Summary

• Considering flying hours in 2022, NetJets is the largest private charter operator in the world
• FlexJet comes second, operating a fleet of 261 aircraft
• Delta Air Lines recently bought 95% of Wheels Up, the world’s third-largest private charter operator

Although most of us probably look at an airline’s website when needing a flight, a few lucky ones can afford to fly privately to their destination. In order to fly private, one doesn’t necessarily need to own a private jet. Over the years, a wide range of options have been designed to cater to this.

Perhaps the most straightforward way of flying privately is to charter a business jet when needed. There is a long list of companies providing this kind of service. The rationale behind it is straightforward. The customer calls the service provider, who will find a suitable option for the client regarding jet, crew, catering, etc. Think of this concept as the Uber of the skies. Given the exclusivity of the service provided, the knowledge of these companies is relatively minimal. Therefore, Simple Flying thought it would be helpful to list the top largest private jet charter operators based on the operators’ logged flying hours.

1 NetJets

598,477 flying hours in 2022

With almost 600k flying hours in 2022, NetJets can be considered the most significant private charter operator worldwide. The table below summarizes NetJets’ operations in 2022 vs. 2021.

Considering the world’s largest charter operators in 2022, NetJets held a market share of almost 11% (10.9%). When analyzing NetJets, it should be remembered that the data of all the following operators is considered since they are part of the NetJets Inc. group: NetJets, Executive Jet Management, and US flights by NetJets Europe.

NetJet’s adventure in the private jet business started in 1964 as Executive Jet Airways, paving the way for it later to become the world’s first private jet company. In 1986, NetJet introduced the possibility for customers to own private jets using fractional ownership, and in 1998, it became a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway.

In terms of fleet composition, NetJets operates a fleet of more than 750 aircraft, including:

• More than 100 Embraer Phenom 300
• Over 280 Cessna Citation aircraft (XLS, Sovereign, Latitude, and Longitude)
• Bombardier Challenger 350 and 650
• Global 5000/6000/7500
• Dassault Falcon 2000EX (in the European fleet)

The future looks bright for the world’s largest charter operator, with plans to purchase 1,500 Cessna Citation private jets over the next 15 years. Not only does this deal represent a clear sign of the operator’s positive results, but it also means NetJets will be the launch customer of the new Cessna Citation Ascend.

2 Flexjet

183,548 flying hours in 2022

With 183,584 flying hours in its log for 2022, Flexjet places second in the list of the world’s largest private jet operators.

Based on this data, in 2022, Flexjet held a market share of 3.3%. Although second on the podium, the difference between NetJets and Flexjet in flying hours is impressive, with a staggering 70% gap. Flexjet history goes back to 1995 when the aircraft manufacturer Bombardier Aerospace established the company as a fractional-ownership venture. After surviving the 2008 financial crisis and the subsequent drop in private jet demand, Flexjet was bought for $185 million by Cleveland-based Directional Aviation Capital.

In terms of fleet, the operator flies a fleet of 261 private jets. More specifically, Flexjet’s fleet includes:

• Learjet 40, 60 and 60XR
• Learjet 75LXi
• Challenger 300, 604 and 605
• Embraer Phenom 300
• Embraer Legacy 450
• Gulfstream G450, G650 and G500
• Bombardier Global Express

In 2015, the company opened its first branded terminal in Naples, Florida; others followed in West Palm Beach, Florida, and at New York’s Westchester County Airport, the latter opening in 2017.

3 Wheels Up

167,641 flying hours in 2022

Last on the podium is the US-based operator Wheels Up, which reported a flying hours log of almost 170k flying hours in 2022.

Notwithstanding the 4.4% decrease in flying hours in 2022 vs. 2021, Wheels Up still managed to secure a place on the podium and to hold a market share of 3% among the top 30 private charter operators. Offering its own app, Wheels Up can, by all means, be considered the Uber of the sky, with the application allowing customers to explore aircraft options, access real-time pricing, and book flights.

Although Wheels Up’s business might have suffered a reduction in 2022, the company operates the world’s largest fleet among private charter operators, providing access to more than 1,250 private jets, including:

• King Air 350i
• Citation Excel/XLS
• Citation X
• Bombardier Challenger
• Gulfstream G series

One of Wheels Up core strategies is based on key acquisitions and partnerships that allow the operator to offer exclusive products and services. For instance, Wheels Up partnered with Delta Air Lines, thus offering its customers benefits such as discounts on commercial flights with the US carrier and the ability to earn SkyMiles points on any Wheels Up flight. However, the relationship with Delta is not just based on a partnership. Indeed, in August 2023, the Atlanta-based carrier purchased a 95% stake in Wheels Up.

4 Vistajet

151,192 flying hours in 2022

Based on logged flying hours, the world’s largest private charter operator in 2022 was Vistajet.

With slightly more than 150k flying hours, Vistajet held a market share of 2.7% in 2022. Vistajet is part of Vist Group Holding, a private aviation group based in Dubai comprising the following companies: VistaJet, Jet Edge, Air Hamburg, Red Wing Aviation, Talon Air, and XOJet Flying. Vistajet, however, is headquartered in Luqa, Malta, where it offers on-demand flights based on a fleet that the company itself mainly owns.

The operator’s fleet counts 360 jets, and it is primarily focused on the following aircraft types:

• Bombardier Global
• Bombardier Challenger

Vistajet was the first charter operator to allow onboard crew to measure and transmit vital clinical data to ground-based medical teams in real-time. This was possible thanks to a partnership with RDT, part of Philips, and MedAir, which allowed Vistajet to install a specific medical instrument, called Tempus IC2, on all its fleet. More specifically, the Tempus IC2 is a vital signs monitor with integrated telemedicine specifically designed to be used by non-medical teams during medical emergencies.

5 FlyExclusive

56,601 flying hours in 2022

Last on this list is US-based private charter operator FlyExclusive, with 54,601 flying hours in 2022.

FlyExclusive is a relatively new enterprise founded in 2014, but it has grown to charter flights across the US, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. This operator relies on a fleet of more than 100 jets, including:

• Cessna Citation CJ3
• Cessna Citation CJ3+
• Cessna Citation Excel/XLS
• Cessna Citation Sovereign
• Cessna Citation X
• Challenger 350
• Gulfstream GIV-SP

Besides private jet services, FlyExclusive also offers MRO services, consisting of the company’s Maintenance, Interiors, and Paint divisions relying on its own team of technicians. Besides maintaining private jets, FlyExclusive also provides interior renovation works, thanks to an interior renovation facility spanning over an acre (4,046 m²). The electrostatic painting and coating facility, on the other hand, provides exterior design services. This facility is one of six in the whole US to feature a downdraft booth.

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