Private jet charter companies have transformed air travel by offering luxurious, convenient, and personalized experiences.

With so many private jet charter options available today, finding the right one that fits your needs can be challenging. To make it easier for you, we’ve curated a list of the top 10 private jet charter companies, ranked by their popularity and fleet size.

Honorable mentions

The aviation industry is changing rapidly. Therefore, we decided to rank only the companies for which we had the latest (2026) and specific fleet data available. This approach ensured a fair comparison between companies. Consequently, several prominent players in the field, such as Air Charter Service, Sentient Jet, Magellan Jets, Clay Lacy Aviation, Solairus Aviation and Nicholas Air, were left out of this list.

Wheels Up (removed from the list)

Wheels Up, established in 2013 in New York City, operates on a membership-based model that provides access to an extensive fleet of aircraft. Wheels Up has modernized its fleet by retiring all legacy jets in 2024, including the King Air 350, Citation series, and Hawker 400, going from 176 to only 36 aircraft. Its revenue fleet now consists exclusively of Embraer Phenom 300 and Bombardier Challenger 300 series aircraft.

Now back to the Friendly Skies list…

The biggest private jet charter companies

Let’s take a closer look at the Top 10 largest private jet charter companies in the world for 2026, ranked by their fleet size and popularity. We’ll start with the jet charter company in 10th place and work our way up to the one with the largest fleet.

10. JSX (formerly JetSuiteX)

JSX is an air carrier founded in 2016 in Dallas, Texas, operating in the United States and Mexico. Its fleet includes the Embraer ERJ-135, Embraer ERJ-145, and ATR 42.

JSX operates as a public charter company and does not directly manage its own aircraft. Instead, it charters regional jets from a subsidiary and resells seats to the public. JSX uses fixed-base operator (FBO) terminals, providing customers with a more private jet-like experience. As a result, JSX flights depart from private jet terminals, separate from standard passenger terminals.

9. PlaneSense

PlaneSense was established in 1996 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The company operates the Pilatus PC-12 turboprop and the PC-24 light jet aircraft, making it the largest operator of the Pilatus PC-12 in the world.

PlaneSense also offers a fractional ownership program and on-demand charter services, with flights arranged through its affiliated company, Cobalt Air.

8. FlyExclusive

Founded in 2015, FlyExclusive is an air carrier based in Kinston, North Carolina, offering services across North America, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and beyond. It provides a range of services, including on-demand charter flights and jet card programs. The company also offers aircraft partnerships, fractional ownership, and empty leg options.

An aircraft partnership is when two or more individuals or entities share the ownership, costs, and usage of an aircraft. Whereas, the term ‘empty leg’ or ‘repositioning flight’ refers to a flight with no passengers, typically occurring when an aircraft is chartered for a one-way trip, leaving the return flight open for booking.

FlyExclusive’s fleet includes a variety of private jets:

• Cessna Citation CJ3/CJ3+
• Cessna Citation Excel/XLS
• Cessna Citation Sovereign
• Cessna Citation X
• Challenger 350
• Land Caravan
• Seaplane Caravan

7. Jet Linx

Jet Linx, founded in 1999 and based in Omaha, Nebraska, is a private jet company that offers a localized service model. The company provides a range of private aviation solutions, including aircraft management, co-ownership, sales, and jet card programs.

Jet Linx Aviation serves customers across the United States, with more than 20 local base locations nationwide.

Its fleet includes:

Very Light Aircraft:

• Cessna Citation Mustang
• Embraer Phenom 100

Light Aircraft:

• Learjet 31A
• Beechcraft Premier
• Cessna Citation Bravo
• Cessna Citation CJ1/CJ2/CJ3/CJ4
• Cessna Citation Encore
• Cessna Citation Ultra
• Embraer Phenom 300

Midsize Aircraft:

• Learjet 55
• Learjet 60
• Learjet 75
• Cessna Citation 650 Series (III, VI, and VIII)
• Gulfstream G150
• Hawker 750
• Hawker 800/800XP
• Hawker 850XP
• Hawker 900XP

Super Mid Aircraft:

• Bombardier Challenger 300
• Cessna Citation Sovereign
• Cessna Citation X
• Dassault Falcon 2000/2000LX
• Dassault Falcon 50
• Embraer Legacy 450
• Hawker 1000

Heavy aircraft:

• Bombardier Challenger 600/601/604/605
• Bombardier Global 5000
• Bombardier Global Express XRS
• Dassault Falcon 7X
• Dassault Falcon 900/900LX
• Gulfstream G-IV
• Gulfstream III
• Gulfstream V
• Gulfstream IVSP
• Gulfstream G350
• Gulfstream G400
• Gulfstream G450
• Gulfstream G550

6. Airshare (formerly Executive Airshare)

Airshare, one of the nation’s largest fractional aircraft providers, was founded in 2000. Based in Lenexa, Kansas, Airshare offers fractional ownership and jet card programs, as well as aircraft management, on-demand charter services, and leasing options. The company operates throughout the United States and Central America.

Its fleet includes Embraer Phenom 300s and Bombardier Challenger 3500s.

5. PrivateFly

PrivateFly is a private jet charter service established in 2008 and headquartered in St Albans, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. PrivateFly caters to a diverse client group worldwide.

It offers a variety of services, including private jet charters, fractional ownership and leasing options, empty leg flights, and a jet card membership program.

What truly distinguishes PrivateFly is the diversity of its fleet. With aircraft ranging from the Falcon 7X to the A320 Prestige, PrivateFly provides an extensive selection to meet various travel needs.

4. Vista Global

Let’s meet Vista Global, a private aviation group based in Dubai, which includes the brands XOJET (now known as XO) and VistaJet. Founded in 2018, Vista Global is a newcomer that offers a wide range of services, from on-demand charters to subscription-based models.

In 2020, Vista expanded its portfolio by acquiring Red Wing Aviation, Apollo Jet, and Talon Air. In 2022, Vista extended its reach further by acquiring Air Hamburg, a private jet operator in Europe. Later that year, Vista added Jet Edge, a company specializing in fractional ownership and charter flights in North America, to its acquisitions.

VistaJet operates the following aircraft in its fleet:

• Bombardier Global 6000/7500/8000
• Gulfstream G450
• Gulfstream GIV-SP
• Embraer Legacy 600
• Embraer Legacy 650/650E
• Embraer Lineage 1000E
• Cessna Citation XLS/XLS+
• Cessna Citation Excel
• Dassault Falcon 7X

3. Flexjet

In third place is Flexjet, a prominent player in the private jet charter industry, founded in 1995 in Canada by Bombardier Aviation. The company specializes in fractional ownership, jet cards, leasing, and on-demand charters.

Flexjet comprises a diverse fleet of aircraft, including models such as the:

• Gulfstream G700
• Gulfstream G650
• Gulfstream G450
• Praetor 500
• Praetor 600
• Challenger 350/3500
• Phenom 300
• Sikorsky S-76

2. NetJets

The second spot this year on the Friendly Skies list goes to the NetJets. Founded in Columbus, Ohio, in 1964, NetJets was the first private jet charter company in the world. It also pioneered fractional aircraft ownership, effectively democratizing private aviation by allowing individuals and businesses to own shares in aircraft.

NetJets offers a comprehensive suite of other aviation services, including leasing, aircraft sales, management, security, and jet card programs. They also provide on-demand charter services and access to empty legs, ensuring a complete range of options for travelers. With a varied fleet of 10 types of aircraft, NetJets caters to a wide range of travel needs.

Its full fleet includes:

Long-range Jets:

• Bombardier Global 5000/5500
• Bombardier Global 6000
• Bombardier Global 7500/8000

Large Jets:

• Bombardier Challenger 650

Super-midsize jets:

• Cessna Citation Longitude
• Bombardier Challenger 350/3500

Midsize Jets:

• Embraer Praetor 500
• Cessna Citation Latitude
• Cessna Citation Sovereign
• Cessna Citation Ascend
• Cessna Citation XLS

Light Jets:

• Embraer Phenom 300/E

1. Paramount Business Jets

Paramount Business Jets, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Leesburg, Virginia, takes a different approach from the operators on this list. Rather than owning a fleet, Paramount Business Jets is a global private jet charter broker, arranging on-demand flights across a worldwide network of thousands of vetted aircraft and operators.

This brokerage model is its key advantage: instead of being limited to one company’s fleet, clients get access to virtually every aircraft category, from light jets to ultra-long-range heavy jets, matched to each specific trip. Paramount also offers empty-leg flights, jet card programs, and group charter, with 24/7 trip support and safety vetting that screens operators against third-party safety auditors.

So while Paramount doesn’t have a fleet size to rank by, it earns its spot here as the on-demand brokerage alternative for travelers who value flexibility and choice over commitment to a single operator’s aircraft.