PrivateFly: Charter Customers Edge Younger, Spend More

Charter aircraft users are “edging younger” and spending more, according to a third-quarter report issued late last week by air charter broker PrivateFly. In fact, the quarter was its busiest ever, with private jet travel activity in August up 1.3 percent from 2008 levels for the first time since the Great Recession, it said.

In analyzing its data during the quarter, PrivateFly found that the average age of private jet customers is now 38 years, while children under 16 years old account for nearly one in five passengers. Not surprisingly, it found that 72 percent of passengers are male. Loads averaged 4.6 passengers per flight and only 3 percent had pets on board, the broker said.

Meanwhile, PrivateFly observed that charter confidence is rising, with an average flight spend 17 percent higher year-over-year across all aircraft groups. Per-flight spending for both turboprop twins and large-cabin jets soared by 35 percent, to an average of $9,940 and $53,030, respectively. Ultra-long-range jets commanded the most at $76,010 per flight, up 10 percent from a year ago. The average light jet flight cost $13,820, up 19 percent year-over-year, while that for midsize jet rose just 3 percent, to $22,080.

Light jets were the most booked category, which was reflected by the fact that eight of the 10 most popular aircraft types were in this segment—the Cessna Citation II, Bravo, CJ2, CJ3 and Mustang; Embraer Phenom 100 and 300; and Bombardier Learjet 75.

August 5 was PrivateFly’s single busiest day for takeoffs in the third quarter, with 11 a.m. on a Saturday the most popular takeoff time and day during the three-month period.