The Top 10 world's biggest private jet charter companies of 2024

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, I’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 (2024) 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.

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 2024, ranked by their fleet size and popularity. We’ll start with the company in 10th place and work our way up to the company with the largest fleet.

10. 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.

9. 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-140, and Embraer ERJ-145.

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.

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:

• Citation Encore
• Citation CJ3/CJ3+
• Citation Excel/XLS
• Citation Sovereign
• Citation X
• Challenger 350

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:

Light Jets:

• Citation CJ2/3/4
• Hawker 400XP
• Phenom 300

Midsize Jets:

• Citation XLS/XLS+
• Hawker 800/900XP
• Learjet 45/60

Super Midsize Jets:

• Citation Sovereign
• Citation Latitude
• Gulfstream G200/G280
• Citation X
• Challenger 300
• Embraer Legacy 500

Luxury Heavy Jets:

• Challenger 604/605
• Falcon 900EX
• Falcon 2000EX
• Falcon 7X
• Embraer Legacy 600
• Gulfstream V
• Gulfstream G450
• Gulfstream G550

6. Airshare (formerly Executive Airshare)

Nation’s largest fractional aircraft provider Airshare 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. Wheels Up

Wheels Up, established in 2013 in New York City, operates on a membership-based model that provides access to an extensive fleet of aircraft. This diverse selection includes turboprops like the Beechcraft King Air 350i, light jets such as the Hawker 400X for short trips, and spacious luxury jets like the Gulfstream G450. The fleet also includes Cessna Citation CJ3, Cessna Citation XLS and X models.

Wheels Up provides a comprehensive suite of services, including aircraft maintenance, sales, FBO, on-demand charters, and repositioning flights.

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:

• Embraer Phenom 300
• Embraer Legacy 450/500
• Embraer Praetor 500/600
• Gulfstream G450/G650ER
• Bombardier Challenger 300
• Bombardier Global Express

2. Vista Global

In the second position, we 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 5000/6000/7500
• Bombardier Challenger 300/350/604/605/850
• Gulfstream G450
• Gulfstream GIVSP
• Embraer Legacy 500/600/650/650E
• Embraer Praetor 600
• Embraer Phenom 300/300E
• Embraer Lineage 1000E
• Cessna Citation X/XLS/XLS+/Excel/V
• Dassault Falcon 7X

1. NetJets

The number one spot on the Friendly Skies list goes to the industry titan, 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.

It’s full fleet includes:

Long-range Jets:

• Bombardier Global 5500/6000/7500

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