Private Jets Aren’t Just for the Rich Anymore — Here’s What It Costs To Use One in 2026
Written by
Stacy Sare Cohen
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Following a string of airline disruptions in the Caribbean tied to political instability in Venezuela and flight cancellations caused by the November 2025 U.S. government shutdown, demand for private flights has climbed substantially in recent months.
What was once seen as luxury transportation has become a necessity for some air travelers with time-sensitive itineraries who seek reliability for business obligations, medical needs and family commitments.
Even as commercial flights have resumed, traveler confidence remains shaky, as the risk of cancellation and rerouting can be costly and inconvenient. As a result, private airline companies like Flyte are seeing growing demand from customers who are less interested in luxury than certainty.
They want to know when they will depart, where they will land and whether their plane will fly on schedule. GOBankingRates spoke with Marc Sellouk, CEO of Flyte, about the surge in private aviation as an alternative to commercial air travel.
Here’s why private jets aren’t just for the rich anymore and what it costs to book a flight.
Private Aviation as a Hedge Against Commercial Airline Instability
Private aviation has quietly shifted from being perceived as a luxury means of travel to a risk-management tool, acting as a hedge against instability for many travelers, especially business leaders and time-sensitive passengers, Sellouk said.
“In 2024 alone, U.S. airlines recorded tens of thousands of flight cancellations and hundreds of thousands of delays, according to Department of Transportation data. When those disruptions occur, the downstream impact is missed meetings, lost productivity and broken schedules,” he explained.
Private aviation offers predictability, Sellouk said.
“As airline instability becomes more frequent, private travel is less about indulgence and more about protecting time, commitments and continuity,” he added.
How Flight Disruptions Are Changing Regional Travel Routes
Recent airline disruptions have reshaped regional travel patterns across the country, Sellouk said.
“One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing is where people choose to fly, not just how. Airline disruptions disproportionately affect hub airports, which creates cascading delays across entire networks,” he explained.
“The FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] has repeatedly identified congestion at a relatively small number of major hubs as a leading driver of system-wide delays. In response, more travelers are opting for private flights that connect directly to secondary and regional airports where commercial airlines either serve poorly or not at all,” he added.
This enables passengers to bypass congested hubs entirely and reach destinations closer to their true origin or final stop, Sellouk said.
What It Costs To Charter a Private Jet
The rates for a private jet depend on several factors, including the type of charter, the number of passengers, the level of service, fuel, airport fees and availability. Jet carriers typically charge by the hour, but they also offer various charter and fractional membership plans. Empty-leg return flights can be booked at significant discounts.
Here is a cost guide for private flights based on industry rates, per Artehow.com.
- Turboprop: short regional flights seating four to eight passengers range from $1,500 to $3,000 per hour.
- Very light jets: quick flights for small groups of four to six passengers will run you $2,000 to $3,500 per hour.
- Light jets: Short to medium trips, seating six to eight passengers, will cost $2,500 to $5,000 per hour
- Midsized jets: Cross-country flights carrying seven to nine passengers cost an average of $3,500 to $7,000 per hour
- Super mid-sized jets fly eight to 10 passengers for longer domestic or short international flights for $5,000 to $10,500 per hour
- Heavy jets: transporting 10 to 16 passengers for long hauls run about $7,000 to $18,000 per hour
- Ultra long-range/VIP jets: Feature intercontinental luxury service for 12 to 30 or more passengers, ranging from $12,000 to $25,000 per hour
Always compare different air carriers and their offerings and look for hidden fees to get the best price.
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