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Private Jet Flying Options for 2026: Getting the Most From Private Aviation

2025 was the busiest year ever for private jet flying in the U.S., and indications are that its growth and popularity will continue.  Now is an ideal time to review private flying methods and providers for future trip needs, to take full advantage of all that private aviation has to offer.

Private Jet Flying Options for 2026

Private jet flyers normally book less than 1 month in advance, and most often inside 2 weeks.  Early January -just following the holiday season- is when private jet flyers begin to look ahead and plan for their next trips in January & February and think long term about travel needs for the year.   Private flying can be divided into two main categories of travel; business and personal.

Private Jet Flying for Business

Business flyers see private aviation as a tool—for time savings and time-efficient travel.  Flying private is one way of buying more time.  They know that for example 8 hours traveling by airline can be done in under 4 hours door-to-door with private aviation, and that time can nearly all be focused, productive time, in communication, with even meetings on board.  That 4 hours of productive time gained is quite valuable for middle and upper management which make up a majority of private flights for business, let alone hourly costs of C-suite executives. 

For example, average S&P 500 CEO total compensation is reportedly $17.5 million in 2024.  This equates to $8,413 per workday hour.  The 4 hours of productivity saved is worth $33,653 in this example.  Not including other executives and/or management typically traveling with them, considerably increasing this number.

Personal and Family Private Flying

Private flyers’ personal & family travel, example between homes, vacation-type trips, or to special events such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (Jan.18-23, 2026), the Super Bowl (Feb. 8, 2026), the Kentucky Derby (May 2, 2026) or F1 Formula 1 races (May 1-3, Oct. 23-25 and Nov. 19-21, 2026), is for convenience as well as time savings. With private aviation they depart closer to home, land closer to the destination.  Private aviation can access ten times more airports in the U.S. than the airlines according to NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) statistics.  And the vacation experience literally starts when you drive up to the plane and step aboard.

Preferred Methods for Different Types Trips in 2026 (If You Don’t Own Your Own Jet)

Evaluating your expected usage and flight hours needed in 2026 will help determine what method(s) are best for your goals. In deciding which methods are best for this year and forward, it’s not “or”, but it is “and”.  Most private flyers have and currently use a combination of methods depending on the providers and trip needs.  For example and most commonly, a jet card customer may use on-demand charter with a good charter broker when options and/or costs are better.

On-Demand Charter (popular for all levels of flying, 1-200 hours annually)

The most popular way to fly private.  Trip-by-trip, pay as you go.  There are 5,545 charter aircraft from 1,648 FAA certificated charter operators in the U.S. according to charter sourcing platform FlightList PRO.  It’s an incredibly diverse range of choices in the U.S. for any charter flight request, and with each operator doing their own charter pricing and quotes for each of their own aircraft.  The industry is comprised of based aircraft that live at a ‘home base’ and floating fleets of jets that keep moving around the country with one-way pricing connecting a paid flight to the next paid flight. 

With so many options, it’s an environment where most commonly, expert charter brokers work for a client in sourcing the best fitting aircraft and operators for that particular client, for each flight need.  With the diversification of the industry the past 20 years, now by 2026 the number of broker companies and individual charter brokers has grown by a factor of 10.

It is generally known that a reputable and well-connected experienced charter broker will usually have as good or better pricing with comparable options on a pay as you go basis, as jet card or membership programs which rely on defined fleet of owned aircraft or a specific network of operators. 

Jet Cards

A consideration for 50-100 hours flying annually, jet cards take a large deposit while flight hours get deducted.  For example a deposit of $400,000 for 50 hours in a midsize jet ($8,000/hour).  The jet card program will define the specifications for operators and midsize jets provided in this case.  Some jet card buyers will also compare on-demand charter quotes from a broker for each trip.

Membership Programs

Also a consideration for 50-100 hours flying annually, membership programs have an annual membership fee, then charge an hourly rate for each flight.  Similarly, the program will define the specs for categories of jets and operators that will be used.  Like jet card users, some flyers will also compare on demand charter options from a reputable broker for some flights.

Fractional Ownership

A consideration for those flying over 100 hours annually, fractional ownership is a longer-term commitment typically 5+ years, owning a fraction (1/2, 1/4, 1/8 or 1/16 typically) of an aircraft, paying a monthly maintenance fee and an hourly rate for flying.  A fractional share of an aircraft often ranges in the millions depending on the fraction and the type/size of jet, and the buyer often has a “tax appetite” for asset depreciation.  At the end of ownership term the fractional provider has a set buy-back price and the flyer can make changes at that point or sell back their share at the set price and move on.

Making The Most Of Your Resources

Maximizing your returns with private aviation is not about crunching the numbers and making a choice of which single method and provider to use.  The beauty of flying private is WHAT YOU WILL BE CAPABLE OF, not what options you eliminate.  A combination of providers can allow you to get the most out of flying privately; the most time savings, the most convenience, the most flexibility and the most cost effective. 

Private flying is all about convenience and flexibility. Smarter flyers leverage more than one trusted provider to take advantage of private aviation’s capabilities.  Combining a jet card program that best fits, with a trusted charter broker expert, are the two most common horses in the stable.

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    How much does it cost to charter a private jet?

    Below is what you can expect for typical pricing across the U.S. jet charter market.  Actual availability and pricing for a specific date and routing may be a bit lower or higher depending on industry schedules.  Some may ask, “Is it possible for cost be 1/2 of these prices?  Unfortunately no, see also the Jet Charter Pricing Q & A below.

    Many variables go into individual jet charter quotes and pricing for any particular trip. The industry is very diverse, with around 7,000 charter aircraft and 1,650 certificated charter operators in the US alone.

    New Flight Charters has industry-wide reach makes it simple and guarantees the best pricing industry-wide for any specific charter flight.  Get customized make/model quotes if you prefer.  Prefer to see only quotes for the latest models like the new Praetor 600, Legacy 450 or Gulfstream G700?  You got it.  For any request, receive a summary of best available quotes and information for review and comparison.

    Quick Jet Charter Example Pricing:

    Executive Turboprops (up to 8 passengers)

    • A 1-hour drop off is typically $8,000 – $10,000
    • A 2-hour drop off is typically $14,000 – $16,000
    • A 2-hour two day round trip is typically $15,000 – $18,000

     

    Light Jets (up to 7 passengers)

    • A 1-hour one-way flight is typically $10,000 – $12,000
    • A 2-hour one-way flight is typically $12,000 – $15,000
    • A 2-hour flight round trip over 2 days is typically $20,000 – $25,000
    • A one-way flight between New York and Florida is typically $15,000 – $20,000
    • A round trip between New York and Florida over 3 days is typically $30,000 – $40,000
    • A round trip between Texas and New York over 2 days is typically $30,000 – $35,000


    Midsize Jets     (up to 8 passengers, stand-up cabin)

    • A 2-hour one-way flight is typically $15,000 – $20,000.
    • A 3-hour three day round trip is typically $40,000 – $50,000


    Super-Midsize Jets     (up to 9 passengers, coast to coast range)

    • A 4-hour one-way from either coast is typically $26,000 – $34,000
    • A 5-hour coast-to-coast one-way flight nonstop is typically $30,000 – $40,000
    • A round trip California to Hawaii over 7 days is typically $90,000 – $120,00


    Heavy Jets     (up to 16 passengers, inter-continental range)

    • A one-way flight between Hawaii and California one-way is typically $40,000 – $70,000
    • A round trip California to Hawaii over 7 days is typically $110,000 – $130,000
    • A one-way flight between the US and Europe is typically $60,000 – $100,000
    • A round trip New York to Europe over 7 days is typically $110,000 – $150,000

     

    Regional Airliner Charters (up to 30 passengers)

    • A 2-hour one-way flight is typically $40,000 – $60,000
    • A 3-hour flight round trip over seven-days for 20-30 passengers is typically $100,000 – $130,000
    Jet Charter Pricing Q & A:
    Q: Can I get a private jet charter flight for under $10,000?

    A: It’s very rare. If a flight of 1-hour or less matches up with a light jet empty leg, it may be under $10,000 total.  Executive turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 or King Air series will typically be under $10,000 for a 1-hour flight or same-day round trip in many parts of the country.  See example costs above.

    Q: What about the articles I see about empty legs for dirt cheap, same as airline fares, or even 1/2 price?

    A: There is a market for all flights, and a well-fitting empty leg will typically be around 75% of standard pricing. Keep in mind, Empty Legs are a convenient marketing angle to attract interest.  Like they say, if it sounds too good to be true…

    Q: How far in advance is best for quotes and booking? The earlier the better?

    A: Not usually. Different from the airlines, the best jet charter quotes and availability are less than 2 months in advance, often less than 1 month. Typically specific aircraft availability and pricing are not set further in advance.

    Q: When is the best time to find an empty leg?

    A: Most jet charters book less than 2 weeks in advance, so that is when the most empty legs become available in aircraft schedules.

    Q: I hear about floating fleets with one-way pricing, what is that?

    A: The biggest trend in jet charter the past decade is specific fleets that string one-way flights together in their schedules, reducing the positioning costs of traditional charters, thus allowing for reduced ‘one-way’ pricing. These are often the best cost options for one-way flights of 2 hours or more. These are the same fleets most jet cards and memberships use to minimize their costs below the rates their customers are paying.

    Q: Are there exceptions? If a jet is flying empty anyway, won’t they take me for cheap for at least some income?

    A: There is a market for flights in the charter industry, so each flight has a market value even up to hours before. Also, flying under charter’s FAA Part-135 regulations is more restrictive, expensive and consuming than flying empty repositioning under Part-91.

    Q: The airline tickets for this trip are so expensive, if 6 of us chartered our own jet could it be similar or not much more?

    A: See the above actual average costs

    Q: Are the above example charter costs your set rates or guaranteed?

    A: No, but they are typical and what we would expect as every-day best in the charter market. For a specific date and itinerary quotes may be a little lower or a bit higher, however we would expect in most cases to be in this range. We do have the widest availability and guaranteed best price industry-wide.

    Q: How can I get a quick real estimate of what a flight might cost, for our decision-making?

    A: Jet charter has so many variables, get helpful easy answers from a friendly expert at 888-701-3843 (no sales pitches, guilt or commitment).

    "See More Charter Pricing, Costs, and Rates Examples