Private jet charter rates in 2026, by aircraft class
What an hour on a private jet costs, what is included, what is not — and worked examples on real routes.
| Class | Typical aircraft | Seats | Cruise | Practical range | Hourly rate (USD) | Fuel burn |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | King Air 360, PC-12 | 8 | 280 kts | 1,300 nm | $2,800 – $3,800 | 60 gal/h |
| Very light jet | Phenom 100, Vision Jet, HondaJet | 5 | 370 kts | 1,100 nm | $3,200 – $4,200 | 80 gal/h |
| Light jet | Phenom 300E, CJ4, PC-24 | 7 | 420 kts | 1,800 nm | $4,500 – $6,000 | 150 gal/h |
| Midsize jet | Citation XLS, Praetor 500, Learjet 75 | 8 | 440 kts | 2,500 nm | $6,000 – $8,000 | 230 gal/h |
| Super-midsize jet | Challenger 3500, Praetor 600, Longitude | 9 | 460 kts | 3,200 nm | $7,500 – $10,000 | 280 gal/h |
| Large jet | Challenger 650, Falcon 2000, G450 | 12 | 470 kts | 4,200 nm | $9,500 – $13,500 | 350 gal/h |
| Ultra-long-range jet | G650ER, Global 7500, Falcon 8X | 14 | 490 kts | 6,500 nm | $12,000 – $17,000 | 480 gal/h |
| VIP airliner | BBJ, ACJ320neo | 19 | 460 kts | 5,800 nm | $18,000 – $30,000 | 900 gal/h |
Benchmark ranges for on-demand charter in North America and Europe, 2026. Asia, the Middle East and remote regions run 10–30% higher because there are fewer aircraft to position.
What the hourly rate includes
- The aircraft and two pilots (single-pilot on some very light jets)
- Fuel at a base price (surcharges apply when fuel spikes)
- Standard catering: snacks, soft drinks, coffee; hot meals extra
- Basic insurance and maintenance reserves
- Wi-Fi on most midsize-and-up aircraft (sometimes metered)
What gets added
- Positioning — the empty flight to reach you; one-way trips often pay 30–45% for the empty return
- Daily minimum — usually 2 flight hours per day the aircraft is with you
- Landing, handling, parking — $500 to $9,000 depending on airport and aircraft
- Crew overnights — $1,000–2,500 per night for hotels and per-diems
- Taxes — 7.5% US federal excise tax on domestic flights; VAT in Europe
- Peak-day surcharges — 20–40% around holidays and major events
- De-icing, catering, ground transport, pets — at cost
Worked examples (4 passengers, one-way)
Cheaper ways to fly private
- Empty legs: 50–75% off, if your dates are flexible — how they work
- Shared or “by-the-seat” flights: fixed routes like New York–Florida from about $1,500 a seat
- Jet cards: pre-paid hours at a fixed rate; no positioning fees on most programs
- Turboprops: a King Air is half the cost of a light jet on flights under 1.5 hours
- Round trips in one day: no crew overnights, no positioning
Estimate your own route
180 cities, every class of aircraft, per-seat cost and CO₂.
Open the estimator →An hourly rate is the start of the quote
A short flight can have a high effective hourly price when positioning and minimum billing are included.
Per aircraft, then per passenger
The route tool divides a whole-aircraft estimate by your passenger count. That division is a planning comparison, not a separately bookable seat. Changing the number of passengers can also change the aircraft class that fits.
Why two proposals differ
Compare the actual aircraft, positioning origin, billed hours and included airport services. Ask providers to separate known charges from items billed as incurred, including de-icing, special catering and changes. Use the ranges above as model benchmarks, not a price promise.
Guide updated 2026-10-23 · JetAtlas methodology