One of the most common questions I get is: “How much does it cost to buy a private jet?” It’s a great question, but an even better one is: “What does it actually cost to own a private jet?”
While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, the basics are easy to understand when you break ownership into three main buckets: the cost of the jet, fixed overhead, and the cost to fly.
Some people think you need to spend $70 million to buy a private jet and while a brand-new, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G700 may cost that much, you can buy a smaller, older light jet for as little as $2 million. The key is this: you’re not just buying a jet; you’re buying a machine that solves a problem. It’s not about “What’s the best jet?” it’s about “What jet best meets my needs based on my typical mission profile and budget?”
Then there are fixed overhead costs, the expenses you’ll pay whether you fly or not. These include pilot salaries and training, insurance, hangar or parking fees, Wi-Fi, aircraft cleaning, and subscriptions to navigation and maintenance programs. For most owners, these costs range from $50,000 to $150,000 per month, depending on aircraft size, number of flight crew, and the location where the aircraft is based.
Finally, there’s the cost of flying the jet, fuel, maintenance, and engine/APU program coverage. We usually calculate this as an average cost per flight hour: for light jets, it’s around $2,000 per flight hour, and for ultra-long-range jets, it can be closer to $6,000 per flight hour. It’s not an exact science, but we can get surprisingly close.
What matters most is this: jet ownership isn’t just for the ultra-elite anymore. It’s a serious investment, but it doesn’t have to be a mystery. At Jet Access, we bring total transparency to the process and make sure our clients always know exactly what they’re getting and why.
So, if you’re thinking about buying a jet or just want to understand more about private jet ownership, give us a call. We’re here to help!
