What is private jet charter
Chartering a private jet means you book a plane for a specific flight: with specific dates, route, and number of passengers. Example: "May 1st, Almaty to Dubai, 10 passengers; May 12th, Dubai to Almaty, 10 passengers"—that's enough for us to calculate the flight cost.
You can also specify preferences regarding aircraft type (e.g., Gulfstream G550, Embraer Legacy 650, or Global 6000), smoking onboard, and transportation of pets or weapons. These preferences affect aircraft selection and the final price, so it's important to communicate them upfront.
Submitting a request. What information do you need to prepare?
To help us select the best aircraft and give you an accurate price, we need the following information from you:
– Route (from where to, a complex route with several points is possible).
– Dates and approximate times of round-trip flights.
– The number of passengers, ideally with an understanding of whether there will be children.
– Wishes for the aircraft: class/brand, year, cabin configuration.
– Features: animals, weapons, smoking, luggage capacity.
The more accurately you describe the task, the more accurate the calculation and relevant options you will receive initially.
How we select an aircraft
We have access to over 5,000 aircraft worldwide: the CIS, Europe, Asia, and the USA. We work with both an open brokerage database and exclusive private owners, who sometimes lease aircraft at very competitive prices.
The algorithm then goes like this:
– We are sending a request for your route and dates.
– We receive from 10 to 20 proposals from operators.
– We check the relevance and availability of all mandatory taxes and fees (for example, additional taxes on business aviation in France or Italy).
– We select 3-4 best options based on year of manufacture, number of seats, interior freshness, and price.
We try to give you a choice by category: a larger and more comfortable plane, a smaller and more affordable one.
What to look for when choosing a board
When we send you options, it's important to pay attention to a few key points:
– The size of the aircraft and the number of seats.
– Year of manufacture and interior renovation: the «younger» the aircraft, the more comfortable and reliable it is.
– Is refueling necessary en route? Sometimes a smaller plane is significantly cheaper, but will require a technical landing along the way.
You choose what's most important to you: maximum comfort and a direct flight without stops, or savings with refueling.
Contract and payment
Once you've selected the aircraft, we prepare a lease agreement (charter contract). It specifies the aircraft type, route, dates, flight conditions, and cancellation policy.
Payment is required in advance, 100%, prior to departure. This is a standard requirement in business aviation: without full payment, the airline will not schedule the flight or begin preparations.
What do we do after a flight is confirmed?
Once the flight and route have been approved and payment has been received, the airline and we begin facilitating the flight:
– All necessary permits and airport slots are requested.
– The crew is formed and the flight is scheduled.
– Airport and VIP lounge services are being booked.
– Food and drinks are ordered according to your requests.
We represent your interests as a client and ensure that the aircraft is ready, fueled, and crewed on time, and that all documents and onboard services comply with the agreed upon terms.
Food, bar and special requests
The flight price includes a budget for meals per passenger. On short-haul flights, this typically amounts to €100–200 per person, while on long-haul flights, budgets can reach $500–600 or more.
Within this budget, you choose the menu in advance:
– Appetizers, cheese and meat plates.
– Salads, hot dishes, desserts, fruits.
Meals are prepared in a dedicated restaurant and delivered on board just before departure. There's a bar on board with white and red wine, whiskey, and sparkling wine (usually mid-range). On request, we can arrange any premium spirits (like 21-year-old Macallan or Cristal) and delicacies (caviar, lobster, or regional specialties)—our goal is to make your flight as comfortable as possible.
Departure: How it all happens at the airport
On the day of departure, simply arrive at the airport 20-30 minutes before your flight. Departures typically depart from a separate business aviation terminal or through a VIP lounge.
The scheme then goes like this:
– Our representative will meet you at the entrance.
– Escorts to the check-in counter or VIP lounge, collects passports, and completes registration.
– You go through passport and customs control (according to the same laws as regular passengers, you cannot export or import any illegal items).
– You will be taken directly to the plane in a separate vehicle (minivan).
By the time you arrive, your luggage is already loaded, the crew meets you at the steps, and you simply board and fly. Our representative can also meet you upon arrival in major cities.
Pre-flight briefing and child care
Before departure, you receive a flight briefing:
– Aircraft type and tail number.
- Flight number.
– Departure and arrival times.
– Basic contact details, including crew.
If you're flying with children, we'll prepare toys, movies, books, and other onboard activities in advance to ensure a comfortable flight for the whole family.
Aircraft types and how we select the right class for your needs
We select an aircraft based on your needs: routes, flight duration, number of passengers, and desired comfort level. Business aviation is divided into nine aircraft types, each classified by size and range: turboprops, superlights, light aircraft, midsize aircraft, supermidsize aircraft, large aircraft, ultralarge aircraft, long-range aircraft, and business jets, plus a separate category: helicopters.
Examples:
– Almaty – Dubai route (flight time approximately 5 hours): we will offer you an aircraft that flies without refueling, often a Challenger 650.
– Short flights within Europe for 5–6 people: small jets such as Cessna, Learjet, or Phenom 300 are optimal, with a budget of around $10,000–$20,000 per flight.
If you have a large number of passengers or a long-haul overnight flight, we'll find a plane with two cabins, a separate lounge area, and the option to sleep in flight. You'll always have options: a smaller, cheaper plane with refueling or a larger, more expensive one with no stops.
What influences rental prices?
Key price factors:
– Aircraft size: the larger the aircraft and its range, the higher the hourly rate.
– Route distance: the more flight hours, the higher the overall budget.
– Booking time and season (see below).
Airplane rental price:
– Small aircraft: $2,000–4,000 per flight hour.
– Average: 6–8 thousand dollars.
– Long-haul: 10–12 thousand dollars.
– VIP liner: from 20 thousand dollars and up.
Seasonality and winter additional costs
In the CIS countries, there are periods of peak demand: late December, early January, the March school holidays, the May holidays, and late August. During these periods, aircraft availability is low and prices are higher because "everyone is flying." During the low season, there are more aircraft available, and rates are significantly lower.
A separate, important factor in winter is aircraft de-icing. At temperatures near freezing (approximately -5 to +5 degrees Celsius), wing and other surfaces are particularly prone to icing, and the captain is required by regulations to perform de-icing. In business aviation, the cost of de-icing is not included in the base price of the flight: if de-icing is required, you will receive a separate invoice within 3-4 weeks of the flight.
How the route and aircraft base affect the price
The price depends not only on the route but also on the aircraft's base and how far it is from you. If you're flying, for example, from Almaty to Dubai and returning two days later, the same aircraft may simply wait for you in Dubai. But if the gap between flights is 3-5 days or more, two return flights are usually counted: the aircraft brings you to Dubai, flies back to the base empty, and then returns empty. All these empty flights are included in the bill.
If you're departing from a city without a base (for example, Atyrau), you'll need to arrange a flight from the nearest hub (for example, Almaty). Then, the route would look like "Almaty – Atyrau – Dubai – Almaty" plus a reverse triangle. Our goal is to find the closest aircraft to you and minimize the flight time.
Hidden fees and additional costs
We operate on a turnkey pricing principle. The base price includes takeoff and landing fees, fuel, aircraft maintenance, and VIP lounges (based on the number of passengers listed).
Additionally, the price may be affected by:
– Special food, rare products, premium alcohol.
– Increase in the number of passengers (the budget for food and VIP lounges, which charge a fee per guest, is growing).
– The need for dry cleaning of the interior if something was spilled or damaged (for example, wine, children’s «incidents»).
We warn the crew about such possible expenses in advance to avoid surprises.
Example of the cost of a real flight
For reference:
Moscow to Istanbul flight: on a medium-sized plane Cessna XLS+ with refueling - about 55,000 euros, on a large plane Challenger 650 - about 70,000 euros, on long-haul aircraft of the type Global 6000 or Gulfstream G650 - about 90,000 euros
Almaty – Dubai flight on a mid-size jet Cessna XLS+ with one stop for refueling, it can cost around 100,000 euros. The same route on a large aircraft of the level Challenger 650 — around 120,000 euros. If you choose a long-haul aircraft like Global 6000 or Gulfstream G650 Without compromising on range and comfort, the budget will be around 140,000 euros.
This example clearly demonstrates how choosing a flight class and whether or not to refuel changes the final cost for the same route. Our goal is to present these options transparently so you can make an informed decision about how much you're willing to pay for comfort, aircraft size, and the absence of stops.
For those who want to know more, we have prepared a video instruction
