What is a Private Jet?
A private jet is a jet aircraft created and designed for transporting small groups of people from one destination to another.
How Much To Rent A Private Jet In South Africa
Flying with a private jet offers you complete privacy and luxury while minimizing your waiting time at the airport and having you fly within minutes of your arrival.
The cost of a private charter can vary considerably, depending on the length of a trip and the type of aircraft flown.
The flight price depends on a number of factors including aircraft type, locations, timings, and the distance of the flight.
A flight on an 8-seater jet from Johannesburg to Cape Town, for example, could cost R70,000 when booked through a private jet charter company.
However, the quoted price is for the whole aircraft so, it becomes cheaper per person depending on how many passengers you have.
In the example above, a plane filled with 8 people would work out to R8,750 per person (possibly a small change for the high flyers).
For larger groups on some journeys, the cost per head can actually be comparable with first-class airline fares.
If those same 8 people were traveling from Cape Town to London, for example, the cost for the plane might be R1.2 million.
This works out to out to about R160 000 per head, which is about what a first-class flight would cost on the same route, depending on the airline you choose.
The cheapest option, however, is to book the ‘empty legs’ of chartered flights, which can be up to 75% off the original charter price.
When a client charters a plane from Cape Town to Johannesburg, the plane often returns empty – referred to as an ‘empty leg’.
Because the plane would have returned empty anyway, charter companies often sell the flights back at a huge discount.
For a trip between Johannesburg and Cape Town, for instance, an 8-seater plane might only cost R25,000.
This works out to R3,125 per head if you can fill the plane, which is cheaper than a business class ticket would be for the same trip.
However, destinations and flights aren’t flexible and you have to book out the entire plane – you can’t just book two or three seats.
Flights might also be canceled by the operator unexpectedly due to unforeseen circumstances, although you will receive a full refund.
How much is a private jet in South Africa in rands?
Jets that can go the whole transcontinental hog — like a Gulfstream 5, for example — will cost about R1. 5-million return. Divvying it up per person — smaller business jets seat between four and six — works out at between R166,000 and R250,000 a head, easily comparable to a first-class ticket to the same destination.
Is it cheaper to rent a private jet?
While a private jet rental is considerably more expensive than flying on a commercial flight, it is still much cheaper than buying your own jet. Flights on private jets are charged by the hour. Prices vary depending on the size of the plane, the length of the flight, and the number of people on board.