What is a Charter Flight?
Differences Between Regular & Private Charter Flights, and How to Charter a Private Plane
Charter flights offer far more flexibility than their scheduled counterparts, serving virtually any destination around the world, with itineraries that are tailored for every flight. They are unscheduled and are not available as part of the regular routing offered by commercial airlines. Instead, the schedule is created around you.
There are many differences between scheduled commercial flight and private aircraft charters, but for brevity’s sake: it’s when you rent an entire aircraft, choosing the dates, times, aircraft, and airports used for your flight.
No waiting in line. No security screenings. No baggage claims or malfunctioning carousels. You don’t have to arrive hours before your flight, either. Simply choose the date & time you wish to depart, show up 15 minutes before your flight, pass through your local airport’s private terminal, and board for takeoff.
And, as seen above, many private airports allow you to pull your car alongside your plane on the tarmac.
Flight crew members from the private terminal at the airport (FBO) or seaplane base will load all of your belongings on board, along with any amenities, catering, or other prearranged services. All you need to do is sit back, relax, and prepare to experience the best way to fly.
You can choose between renting a large or small plane, and your flight can either be one-way, or you can arrange for a round-trip. You can book just a private flight, or you can add services including ground/helicopter transportation, catering, and yacht rentals to complement your business trip or luxury vacation.
Types of Charter Flights
Private Charter
Also defined as private aircraft charter or air charter, it’s when an individual rents an entire aircraft (chartering) as opposed to purchasing individual seats on a commercial airline (purchasing a first-class ticket through any major commercial airline). Flights can range from individual travel on small planes, to group flights of up to 100 or more passengers using regional and VIP airliners. Also known as single entity, an individual or company must cover the entire cost of the flight; the cost can be split and collected afterwards accordingly, but the initial payment for these flights must be billed to the individual named on the contract.
Public Charter
These types of flights are frequently offered by air carriers on a seasonal basis, operating on limited schedules (once or twice a week) depending on the time of year. They’re popular among European holiday travelers in places like the UK and Germany to reach tropical getaways in Sicily, Sardinia, Malta, and Palma de Mallorca. They can include operators from low-budget airlines to regularly scheduled carriers. Public charters may also come from tour operators renting an aircraft, then advertising and selling seats to members of the public, either directly or through a travel agent.
Shared Flight
Provides affordable resort transfer – up to 35% off on regular charter rates, and if space and weight remain available, we reserve the right to sell any remaining space.
Cargo
Passengers aren’t the only thing private planes are used for. Need replacement parts ASAP? Moving precious cargo? Perhaps your items aren’t authorized for commercial travel, or you’re conducting a humanitarian mission. Whether your cargo is valuable, perishable, dangerous, or just in large quantities, cargo planes are available to transport anything from currency, antiques, and donated goods, to live animals, blood samples, even human organs.
Benefits of a Private Charter Flight
You Choose When & Where to Fly
Since a private charter flight is unscheduled, you’ll depart at the date & time you want. You can also choose which cities & airports, island, resort you fly to/from, and enjoy direct non-stop flights between any two locations. Private flights provide even more convenience when flying to a destination that requires multiple airline connections, ground transfer or layovers before finally reaching your destination.
Depart from a Private Terminal or Seaplane base
Privacy is one of the main advantages of chartering a private plane. Unlike a commercial flight, where travelers are herded through a crowded airport, having to undergo an intrusive security screening, passengers depart from a private facility known as an Fixed Base Operator or seaplane terminal. At most private airports, passengers can pull their cars right up to the plane.
Unparalleled Comfort
Private charters offer superior comfort, from in-flight meals to Wi-Fi and entertainment. Instead of being tossed a bag of peanuts, you’ll have the chance to design your meals, including catering from local gourmet restaurants and delis. Many private aircraft offer a variety of entertainment options, from WiFi and high-end stereo systems with iPhone/Android connectivity and/or satellite TV.
It’s Not Where You’re Going, But Who You’re With
One of the biggest benefits of private charters is the ability to travel with whoever you want – bring your family, your friends, your co-workers, even your pets! Once onboard your chartered aircraft, you’ll have the choice between relaxing in a comfortable cabin or taking advantage of the privacy needed to conduct your business.
How to Charter a Private Flight
Chartering a private flight is the most comfortable, luxurious, and secure way to travel anywhere around the world. There are more than 15,000 planes available to be chartered around the world, flying privately to and from more than 100 times the number of airports available with scheduled commercial flights.
What was once something reserved for celebrities, executives, and HNWI’s has now become more available (and affordable) than ever before.
Although aircraft clubs and fractional programs offer new ways to fly private, the easiest and most economical way to get into a piston aircraft, turboprop, or private jet is by chartering on-demand. This doesn’t require the same upfront payments as private jet cards and fractional ownership. All that’s needed to charter a plane is to put down a deposit.
Renting a private plane is nothing like flying commercial. Whether you’re relaxing and laying down on a plush divan or sitting around a conference table conducting business midair, charter planes provide unsurpassed levels of comfort, privacy, and security. So how do executives, HNWI’s, and affluent travelers arrange their flights? Read more to learn how to charter a plane for your next flight.
What to know when Chartering a Private Plane
Looking into chartering an aircraft for your next flight? Here’s are some things you should know before requesting a quote for your private plane charter.
Where You’re Going
You choose the destination when renting a private aircraft, along with the date & time of your departure. Don’t worry about scheduling your day around your flight – charter flights are scheduled around you. You won’t have to waste hours at busy commercial airports, either. Private terminals allow you to quickly board your plane without dealing with long security lines and baggage claims. Just show your ID to the pilots and you’ll be welcome on board, departing in as little as 5-15 minutes. You’ll also have access to private airports and regional, county, and municipal airports that allow you to fly closer to your home, office, or preferred destination.
Who You’re Going With
When you book a private plane, you get to decide who comes with you, whether it’s family, colleagues, close friends, or your entourage. You can even rent a pet-friendly plane to bring your dogs, cats, and other pets!
What You’re Bringing
Knowing what you’ll bring with you on-board your flight will help determine the appropriate aircraft when booking your flight. Each plane offers different configurations in terms of baggage space, passenger amounts, fuel capacity, weight totals, and more. If you’re traveling heavy with up to 10 passengers, you may need to move up to the next size aircraft. Likewise, calculating passenger weights, luggage amounts, and flight distance may save you thousands by hiring a smaller size airplane.
Ask Questions
There are some questions you should always ask, regardless of who you’re working with.
Ask if there are two pilots or one
We always recommend two pilots for added safety, although single pilot operations may be available for short flights on smaller planes.
Are there any daily minimums?
Daily minimums and taxi fees can quickly double the cost of shorter flights. With a $9,000 hourly rate, you would assume a 40-minute flight could cost $6,000. However, if there’s a daily minimum of 1.5 hours, the cost rises to $13,500, plus taxi time.
Safety First
Never be afraid to ask your broker, operator about their safety standards. Reputable providers will prominently display their safety standards and accreditation, and are more than happy to answer any of your questions regarding pilots, aircraft, operators, or incidents.
Ask for an All-Inclusive Quote
Once you’ve decided upon all of the parameters for your flight, ask Horizon Sun Charters for an all-inclusive quote, with photos of the aircraft you’re renting if available. Have any more questions before you charter a private plane? Contact us!
How to Buy a Private Jet
Who wouldn’t love to own a luxury private jet? We take a look at what goes into buying one, what to bear in mind when shopping around for an aircraft that suits your needs and your budget, and how to make sure you’re considering all your options.
We’ll also briefly explore who some of the most influential private plane owners are, as well as feature some innovative uses for these kinds of aeroplanes that you might not have thought of before.
When is the right time to buy?
If you’re in the market for a luxury jet, the time to buy is now. According to Bloomberg, the luxury jet market is rebounding and there has been an increase in demand, which has partly been fuelled by first-time purchasers.
Even if you haven’t yet made up your mind whether to buy a private plane, you can start to explore the possibility by carrying out a cost-to-benefit analysis. The rule of thumb is that if you or your executives spend 350 to 400 hours in the air each year, then the expense of fully owning a private jet is probably worth it.
Part of this analysis is to get a general idea of the type of aircraft that would best suit your needs and your budget. This will not only give you an estimate of the initial outlay involved in buying a jet aircraft, but you’ll also begin to understand what it will cost to run your private plane.
Running costs include fuel, repairs and maintenance, insurance, airport taxes and landing fees, catering and flight personnel, along with the cost of layovers and stay-overs. You should also build a financial buffer into your costs, because these expenses can vary significantly from time to time with little or no warning.
If you don’t have a flight department to oversee the management of your jet aircraft, you’ll want to hire an aircraft management company. It will take care of pretty much everything to do with running your jet, from maintenance repairs to the hiring of pilots and onboard catering. Note that this cost varies greatly, depending on what type of aircraft you buy and what kind of service you are looking for.
How much does a private jet cost?
Most prospective buyers are probably not looking for the most expensive model in the world. For example, an Airbus A380, was bought and modified by Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal al-Saud for $600 million.
At the other end of the spectrum, the Eclipse 400 is one of the cheapest jets on the market. It accommodates three passengers and a pilot, has a range of 2,326km and sells for around $1.35 million.
Midway between cheap and expensive is the bestselling Cessna Citation XLS+, at $7.1 million. Right up there with the most popular models in the world, the XLS+ carries eight passengers in comfort. It has a respectable range of 3,430km and 2.55 cubic metres of luggage storage space.
A handy tool to have on your desktop is an online aircraft cost calculator. This will give you a good idea of what the aircraft of your dreams will amount to, including running cost details based on actual use, as well as how financing, capital cost considerations, and residual value are likely to affect your operating expenses.
What to look out for when buying a private jet
Now that you’ve got an overview of some of the models out there and some of the costs, now is the time to get to grips with the specific jet you’re interested in. You’ve done your homework, at least in theory, but to avoid ending up with an aircraft that’s going to cause you problems down the line. You’ll need to employ the services of an aircraft inspector who has an impeccable reputation for thoroughness. Here’s what to look out for.
Know your aircraft
Speaking of maintenance history, it’s essential to find out which maintenance cycle an aircraft is in. Maintenance expenses, particularly the large ones, are usually incurred based on calendar and usage. This is typically the reason why two aircraft that are the same model vary (at times substantially) in price. You don’t want to spend millions on your jet only to find that two months after purchase it’s also due for expensive maintenance.
Insist on a pre-buy inspection
Just as you would thoroughly check out a car before making a purchase, make sure that you inspect the asset thoroughly before handing over your cash. You can do this by making sure a pre-buy inspection is carried out at a FAA-certified 145 repair station.
The only way to know for sure whether a plane is in good flying condition and worth the asking price is to have it inspected from wingtip to wingtip, and tail to cockpit. This includes a close study of all the flight logs and paperwork, as well as the engine programs and/or logs. It’s not only about catching those big-ticket maintenance discrepancies that could save you millions post-purchase; it’s more about your peace of mind when you fly.
Take it for a test drive (or flight)
Yes, as with cars, it’s worth getting a feel for a plane before buying one. Of course, this will cost you more than a tank of gas, but it’s worth it. If you’re thinking about buying your own private aircraft, you may well have spent a fair number of hours inside aeroplanes, so you’ll know what you like about a cabin and what you don’t. If you’re buying new, most manufacturers will provide demos around the airport area to qualified buyers.
Buying versus leasing
If the hours you spend in the air justify use of a private plane, but the numbers just don’t add up, you could consider leasing one instead. You’d be in good company – more than 33 per cent of commercial airlines lease at least one-third of their operational aircraft. This allows you to get all the benefits of owning an aircraft without the long-term financial responsibility. Leasing is also a great way for first-time buyers to try out ownership without being locked into a hefty financial commitment.
If you decide to go for leasing, you’ll have two options. The first is called “dry leasing”, which means you lease the aircraft but without pilots, cabin crew, or being responsible for maintenance or insurance. Dry leasing is typically used by people who need a jet for a longer period of time. The other option is “wet leasing”. This includes the pilot, cabin crew and various other costs, and is usually for a shorter time frame.
As you’d expect, both dry and wet leasing are less expensive than purchasing your own aircraft. This makes it an attractive proposition for a business owner who needs the speed, convenience and flexibility of private air travel while being able to enjoy greater liquidity in the long term.
Making use of sales brokers
Using the services of an aviation broker or consultant is highly recommended. They do charge a fee, of course, but if you’ve chosen a reputable one, they’ll expertly manage the purchase of your jet, and will be able to advise you about the ongoing operation of the aeroplane. Fees charged by aviation brokers are usually between 2 and 5 per cent of the purchase price. You can also pay a broker a set fee for an acquisition agreement, which most experts agree is preferable to have before proceeding with a plane acquisition.
Used versus new private jets
When you order a brand-new jet from a manufacturer, you will probably have to wait a year or two before taking possession of your plane. New planes are, of course, more expensive to buy than used ones; but on the flip side, they generally have a five-year warranty.
On the other hand, there’s a whole range of used jets on the market today, which means a greater choice of size and model, and more negotiating power when it comes to price. Be sure to check exactly where your jet’s been and what it’s been up to – especially if it has been used for private plane charter before.
Other options include fractional jet ownership or becoming a member of a jet card club, which offers you a range of benefits when you pay for private jet charter flights.
The private jet habits of the rich and famous
Knight Frank’s “Wealth Report 2021” predicts that the global population of UHNWIs (ultra-high-net-worth individuals) will grow by 27 per cent over the next five years, while the number of HNWIs – or millionaires – is forecast to rise by 41 per cent. As the ultra-wealthy and demi-billionaire count increases, the market for private jets and private plane charter is expected to grow, too.
Of course, besides those who can afford regular luxury private plane charter flights, there are those who have personal fortunes large enough to own a private jet. They will join the ranks of rich and famous high-flyers, including John Travolta, who is also a pilot himself (vintage Boeing 707, Bombardier Challenger 601 and Eclipse EA5000); Oprah Winfrey (Gulfstream G650); Tom Cruise (Gulfstream IV); Jim Carrey (Gulfstream V) Jackie Chan (Embraer Legacy 500 and 650); Jay-Z (Bombardier Challenger 850); and Bill Gates (Bombardier BD-700 Global Express).
Accessing financing
Lenders including Merrill (previously Merrill Lynch) and CIT no longer offer aviation loans, but there are still dozens of lenders to choose from, including Webster Capital Finance.
Typically, a standard loan agreement is between three and five years, with loan amortisations of 15 to 25 years on newer aircraft, and around 12 years for models that are around 30 years old. Please note, this is only an indication – the terms of a loan and interest rates offered will vary according to the model and condition of the plane, date of manufacture and its intended use. Keep in mind that you might be charged prepayment penalties of up to 3 per cent for the first three years, as well as standard legal fees.
Here, too, you can choose to go it alone or get the advice of a finance broker. Since financing is a complicated business, it makes sense to get the best advice you can, especially if your purchase is expected to amount to at least $1 million. A finance broker will take the time to understand your requirements and the financing terms that meet your objectives. They will also already know who to approach to get the best terms on a particular type and model of aeroplane.
Before going through with a purchase, you’ll also need to consult a tax attorney, as you’ll need the expertise of a professional to take advantage of the financial rewards that you’re potentially entitled to when buying a private plane. An aviation tax attorney will help you take care of all the tax planning, insurance and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) or FAA compliance issues that come with your purchase before you can fly.
Buying a private jet – but not to fly
Yes, really! Building with planes is one of the coolest architectural trends out there. Complete aircraft, or their parts, are being used as homes, office spaces and even libraries! If you’re interested in living in a jet or using its parts to build something special, California is the place to go.
Aircraft “boneyards” are where retired planes go to wait out the remainder of their days in desert conditions (to minimise corrosion). Here you’ll be able to buy a jet whole or for spare parts. Aluminium fuselages are sold at a cheap price, so they make an excellent building material.
At Horizon Sun Charters we can help you in your journey of small aircraft purchase.
We offer over 100 years of industry experience in flying and maintenance knowledge. We can provide you with maintenance, operation and training support if necessary as we have an Approved Maintenance Organization “A.M.O.” and an Air Operator Certificate “A.O.C.”.
What is a charter flight?
In the simplest possible terms, a charter flight is one that is not part of the scheduled agenda provided by airlines. When you charter a flight, you are renting an aircraft for your own use and on your schedule. Once that aircraft is under your temporary control, you determine all the details. You decide flight times and destinations. You choose who comes with you on your flight. In short, a chartered flight can be said to be truly yours.
This, of course, stands in great contrast to commercial flights, where you purchase a seat on an existing flight with its own itinerary and destination. In those cases, you don’t get to decide who sits near you and are essentially at the mercy of somebody else’s regulations and preferences.
But why settle for being a passenger when you can chart your own path across the skies? If that sense of adventure is in your blood, then taking charter flights is the only way you’ll want to travel by air in the future.
Types of Charter Flights
You have options when it comes to charter flights, depending on why you need the plane. Here are a few major types of flight charters.
Private Aircraft Charter
At Horizon Sun Charters, your charter our aircraft. It means you’re renting the entire aircraft instead of just a seat on a commercial plane.
Public Charter
Usually operated by tour operators who rent aircraft and are offered on a seasonal basis to popular destinations.
Cargo
Used to transport goods and luggage only.
Shared Charter
An shared charter is similar to a private aircraft charter, but passengers pay for individual seats on an aircraft they share with strangers.
How does a charter flight work?
You’ll be able to choose an aircraft that best suits your needs. This could be anything from a small aircraft that carries only a couple of passengers to a large or ultra-long-range jet that can travel great distances and has multiple cabins. You also choose where you travel, unlike on commercial flights that take you only to set destinations. If you’re unsure of what type of aircraft would be best for you, you can work with a broker to find the right one.
You’ll typically depart from a fixed base operator (FBO). This is a small terminal, usually located next to the main airport, or a seaplane base, if you charter a seaplane, which allows you to pass through security checks more quickly. In some cases, you’ll be able to drive right up to the plane, and there will be staff waiting to help with your bags. For most places passengers are looking to travel, there are airports available for the use of charter flights.
What are the Benefits of a Chartered Plane?
Airports are known for being chaotic, even during their least popular hours, and the stress doesn’t stop once you board a commercial flight. In general, many people don’t have pleasant experiences when flying commercially. Still, you might be wondering how a chartered plane can help make traveling something to look forward to.
Increased Privacy
Commercial flights tend to be cramped, which can be especially uncomfortable during longer flights. Your flight in a private aircraft will give you more space, even if you’re with the maximum number of passengers. This way, you can feel relaxed enough to sleep, read, or work on the plane without distractions.
Skip the Airport
For most charter flights, you can fly without dealing with a crowded airport. There will be far fewer passengers in the FBO than at the main airport. This will also save you from having to deal with the baggage aspect of flying commercial. The two experiences are at opposite ends of the scale in terms of speed and luxury.
More In-Flight Amenities
Passengers on charter flights also do not have to settle for meals and amenities found on commercial flights. You’ll be able to customize meals, use Wi-Fi, hook up your smartphone and gadgets, and even enjoy movies and television programs on big-screen TVs. The service and amenities available to you on a charter flight will make the journey much more enjoyable.
Set Your Own Schedule
When you fly on a commercial flight, you have to choose from the flight times the carriers give you. Depending on available times, this could be a huge inconvenience for your trip, whether it be a personal or business trip. With a charter flight, you can decide the best time for you to fly.
Simply put, chartering a flight is a superior experience. A chartered plane offers you all the comforts of home, plus a significant amount of luxury. It is the way you deserve to fly. Let Horizon Sun Charters accommodate your private flight and get you where you’re going on your terms.
Get a charter flight quote
At Horizon Sun Charters, safety, integrity, and accountability are our top values, and we are committed to providing our guests with an exceptional experience they will never forget.
