You may also be liable for wait fees, cost of overnight stays and positioning fees. Private jet hire costs are usually calculated to the nearest quarter of an hour while the jet is in operation.

New and best charter jets

If you are fortunate enough to enjoy a private jet charter or a private jet hire this year you may be travelling on a jet manufactured by Gulfstream or Learjet.  These two companies have become synonymous with private jet ownership and travel and manufacture a range of superb jets.  Over the years they have both established a reputation for building the finest business and private jets and their services are now more in demand than ever before.  There is a booming market in China for private jets and it is set to overtake the US as the largest marketplace for the private jet industry.  Some of the jets manufactured by Gulfstream and Learjet include:

Gulfstream G650
The latest addition to the Gulfstream family the G650 entered service in 2009.  Designed primarily as a business jet the G650 raised the standard for the whole of the aviation industry.  The G650 is able to fly further and faster than any other jet in its class and carry up to 18 passengers in a degree of comfort and style unmatched by any other private plane.  The exceptional speed and range of this jet have been two of the largest factors in its success.  With a cruising speed of 0.85 Mach and a maximum operating speed of more than 0.9 Mach no other private jet comes as close to breaking the sound barrier.  With a maximum range of more than 12,000 km it is one of the few private jets that can fly non-stop from London to Buenos Aires or from New York to Dubai.

It is not just the speed and range of the G650 that is exceptional.  The interior of the plane is taller, longer and wider than any other jet in the same class.  12 different seating and sleeping arrangements are available and the interior features all of the technology and finishes you would expect from Gulfstream.

Learjet 85
The Learjet 85 is the fastest and most technologically advanced ever manufactured by Learjet.  With a top cruising speed of 0.82 Mach and a range of more than 5,000 km it has one of the longest ranges in the mid-jet class.  Designed to carry 8 passengers in supreme comfort the Learjet 85 has one of the largest cabins in its class and each passenger has more space than on any other comparable jet.
Both the Learjet 85 and the Gulfstream G650 are available for private jet charter or private jet hire.  There are a number of jet charter companies in the UK who can arrange charters of these and a wide range of other jets and helicopters.