Private jet charter makes last-minute flights possible

Private jet charter is filling the need for last-minute travel around the world, making air travel more accessible and affordable than ever before. As a service that ticks all the boxes for spontaneous travel plans, no other transportation is as flexible and convenient as a chartered flight.

Stats for private charter show how it’s an increasingly popular way to fulfil last-minute travel arrangements. Despite the massive hit the air travel industry took in 2020, owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, private charter has not only recovered, but is continuing to grow. 

For example, a report from Mordor Intelligence titled: “Asia-Pacific Charter Jet Service Market – Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021-2026)”, expects the Asia-Pacific market to achieve a compound growth rate of 3% between 2021 and 2026. This would be much larger, but infrastructure issues and regulations are affecting private charter in the region. 

The United States, however, has seen a much larger recovery compared to other regions. An article  in the Tampa Bay Business Journal (“Charter companies see surge in flights during pandemic and it’s not slowing down”) describes how people have made the switch from commercial to private charter services for air travel in the US. In it, pilot Elliot Mintzer, says:

“It’s been crazy. “I don’t see the demand dropping post-Covid. Now people are familiar with flying privately, it’s hard for them to return to commercial. People are realising how valuable their time is.” 

And this is what it ultimately comes down to: time. However, there are a number of other  benefits a private charter offers compared to a commercial airline, particularly if you need to make impromptu plans to fly. 

Join us as we take a look at why we’re often making travel plans at the last minute, and the different ways that charter flights can work for your pocket and your schedule.

So what’s the rush?

Most last-minute travel happens for the reasons you’d expect: a business crisis that needs to be averted, a deal made at short notice, or a handful of factories visited in the space of a week or two. Leisure and personal reasons usually include weddings, births, competitive league sports, family reunions or an impromptu weekend break. Slightly more surprising are last-minute flights to haunted houses, a rush to get to the latest UFO sighting, or getting to the location of a favourite musician’s next appearance. 

According to global trend watcher, Skift, there was high demand from businesses to fly at the last minute, but this shifted towards leisure travel, which accounted for 56% of last-minute bookings in the US in 2019. Compare this to Europe, where 73% of last-minute travel was business-related and just 27% leisure, and there’s a significant contrast.

The US trend towards last-minute leisure travel could be attributed to a culture of aviation transportation in America that’s cheaper, more accessible and readily available than in many other countries. Another reason is the growing need to take a break from the rigours of everyday lives. Skift’s annual travel industry trends forecast 2019 turned up some interesting trends, such as a large increase in wellness tourism. This is when people travel to take part in activities that promote health and well-being; these can be anything from going rock climbing to visiting an organic farm or yoga retreat. 

The Global Wellness Institute estimates that this type of tourism had developed into a $639 billion market in 2019, but was obviously affected by the pandemic in 2020. Despite this, a report from Technavio titled: “$315 Billion Growth in Global Wellness Tourism Market 2020-2024” found that the market still grew 6.43%, although this would probably have been much higher had the pandemic not taken hold.

Whatever your leisure or business needs, chartering a private aircraft can get you to more destinations in the quickest way.

4 ways private jet charter makes last-minute flights around the world possible

It used to be easy to buy a cheap plane ticket just days or even hours before departure time. Now, the price of a flight is at its lowest on the day it’s released, and begins to climb as the day of the flight gets nearer. The thing is, life happens, and schedules are unpredictable. But just because you have to purchase a ticket at the last minute doesn’t mean you have to pay sky-high prices for your seat. There are instances when buying a seat on or near the departure date is actually cheaper than booking months ahead. This is what you need to know before grabbing that last-minute ticket.

1. It’s quicker and more time-efficient

If you need to get on a plane and reach a destination quickly, private charter services will be able to prepare a flight that suits your timetable. With commercial airlines, flights are scheduled to leave at a specific time, regardless of whether that suits you or not.

Not only that, but the time that you spend at the airport itself will be dramatically reduced. Where commercial airlines often require that you check in one to two hours in advance, private jet travel allows you to arrive just minutes before your flight. With a charter flight, security checks, customs, and boarding are handled much quicker than with a commercial airline.

Finally, if you really need to carry on working during your last-minute flight, this is much easier to do on a private plane than it is on a commercial flight. Depending on the aircraft that you rent, you’ll definitely have more privacy, and you’ll likely have more space to get your work done.

All of these advantages will save you valuable time, which is especially important if you’re making last-minute travel plans.

2. Empty-leg flights can be incredibly affordable

‘Empty legs’ are a great way to save on private air charter. It’s an aviation term for when a private jet flies part of its journey without passengers. This can happen when passengers are dropped off at their destination and the plane returns to its home base empty, or when it must fly empty to pick up passengers at another airport.

Since every empty seat equals a loss of revenue for air charter operators, empty-leg specials can be an inexpensive way to charter a private plane with no notice. This strategy helps with fuel costs and puts private plane rental within reach of people who wouldn’t normally be able to afford this luxury and convenience. It’s deals like these that are making private flight possible, not just for corporate CEOs and their like, but also for families and individuals who thought jet travel was out of their reach. 

Empty-leg specials can shave up to 75% off the cost of a regular charter for last-minute trips. But you could save even more if you book for a group. On an empty leg, you’ll be charged for the full flight if you’re the only passenger on board. If the jet can accommodate 12 people, for instance, the price of the discounted flight will be divided 12 ways for the group, making cheap last-minute flights a reality.

A number of private plane charter operators have followed the lead of hotels and hotel websites by offering last-minute deals and empty legs on private flights. You can either subscribe to an email or app alert, sign up for a newsletter, or speak to an empty-legs specialist about your preferred routes and the dates you’re most likely to travel.

3. Unmatched accessibility, no matter where you’re going

Private travel gives passengers access to more than 5,000 airports just in the US alone – 10 times the number of US airports served by commercial airlines. In fact, according to a General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) report, private aviation pilots said, on average, more than 42% of their destinations were airports with infrequent or no scheduled airline service, and 31% of the flights they conducted in the last year were to destinations that have never had any commercial air service. The same report found that private pilots stopped in more than one place on 42% of their trips. When travelling to multiple destinations locally or overseas, being able to avoid stopovers, connecting flights, and a race from one terminal to the other can save many hours – if not days – of travel.

For charities around the world, private plane charter is a lifeline to communities when natural disasters ground commercial airlines. Private aircraft can get humanitarian aid and medicines, or critical personnel, to hard-to-reach places. It’s estimated that around 15,000 humanitarian missions are flown each year.

If you’re planning a last-minute leisure trip, one cannot ignore the wellness tourism industry and how it is connected to private plane charter. A report from Vision Research Reports on the size of the wellness tourism market said it expects it to grow to approximately $1.10 trillion by 2028. While this reflects the industry as a whole, it’s the private charter services that stand to benefit greatly from its continued growth. Wellness travel will draw people away from the cities to less-touristy locations. Many of these retreats and nature experiences cannot be easily reached from commercial airports, so wellness tourism is likely to see an increasing demand for light jets and chartered helicopters that can easily access these remote places, and conveniently set down these tourists at nearby private airports or airfields.

Already the tourism industry is tapping into the fact that more than 60% of US travellers would consider an impulse trip based on a good hotel or flight deal, according to a Google/Phocuswright survey.

Of course, if work requires that you get to a remote destination quickly, say for a consulting job, or to meet an important client, there’s no easier way than to charter a plane. A private charter will be able to land at the many smaller, more remote airports, while commercial aircraft may not even have flights scheduled for these distant destinations. If they do, you might struggle to find a flight that suits your timetable if you’re in a rush, as fewer flights will likely be scheduled to these less-popular locations.

4. Well-rested and ready for business or adventure

One of the major benefits of booking a charter for your next impromptu flight are some of the perks it offers. Flying privately means you can expect a positive pre-departure experience, loads of luggage and legroom, and the comfort of a plush, private airplane seat. A good night's sleep becomes a reality, while plane food and beverages actually become something to look forward to. You can even take your animal companion along with you for the ride. 

Although this may seem like a lot of indulgence, spending many uncomfortable hours on a commercial airline when you have business to attend to at your destination or when you’ve spent your hard-earned money on the vacation of your dreams is no joke. On the other hand, reaching your destination without having to sacrifice a single hour to jetlag is priceless.

How to make the most of private jet charter travel

• Choose the right private charter company by doing a bit of research before you commit. Look around online to see if the airline gets good reviews and ask as many questions as possible about what you can expect from the experience. This may include the number of years the operator has been in business, the size of their fleet, and a detailed breakdown of costs.
• Try to travel with a group if possible. The size of your group will determine the type of aircraft you will travel on. A larger group will spread the cost of a light to mid-size jet on an empty leg, whereas a smaller group allows you to book a very light and less expensive jet or helicopter.
• Speak to your private plane charter operator about your destination. They may be able to save you time by choosing an airport close to your destination.

Let ACS meet your private plane charter needs

In a hurry? Talk to us about your options for flexible, cost-effective jet charter, such as our short-haul air taxi service or our jet card which offers you a range of benefits that are unsurpassed by any other product on the private aviation market.

The next time you need to book a plane rental or make last-minute flight plans, speak to our team about the benefits of private charter for fast, agile, and personalised travel that’s more affordable than you might think. 

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