Private Jet Charter Industry Statistics
Researchers and statisticians have examined the industry closely, trying to determine if jet charter trips were a COVID fad or something else altogether. Their results are interesting.
Growth & Evolution
Jet charter trips were once tied to rock stars, politicians, and the fabulously wealthy. The pandemic changed all that.
Many people leery of a plane filled with strangers tried jets for the first time—and they’re not ready to go back.
The private jet sector has grown rapidly during the past decade. Researchers expect continued growth.
The industry was worth $21.24 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to $24.28 billion in 2025.
Drivers of Market Growth
Why is the market growing year after year?
Several factors contribute, including the following:
- Increase in business travel: Busy executives take to the skies for in-person meetings. In 2023, 77% of business travelers said they took one to five trips in 2023, but 7% took more than 10 trips.
- Rise of the wealthy: High-net-worth individuals are becoming more plentiful across the globe, with their wealth reaching $86.8 trillion in 2023. People with this kind of money can afford private flights.
- Demand for medical care: A growing demand for air ambulances, which are typically considered private flights, is also driving growth. As more people struggle with health issues like stroke and respiratory disease, this market will continue to grow.
People who never thought they’d fly via private jet are trying it for the first time. We hear every day from new clients who had such a good experience that they’ll never go back to commercial flights.
Market Size & Industry Forecasts
Researchers say the American private jet charter market is $28.9 billion in 2025. Americans aren’t the only ones using this type of flight. In fact, people all across the globe are experimenting with charters, and the market is growing accordingly.
Top Markets for Jet Chartering
North America grabs a large portion of the jet charter market. In 2023, travelers from North America accounted for 31% of the global market share. It’s easy for people in the north to access private aircraft, making this an attractive option.
However, the Asia-Pacific market is also growing. For example, China is the fastest-growing economy in the world. The air charter services market in China is expected to reach $6.8 billion in 2023, as many executives and wealthy individuals fly in and out of the country.
Growing Jet Charter Trends
Some of the growth in the jet charter industry has nothing to do with location and everything to do with consumer demands and emerging technology.
On-Demand & Membership-Based Services
In the past, flying via jet charter meant buying and maintaining an aircraft. Newer models make private jets more affordable and accessible.
Consumers can now sign up for a service and choose from a suite of available aircraft for their trips. This on-demand service is particularly popular in places like China. On-demand charter service demand rose 12% in the Asia-Pacific market from 2022 to 2023 alone.
Sustainability Initiatives
Some consumers appreciate the idea of private flights, but they resist the pollution that may come from their travel. The industry is responding.
New aircraft paired with airport sustainability initiatives are reducing energy demands and potential emissions. In the UK, for example, the number of chartered air passengers rose by 27% between 2010 and 2016, but total emissions only grew by about 0.2%.
Other sustainability changes happening within the industry include the following:
- Sustainable aviation fuel, which is derived from sources like cooking oil
- Carbon offsets for longer trips
- Advanced engine design for fewer carbon emissions
- Optimized flight and route planning
- Greener airports with solar panels and electric charging stations
The Rise of Technology
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing almost everything about the world we live in—including the private jet industry.
Tech companies offer AI-powered tools that can make the booking and flight experience smoother. For example, some companies use algorithms to develop new flight networks that connect consumers with available aircraft, reducing the need to ferry empty planes to pick up passengers.
AI tools can also provide real-time pricing information for curious consumers. Those same tools can help to optimize the flight path and ensure the trip doesn’t cost too much in fuel and plane maintenance.
The private jet industry is undergoing dramatic changes due to consumer demands and available technology. It’s a really exciting time to be in this business, and I think the future has even more innovations in store for us.
Demographic Shifts in the Industry
While the industry itself is changing, so are the people who use the services. New travelers are entering the market every day, and their wants and needs are likely to push charter companies in different directions.
New Customers
Many people are experiencing jet travel for the very first time. In 2023 alone, 5 million private flights were taken. That’s a 15% rise since the pandemic began.
Many of these new consumers are millennials. They are creating “private-ish” trips with close family and friends via chartered planes. As these young people shift their focus from purchasing products to crafting experiences, private jets seem to fit right in.
Corporate Travel
Business executives have long used private aircraft, but research suggests that this market is changing. In fact, as more people try private travel, this type of flight is becoming the norm for the business class.
Jets are often used for core business functions. In one survey, 94% said they used private jets for meetings with customers, and 69% used these flights to meet with their business partners.
Some companies are also using private jets to recruit and retain top talent. Instead of leaning on virtual tools like Zoom, they’re using jets to ferry their team from a far-flung home to the corporate office. Starbucks is using this approach with the company’s new CEO.
Medical & Emergency Travel
Researchers say the fastest-growing segment in the jet charter industry involves medical evacuation. This market is growing at 7.5% CAGR.
Medivac growth is driven by factors like climate change, which increases the risk of natural disasters and associated medical emergencies. Medical flights are also in high demand as wealthy people look for specialized care for their unique health concerns.
Barriers to Market Growth
While many people are joining the jet charter industry for the first time and appreciating the experience, the opportunities for growth aren’t endless.
The following factors could limit the market’s expansion:
Cost Concerns
A private jet charter can cost between $1,500 and $15,000 per hour. A commercial flight is much less expensive.
While some people can afford the high fees associated with a jet charter, many cannot. Financial insecurity and a fluctuating global economic market could make some consumers eager for deals and cost-cutting measures.
Infrastructure & Regulatory Challenges
As the demand for private jets increases, airports grow crowded, and the air grows congested.
For example, one general airport hosted more than 36,500 private jet departures in 2020 alone. Consumers who want to charter a jet may find it hard to secure a spot in a crowded airport like this, which can limit growth.
Tax issues could also limit growth. For example, some busy executives have claimed deductions for their business aircraft, and that’s drawing IRS scrutiny. If these issues continue and tax penalties rise, it could keep people on the ground.
Security & Privacy Concerns
Many people choose private travel out of a deep-set need for privacy. However, the industry has dealt with many problems concerning data hacking.
For example, a parts supplier reported a data hack in 2024 that resulted in the theft of sensitive customer data. Hacks like this could also reveal customer locations and payment plans, which could make people leery of flying.
Working with a trusted partner or charter broker can alleviate many of these concerns.
Predicting the Market & Outlook
The private jet charter industry is changing and growing. What was considered a travel fad in 2020 has become a core part of life for many people around the world.
Expect continued growth among the business class and wealthy individuals. Watch for the industry to respond with more eco-friendly solutions and airport innovations. And look for solutions that use AI to smooth the experience.
While the jet charter market may not face unlimited growth, especially as some consumers deal with deep financial strain, there are many reasons to believe this type of travel is here to stay.
The future of private aviation involves balancing luxury, efficiency, and sustainability. Innovative companies will invest in solutions to serve their customers and deliver the best experience possible. It’s a wonderful time to be in this business.
Fact Checked & Reviewed By:
Chris Blanchard has spent more than two decades in the private aviation industry. He began his career with an on-demand charter operator and played a critical role in transforming a small operation into one of the largest and most successful in the country. His experience and commitment to excellence make him a trusted innovator in the field of private aviation.
This Article Contains 19 Cited Sources
Last modified 27 Mar 2025