Once reserved for the wealthy and famous, private jets are actually the vehicle of alternative for savvy travelers on the lookout for a stress-free and convenient method to fly.
The Covid-19 pandemic fundamentally altered how people view public spaces, including business airports and airlines.
It was a time for the private aviation industry to boom – and it did just that, with more people choosing a personal charter to avoid crowded airports, to bypass long security lines and avoid delays and cancellations.
It’s a trend that has well continued into 2025.
Paul O’Brien, who’s the founding father of Avmin, a high-profile Brisbane-based air charter company, was putting on about 30 or 40 flights per week in 2019, just before the pandemic.
In 2022, he was running around 80 charter flights per week and today across 30 to 40 flight sectors, he said it stays regular at around the identical figure.
“That’s with all different charter providers across Australia from smaller Mustang jets with 4 to 6 seats that are popular for business travellers between trunk routes like Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane – to Phenom 100 to 300 range which carries 4 to eight people,” he explained.
Mr O’Brien said despite business options returning to pre-pandemic levels, private jet users have remained strong.
“I don’t envisage a down turn anytime soon by private jet users as they’ve experienced every thing there’s with the convenience and luxury of a personal jet,” he told news.com.au.
Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics’ Domestic Aviation Activity January 2023 report found private jet travel in Australia had increased by 28 percent since 2020.
In April 2024, The Australian reported charter flights carried more passengers than the now embattled airline Rex, flying 13 per cent of all domestic air travellers around Australia, up from 8.6 per cent pre-Covid.
Mr O’Brien said more Aussies go for the private way of travel mainly due to convenience and the advantages of luxury.
“They need to avoid airports and travel at a time that suits them. There’s also the posh of departure and arrival times and cost-savings advantages while you’re travelling with a bunch of individuals.
“To fly on an eight-seat jet from Sydney to Melbourne is about $2000 return per person. If we have a look at Qantas fares tomorrow at 6am on business class, it’s about $1300 each way- so $2600 return.”
FalconAir, a pacesetter in bespoke private aviation, has also seen an increase in popularity and just like Avmin, particularly amongst golfing groups and birthday parties.
“The golfers really enjoy being flown on to the more exclusive and distant golf courses in Australia and Latest Zealand, which normally take multiple airline trips and/ or lengthy road journeys to succeed in,” FalconAir chief executive Laura Younes told news.com.au.
“The birthday groups have been making the most of the massive single cabin of our Dassault Falcon jet, which has an exceptional open plan that suits groups of 10 or more, allowing a energetic, well catered experience for those on board.
“The birthday groups most frequently travel interstate to the primary cities for a fun weekend away.”
Ms Younes said with regards to prices, especially once all of the available seats are filled, “a personal jet competes thoroughly with the premium offerings from the airlines, especially if the trip is planned on the last minute”.
“Once you’re taking the direct flights under consideration, without the necessity for lengthy waits for connecting flights, and even long road trips once landed, the private jet is smart a number of sense financially for a lot of travellers,” she said.
“For instance, the Cirrus Jet with 4 adults and two kids on board from Sydney to Melbourne (day trip) is $6,700 USD. This compares with a business class QF ticket for a similar trip at $1,500 – $1,750 per person.
“Our company recently sorted a bunch who were on board for 3 days while travelling to distant parts of Australia. The itinerary available from the airlines would have taken the group seven days, and the money and time saved made the alternative of flying with us an easy one.”
The worth can also be depending on the style of aircraft, passenger count, distance and seasonal demand.
In Australia, entry-level charters begin at roughly $1200 per hour, escalating to $12,000 per hour for premium long-haul routes, in response to Air Charter Advisors.
“Small jets now compete with legacy propeller aircraft in price, but with the advantages of jet speed and jet comfort,” Ms Younes explained.
She said other than flexibility and convenience, one other driving consider private jet popularity is the rise within the varieties of jet aircraft available.
“There are also recent ways to achieve access to charter jets, through methods corresponding to fractional ownership, memberships, subscriptions and empty legs. All these changes make it far easier and far cheaper to get a seat on a personal jet.”
“Empty legs” is when a personal charter drops off a guest, it still has to return the plane and crew to home base – and that flight is usually empty. To offset the price, aviation corporations offer this leg to passengers at a reduction.
Last yr, FlyJets chief executive Jessica Fisher told Business Insider that individuals can fly private for cheaper by booking empty legs, a practice that’s cheaper for patrons yet allows operators to generate more revenue.
Ms Younes said the strategy of booking a charter was easy, starting with the client sharing their itinerary, specific needs and timing.
“(We) then check aircraft availability and sends a quote to the client, and last minute details are sorted out. Once a contract is signed, the trip is confirmed and FalconAir begins making the needed arrangements with airports, air traffic control, caters, refuellers and all the opposite stake holders,” she said.
Then on the day, the client shows up shortly before the planned departure, boards the jet with the aircraft making its way moments later.
“On board, the client will enjoy a fantastic dining experience with the premium catering and drinks on offer, and our highly experienced flight attendants are all the time readily available to see to the entire clients needs,” Ms Younes explained.
“On the destination, the client is in a position to deplane the moment the engines are shut down, and plenty of step straight right into a waiting automobile and are well beyond the airport only minutes after landing.”
With around 317 private aircraft in operation nationwide, Australia’s private aviation sector is undoubtedly growing and by the looks of it, it’s not only amongst CEOs and celebrities, but in addition small business owners, entrepreneurs, and groups on the lookout for convenience privacy, and a luxury experience without significantly breaking the bank.
Once reserved for the wealthy and famous, private jets are actually the vehicle of alternative for savvy travelers on the lookout for a stress-free and convenient method to fly.
The Covid-19 pandemic fundamentally altered how people view public spaces, including business airports and airlines.
It was a time for the private aviation industry to boom – and it did just that, with more people choosing a personal charter to avoid crowded airports, to bypass long security lines and avoid delays and cancellations.
It’s a trend that has well continued into 2025.
Paul O’Brien, who’s the founding father of Avmin, a high-profile Brisbane-based air charter company, was putting on about 30 or 40 flights per week in 2019, just before the pandemic.
In 2022, he was running around 80 charter flights per week and today across 30 to 40 flight sectors, he said it stays regular at around the identical figure.
“That’s with all different charter providers across Australia from smaller Mustang jets with 4 to 6 seats that are popular for business travellers between trunk routes like Sydney to Melbourne and Brisbane – to Phenom 100 to 300 range which carries 4 to eight people,” he explained.
Mr O’Brien said despite business options returning to pre-pandemic levels, private jet users have remained strong.
“I don’t envisage a down turn anytime soon by private jet users as they’ve experienced every thing there’s with the convenience and luxury of a personal jet,” he told news.com.au.
Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics’ Domestic Aviation Activity January 2023 report found private jet travel in Australia had increased by 28 percent since 2020.
In April 2024, The Australian reported charter flights carried more passengers than the now embattled airline Rex, flying 13 per cent of all domestic air travellers around Australia, up from 8.6 per cent pre-Covid.
Mr O’Brien said more Aussies go for the private way of travel mainly due to convenience and the advantages of luxury.
“They need to avoid airports and travel at a time that suits them. There’s also the posh of departure and arrival times and cost-savings advantages while you’re travelling with a bunch of individuals.
“To fly on an eight-seat jet from Sydney to Melbourne is about $2000 return per person. If we have a look at Qantas fares tomorrow at 6am on business class, it’s about $1300 each way- so $2600 return.”
FalconAir, a pacesetter in bespoke private aviation, has also seen an increase in popularity and just like Avmin, particularly amongst golfing groups and birthday parties.
“The golfers really enjoy being flown on to the more exclusive and distant golf courses in Australia and Latest Zealand, which normally take multiple airline trips and/ or lengthy road journeys to succeed in,” FalconAir chief executive Laura Younes told news.com.au.
“The birthday groups have been making the most of the massive single cabin of our Dassault Falcon jet, which has an exceptional open plan that suits groups of 10 or more, allowing a energetic, well catered experience for those on board.
“The birthday groups most frequently travel interstate to the primary cities for a fun weekend away.”
Ms Younes said with regards to prices, especially once all of the available seats are filled, “a personal jet competes thoroughly with the premium offerings from the airlines, especially if the trip is planned on the last minute”.
“Once you’re taking the direct flights under consideration, without the necessity for lengthy waits for connecting flights, and even long road trips once landed, the private jet is smart a number of sense financially for a lot of travellers,” she said.
“For instance, the Cirrus Jet with 4 adults and two kids on board from Sydney to Melbourne (day trip) is $6,700 USD. This compares with a business class QF ticket for a similar trip at $1,500 – $1,750 per person.
“Our company recently sorted a bunch who were on board for 3 days while travelling to distant parts of Australia. The itinerary available from the airlines would have taken the group seven days, and the money and time saved made the alternative of flying with us an easy one.”
The worth can also be depending on the style of aircraft, passenger count, distance and seasonal demand.
In Australia, entry-level charters begin at roughly $1200 per hour, escalating to $12,000 per hour for premium long-haul routes, in response to Air Charter Advisors.
“Small jets now compete with legacy propeller aircraft in price, but with the advantages of jet speed and jet comfort,” Ms Younes explained.
She said other than flexibility and convenience, one other driving consider private jet popularity is the rise within the varieties of jet aircraft available.
“There are also recent ways to achieve access to charter jets, through methods corresponding to fractional ownership, memberships, subscriptions and empty legs. All these changes make it far easier and far cheaper to get a seat on a personal jet.”
“Empty legs” is when a personal charter drops off a guest, it still has to return the plane and crew to home base – and that flight is usually empty. To offset the price, aviation corporations offer this leg to passengers at a reduction.
Last yr, FlyJets chief executive Jessica Fisher told Business Insider that individuals can fly private for cheaper by booking empty legs, a practice that’s cheaper for patrons yet allows operators to generate more revenue.
Ms Younes said the strategy of booking a charter was easy, starting with the client sharing their itinerary, specific needs and timing.
“(We) then check aircraft availability and sends a quote to the client, and last minute details are sorted out. Once a contract is signed, the trip is confirmed and FalconAir begins making the needed arrangements with airports, air traffic control, caters, refuellers and all the opposite stake holders,” she said.
Then on the day, the client shows up shortly before the planned departure, boards the jet with the aircraft making its way moments later.
“On board, the client will enjoy a fantastic dining experience with the premium catering and drinks on offer, and our highly experienced flight attendants are all the time readily available to see to the entire clients needs,” Ms Younes explained.
“On the destination, the client is in a position to deplane the moment the engines are shut down, and plenty of step straight right into a waiting automobile and are well beyond the airport only minutes after landing.”
With around 317 private aircraft in operation nationwide, Australia’s private aviation sector is undoubtedly growing and by the looks of it, it’s not only amongst CEOs and celebrities, but in addition small business owners, entrepreneurs, and groups on the lookout for convenience privacy, and a luxury experience without significantly breaking the bank.
