A private plane charter is the answer if you’re looking for ultimate comfort. It’s also a great way to limit your exposure to other travellers, and a private jet rental puts you in control of your itinerary and your destination. Join us as we look at how much a private plane costs to buy and operate.
How Much Does a Private Jet Cost?
Owning a private plane is a life goal for many frequent travellers, but how much does a private jet cost in reality? Whether you’re buying or renting a private plane, we demystify the costs involved as well as the process.
The cost of flying private
Private jet passengers have the freedom to fly around the world on a whim, jetting off for a Seychelles getaway or last-minute business meeting. Without commercial flight schedules and crowded airports to contend with, flying is a hassle-free pleasure. So, how much does a private jet cost to own and operate?
Whether you’re purchasing your own jet or chartering a private plane for a single trip, many factors affect the price of private flight. Let’s take a look at these costs, as well as some of the aircraft currently available through Air Charter Service (ACS).
Private jets for sale
In partnership with Jet Advisors, ACS's Aircraft Sales Division uses its extensive industry experience to help clients purchase and sell private jets. We offer the most comprehensive new and pre-owned aircraft sales and acquisition service on the market for individuals and corporations. With over 100 years of combined industry experience and global reach across five continents, we have the local market data and expertise to ensure a seamless and optimal transaction for our clients.
Buying a private jet
When purchasing a private jet, buyers should first consider the size that best suits their needs. Private jets can be small turboprops or light jets, mid-size or super-mid-size jets, heavy jets or luxury executive airliners. Passenger capacity is one important factor, but it’s also essential to consider the distances you’d typically travel. While the cost of a small private plane may save you money at time of purchase, you’re likely to have to stop and refuel on longer trips, which adds cost and travel time. On the other hand, larger planes are expensive to operate if your typical flight time is short.
Next, consider whether you’d like a new or pre-owned aircraft. The lifespan of a private aircraft is not measured in years. Instead, it is measured by flight hours and the number of landings. For this reason, buyers can often find an older jet in good condition for a far lower price than a brand new plane. For example, a brand new Cessna Citation M2, a light jet that seats seven, can be bought for about ZAR61 million ($4.5 million) at base price; the Learjet 75, a popular mid-size jet that seats nine, will set you back by about ZAR184 million ($13.5 million); and the ultra-luxurious Gulfstream G650, a heavy jet that seats up to 10, has a base price of ZAR880 million ($64.5 million). If a buyer plans to travel with more passengers than this, the 17-seat Bombardier Global 6000 costs ZAR825 million ($60.5 million).
An aircraft’s lifespan is measured in flight hours and landings rather than age, so private jets are often viable for decades. Many buyers opt to purchase a pre-owned aircraft to cut costs. As a comparison, possible prices start from ZAR47 million ($3.5 million) for a used Cessna Citation M2, ZAR95.5 million ($7 million) for a Learjet 75, ZAR845 million ($62 million) for a Gulfstream G650 and ZAR682 million ($50 million) for a Bombardier Global 6000.
The costs don’t stop there. Once the plane is purchased, the largest expense for owners is aircraft maintenance, which can cost from hundreds of thousands to several million rand a year. A brand new jet is expensive but will come under full warranty to cover any repairs or replacements within the first few years of ownership.
The additional operating costs for a private jet include insurance, fuel, hangar space and pilot and crew salary and expenses. If you’d like to customise the interior of your aircraft, this will come at a high price, with a top-of-the-line design costing as much as ZAR1.4 billion ($100 million).
Additionally, certain airports cannot accommodate all aircraft. Large planes are often unable to land at airports with shorter runways. This means that owners of large planes need to charter or book a flight on a commercial airline when they fly to challenging airports.
The cost of chartering a private jet
Given the high cost of owning an aircraft, a private plane rental is a far better option for the majority of travellers, as it offers all the convenience of private jet travel without the expense of maintaining an aircraft. While private jet travellers also pay costs such as fuel, airport handling fees, landing fees, crew costs and passenger taxes, the expensive maintenance fees are covered by the owner.
Aircraft selection
When chartering a private jet, travellers can cut costs by choosing the ideal aircraft for each individual journey they make. For instance, one week, you could take a four-seater Cessna Citation Mustang from Johannesburg to Mauritius for ZAR460,000, then the following week fly your entire team of eight from Lanseria to Cape Town aboard the Learjet 45 with a one-night stopover, for ZAR242,600.00. Senior executives and key personnel can be moved around the continent in productive comfort: a round trip for eight passengers from Lanseria to Luanda aboard a Citation Ultra will come in at about ZAR540,500.00 while the private jet charter cost of the uber-luxurious, 10 passenger Falcon 900 will be about ZAR750,500.00. When travelling from Lanseria to Dar Es salaam aboard the Citation Ultra, your cost of a private flight will be ZAR412,700.00 for eight people, while a trip aboard the Learjet 45 from Accra to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo is priced at about ZAR857,500.00 for the same number of people. A 2,273 km flight from Johannesburg to Lubumbashi, flying on the iconic Citation Latitude will get you to your destination for around ZAR450,000.00. By choosing the best aircraft for each individual trip, travellers can always be sure that their private plane is the most cost-effective choice. For more information, read our article on how much it costs to book a private jet charter.
An aircraft for every route
Not every aircraft can accommodate all routes. Small jet owners have to charter a larger aircraft or book a commercial ticket for long-haul flights. Additionally, airports like Upington in South Africa’s Northern Cape and Remire Island Airport in the Seychelles have shorter runways that aren’t suitable for certain planes. When flying by private jet charter, travellers can guarantee that their plane will always be suited to their destination.
Private jet charter passengers can also take advantage of “empty leg” flights, which happen when a one-way charter aircraft flies back to base without passengers or goes on to another location for its next booking. Empty legs offer an extraordinary discount, sometimes as much as 75% off the cost of a regular charter, as the plane would otherwise be flying empty.
Do you have questions about the cost of arranging a private jet charter? If so, contact us. Our specialists will provide a personalised quote and help you choose the best plane for each journey you take.
Which type of private jet is right for you?
The biggest indicator of an aircraft’s price is its size. The most compact options are turboprops and light jets, which are designed for short, regional flights. Travellers looking for enough space to move around the cabin can opt for a mid-size or super-mid-size jet, which typically seats seven to nine passengers. For ample space and total luxury, choose a heavy jet or a luxury executive airliner. These models have high ceilings, enclosed lavatories and the option to travel with flight attendants. A private jet rental in this category is the most luxurious and expensive.
While size dictates the number of passengers a plane can accommodate, it is also an indicator of the aircraft's range. Most small jets have a short range, so they need to stop to refuel on longer flights. This adds cost and time to the journey. On the other hand, a large jet has high fuel costs and is not the most cost-effective option for a short private flight. However, a large size does not always equate to a long range. Some small aircraft are optimised to have a longer range, and other large jets are less efficient. A super-mid-size jet like the Gulfstream G280 can, for example, have a longer range than certain heavy jets.
How would you like to outfit your jet?
One of the perks of ownership is the freedom to outfit the cabin of your private jet exactly as you'd like. This might mean adjusting the number of seats, so it fits your family perfectly, or splurging on an extravagant private jet interior. The most lavish cabins feature custom upholstery, elegant master bedrooms and top-tier aviation entertainment systems. The sky’s the limit for private jet customisations, and these interiors can easily reach hundreds of millions of rands. To learn more, read our article on the price of a custom private jet interior.
Would you like to learn more about purchasing a private jet? Contact our seasoned consultants. Or, if you’d like to book a private jet charter, contact our concierge and travel experts to discuss your requirements. Our specialists will help you select the aircraft that best suits your needs.