Private Jets and Business Aircraft
With the well documented issues in commercial flying more and more people have found reasons to turn to private aircraft.
There are a variety of options to consider. The starting point is how often you want to fly privately.
If you only fly a few hours a year then on demand aircraft charter is probably the best way to go. As your number of hours of private flying increases look at charter cards and fractional cards.
Once you reach about 50 hours of flying a year then fractional aircraft ownership can start to make sense and above 300 or so hours per year whole ownership is worth looking into. Here is some core information to help you understand the options.
All of the major providers have expanded over the last few years. Many now offer a wide range of products and solutions to meet the needs of various clients. If you're looking at the different options and would like a good general overview then download our free Guide to Private Aviation, which includes details on charter, jet cards and fractional ownership. For detailed side by side comparisons of the leading jet card and fractional providers, a directory of charter operators, and our Aircraft Buying Guide then sign up for membership.
The latest news and research on private jets and aircraft is included below.
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- Written by Nick Copley
At the National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas, Flexjet announced that it has placed orders for new aircraft from both Embraer and Gulfstream. The Embraers include the brand-new Praetor mid- and super midsized aircraft and Phenom 300 light jets. The Gulfstream planes are the flagship ultra-long range G700.
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- Written by Nick Copley
The fractional and jet card private aviation company is growing its operation into the Upper Midwest, including the Chicago, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Louisville markets. SherpaReport talked to John Owen, AirShare CEO to find out more about the expansion and recent growth.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Private aviation is an attractive alternative to commercial air travel for both business and leisure travelers. But the array of services can be rather daunting to someone who is considering it for the first time. This article provides an introduction to private aviation, designed to help you understand why and how to get the most from your next private plane journey.
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- Written by Nick Copley
This new days-based fractional ownership program is aimed at high-utilization large cabin customers. The Flexjet program will start with two home bases, New York City and London, which are the financial capitals of the world and two of the most popular business and personal travel destinations.
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- Written by Nick Copley
SherpaReport recently spoke to the founder and CEO of Vista Global, Thomas Flohr. It’s been a busy year for Vista Global. The company was founded just last year as an enhancement to VistaJet, the global aviation company, that Flohr started in 2004. The aim was to become the worldwide leading provider in business flight solutions. Over the course of the last 12 months the company has already acquired XOJet and more recently Jet Smarter, and has just combined them into XO.
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- Written by Nick Copley
Air Partner jet card holders have always been able to use their US card balance for flights in Europe, and European card holders can use their cards in the North America. But for flights between the two, they had to pay variable charter rates. Air Partner now offers the first fixed price transatlantic jet card.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Massachusetts-based Magellan Jets has recently restructured their membership program to launch a new jet card. Named Elevate, the program is designed with complete flexibility and customer satisfaction in mind. And to prove their goal of pleasing customers, Magellan is offering a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If the program doesn’t suit you, you can receive a refund of all remaining funds within 30 days of your first flight.
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- Written by Nick Copley
Wheels Up has been adding lots of features to its membership programs over the last few months. To supplement the overall programs it just acquired TMC, the largest wholesale-focused light jet operator in the U.S. TMC operates an owned and leased fleet of Hawker 400XP aircraft in North America.
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- Written by Nick Copley
The latest data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) shows unit business jet deliveries increased last year. The annual databook reported 703 new business jets sold worldwide in 2018 compared to (a slightly revised) 677 unit sales in 2017. The increase was helped by several recent model introductions. Here are some of the highlights and the sales by manufacturer.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Several aviation providers offer fractional programs for midsize jets with a couple of specific models proving most popular. This article gives an overview and comparison of the programs.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Frequent flyers based in Europe can own a share in a Pilatus PC-12 through Jetfly’s fractional ownership program. This article offers an overview of the program’s benefits and features, as well as some background about Jetfly.
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- Written by Nick Copley
The parent company of Vista Jet, Vista Global, has announced that it is buying JetSmarter, the private jet app and one of several companies referred to as the “Uber of Private Jets”.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conducted research last year to find “How companies use their private planes.” The findings of the survey are based on interviews with both business aircraft pilots and passengers. The results provide insights into business aviation, including the types of aircraft owned and the reasons for which the aircraft are used.
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- Written by Nick Copley
Two people had recently asked me about buying a private jet. Neither of them had owned one before but they had both been given a similar pitch. In each case, the broad offer was: buy a plane, take 100% depreciation, charter it out and have 30-40 hours of free use. So, here’s a look at how viable this concept is.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Private aviation company Wheels Up recently announced that it has launched a new membership tier, Wheels Up Connect. Company founder and CEO, Kenny Dichter, has called it a form of “social aviation”. He compares its potential in the aviation market to the influence of Uber and AirBnB in their respective industries. The membership tier joins existing Core and Business Programs.
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- Written by Robin Catalano
Commercial airline Delta has its own private jet company, named Delta Private Jets, while the private aviation pioneer NetJets is the worlds largest private aviation company. Here’s a look at how they compare.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Private aviation company VistaJet recently celebrated 15 years in the industry with another big announcement: The company saw a record 31% increase in new members in 2018 and said it expects to continue its growth in the coming year.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
If you are chartering a private plane for the first time, or even if you have previously chartered, there are several aspects to think through. A lot depends on the number of passengers, and your destination and any special requirements. This article explains the key factors to consider when chartering an aircraft.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
Winter weather brings its own set of challenges to air travel. Those flying commercially may be all too familiar with the delays caused by snowstorms or ice on the runway. But for those flying privately, the snow can bring another headache: a financial one. Whether you own, charter, or lease an aircraft, you should be aware of any de-icing costs that may come your way. This article explores the methods of de-icing, when it is needed, and how much it costs.
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- Written by Nick Copley
The last few months of the year are some of the biggest sales months for jet card companies, and they frequently come out with special deals. Here are a selection of this years offers.
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- Written by Fiona Young-Brown
The newly released ten-year forecasts for the business jet industry suggest that things are definitely looking up for new private jet sales.
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- Written by Nick Copley
The Gulfstream G550 is a heavy, long range business jet that received its FAA type certificate in 2003. It is sometimes also known as the GV-SP. Over 550 have been produced, including the Gulfstream G500 which has a lower fuel capacity and reduced range. The G550 replaced the Gulfstream V, and has improved aerodynamics leading to an increased range and fuel efficiency. It is the most successful model in Gulfstream history.
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