Is it Time to Get a Private Plane?
By Deeya Farrukh Niaz
Private planes have always been a status symbol of billionaires and people with unattainable money. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Just like limousines were once seen as unattainable luxury it soon became easily accessible and used for formal events. Private jets still
remain more expensive than commercial flights but they are accessible now.
Privately chartering a plane is no longer a thing of the past. Private jets are no longer an exclusive entity. One Google search and you will find many results for private flying with information on the quality, type, size and all the packages included. You no longer need a travel agent or a private plane broker. Now it’s simple, all you need to do is to input the location and destination of your travel into a site such as FXAIR, 365Aviation, Global Charter etc. and you get the quotation with the type of plane and accommodations you will have included.
It’s become as simple and accessible as ordering from uber eats. You can also get great savings and discounts on private jet travel if you choose the option of an Empty Leg.
An empty leg, also known as an empty sector, is a private jet flying without passengers. This happens when an aircra drops off passengers at their destination and returns home “empty”, or when it flies “empty” to pick up passengers at another airport. Taking advantage of an empty
sector can enable you to make significant savings over ad hoc charter prices. The best part is that you still get to fly in the same luxury aircra whilst enjoying the same high quality service.
Private jets can access a wider network of airports than commercial airlines, including smaller regional airports and even helipads. This allows you to reach your destination more directly and with less travel time. You have the freedom to set your own travel schedule, choose your preferred departure and arrival times, and even change your itinerary on the fly, Private jets offer a more comfortable and private travel experience than commercial airlines, with features like spacious seating, catering, and Wi-Fi.
Some newer service apps, like XO, connect travelers directly with charter operators, allowing for easy booking and browsing It’s no surprise that many celebrities own private jets, including Oprah Winfrey, John Travolta, Drake, Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swi, and Michael Jordan. What many people don’t know is that some actually pilot their private jets themselves.
Now people also timeshare their planes. The planes are usually owned by corporations and then they can be used by individual passengers and celebrities and that also helps you to save on travel. The biggest pay off of private planes is time. If time is valuable and worth the investment that’s when people travel by private planes.
It’s easier, no waiting for airport security, if you are delayed your plane will never leave without you. You can land at smaller airports closer to your destination. It takes you directly to your destination, no need for a layover, no waiting in lines.
Traveling by a private jet costs around $3000 to $18000 per hour depending on the size and the model of the Plane. This includes the whole plane and not counting the number of people in the plane. So if it’s divided amongst the lot it does become feasible. Especially if you count that a single family has to easily pay around $3000 minimum just on tickets. So is it feasible? The cost of private planes are still expensive but they are not being used for formal celebrations and in dire situations. The cost must match the need.
But to be warned because of Global warming and the environmental crisis right now. Private jets are not at all feasible for a single person’s carbon footprint. There are sites that can now track all planes and the routes they take and alot of celebrities have been under fire for using private jets and planes carelessly. Because the emissions of a private plane are Private jet flights contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, with a recent study estimating that they emitted 15.6 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023 alone. This represents a substantial increase of 46% from 2019-2023. The emissions are particularly concerning due to the disproportionate impact on the environment by a small percentage of the population.
Private planes have become an accessible luxury that anyone can have access to. Private planes have a lot of advantages in terms of time and convenience. But they are still more expensive, but costs are reduced with endeavours such as empty leg and with time sharing. Especially for families who already have to pay thousands of dollars for collective flights. But now with the dire situation of the environment environmentalists do not consider private jets environmentally feasible as well. But private plane travel is no longer a thing of the past and could be easily accessible to everyone within a few years.
