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Private Jet Facts

Traditionally, North America has been the leading consumer market for private jets. However, in 2007 overseas orders for new planes began to surpass orders from the United States.

Custom interiors range from office utilitarian to that of an Indian-ordered plane which featured crocodile leather trim. This included a $10,000 reptile hide-covered toilet seat.

The leading manufacturers of private jets are Learjet, Boeing Business Jet, Cessna, Gulfstream and Dassault Falcon. Costs range from $3 million to $50 million.

Three top private jet card providers are NetJets, Flexjet and Skyjet for non-North American travel.


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Why Flying by Private Jet Makes Sense

Private Jet Traveling by private jet has several benefits, primarily related to comfort and convenience. One is not at the mercy of the airline schedules, and the time spent in transit need not be wasted in mere travel. The service on a private jet is sure to surpass that of commercial flights. The hassles of security screening for passengers is avoided. Businesses make a statement when traveling by private jet.

Private jet use can save huge amounts of time. Consider flying on a commercial flight. One must arrive at the airport one to two hours in advance, and following the flight then wait to retrieve luggage. One cannot leave for a destination when desired, and must choose an available flight which may not always be direct. It can take a whole day of travel time to reach a city which is only a few air hours away. When using a private jet the scheduling has been done at the flyer’s direction. When one arrives at the airport one boards the plane and prepares for takeoff. The flight will proceed directly to the desired destination including only stops the flyer wishes to make.

“Time is money,” is a mantra of business. For those who choose to work while in flight it is common knowledge that it is difficult to work efficiently on commercial aircraft. In coach it is nearly impossible to work in the cramped space. In business class there is more room but work surfaces are not convenient and privacy may be an issue. Private planes can easily be fitted with office amenities and meeting rooms. Work can continue en route, making use of the time rather than wasting it. When groups are traveling together, meetings can be conducted on private planes. This is virtually impossible on commercial flights.

For those who wish to spend the air time relaxing, this is rarely possible on public planes. Service has degenerated almost to non-existence. On a private plane anything from having food and beverages of your choice to catered meals, spa treatments and comfortable sleeping quarters can be made available. Companies may wish to use this method to pamper and reward valued employees while they travel.

Those who travel by private plane do not need to pass through airport security. This saves time, and preserves the dignity of passengers.

Any company that makes use of travel by private jet is telling its clients that it is a stable and well-to-do company. Whether the company owns or charters the plane is irrelevant to the perception. Without any doubt, those who can afford to travel in this fashion are doing well financially. In this aspect, comfort and convenience have now overlapped with marketing.

While it is typical to think of owning a private jet, there are several other methods by which one can enter the world of private air travel. Full ownership is the most straightforward of these methods. There are also options such as partial ownership, chartered flights, and the relatively recent introduction of private jet cards. There are benefits and drawbacks associated with each option.



Full ownership

There are obvious benefits of private jet ownership. Perhaps the most compelling for individuals is the status it confers. One can make the interior a statement of personality in the historic tradition of the palanquin, carriage, or private railway car. Companies may feel somewhat the same way. A fully-owned plane is always at the disposal of the owner, as long as it is in good running order.

However there are also a number of drawbacks to full ownership of a jet plane. It is estimated that 350-400 hours of flying time a year are needed to justify the expense. Businesses will want to consider the bottom line as well as the status factor. The initial expense can be as high as $50 million, but used planes and repossessed models may be bargains.

One plane may not meet all travel needs. For short trips and individual travel a light plane is best, while long flights or group travel require a heavier model. Two planes may be needed to keep one travel ready at all times.

There are costs to consider associated with full ownership. Some of the obvious are insurance, maintenance, hanger space, fuel, catering, hiring of pilots, and taxes. There are less obvious scheduling costs. Someone must be paid to track travel needs and organize the trips. International travel will require the administration of additional regulations and security details. All this must either be managed in-house, or contracted to an aircraft management company. These details are not insignificant; management companies charge in the range of $100,000 to $200,000 a year.

Partial ownership

One option to reduce costs is the sharing of an aircraft with one or more individuals or businesses. This carries with it all the pitfalls of any joint business venture. Additionally, problems with scheduling the plane can arise. Business trips must be juggled to fit the aircraft’s availability. Travel associated with holidays or popular vacation times may often create scheduling conflicts. If one is unable to fly when one wishes, there is no difference between ownership and flying at the mercy of the airline schedules.

Chartered flights

For some, chartering or renting planes is a good solution. There is likely to be a flight available at the time required since charter services handle a fleet of aircraft. One can order the interior style best suited to the trip, whether it will be used for in-flight work, meetings, or comfort. The aircraft type will be suited to the length of the trip, increasing safety.

Often, clients can be in the air with only four hours notice. All of the scheduling, paperwork, maintenance, and services are handled by the charter, completely eliminating those costs from a company’s budget. Of course, these costs will be rolled into the fee, but the convenience factor is considerable.

Private Jet Cards

Several providers have recently begun to offer what is known as private jet cards. Clients purchase a card which is good for a certain number of flight hours. The aircraft owners provide a wide range of services from top-notch piloting to catering. There may be additional fees, but overall the cards are an economical alternative.