Your guide to private jet charter in Canada

There is no sign of let-up as private jet companies in Canada claim an increasing percentage of passenger traffic. With over 149.6 million air passengers in Canada each year, and the number of domestic passengers alone expected to reach about 51 million by 2035, Canada’s 600 licensed air carriers have their work cut out for them.

If you think travelling by private jet charter is unlikely to ever be part of your world, think again.

Here’s why it pays to rent a private aircraft.

Why charter a private jet?

For at least the last five years, we have collected data and analyzed everything we do and determined that private aviation has stopped being all about celebrity indulgence and the comfort of corporate executives. The benefits of private charter flights are turning this way of travel into an indispensable time-saving and competitive edge for businesses, as well as being a safe and accessible means of transport for sports and incentive travel, family emergencies, and humanitarian aid missions. Name a group and these days they’re likely to be traveling by private jet into and out of Canada. Here’s why:

Speed means time saved, improved productivity and fast execution of strategic transactions

It takes as little as four hours after your booking and payment has been finalized to get you into the air in a private aircraft. And it’s no longer corporate executives doing all the flying. Successful companies are seeing the intrinsic value in transporting scarce resources and desired strategic skills where they’re needed most in the shortest time possible.

A General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) report found that corporate jet charter passengers on average spent two-thirds of their time working during a flight while one-third of the time they spent engaging with colleagues or customers. Shorter non-stop trips are being used more frequently by small, medium, and larger businesses, to rapidly deploy transaction teams to acquisitions or alliance opportunities.

Private jet charter gets you exactly where you’re going – which could be where no airline has gone before

According to GAMA, 52% of private jet travel passengers said that the business aircraft flights they took allowed them to keep business schedules that could not be met efficiently using scheduled airlines, or other types of transportation. In addition to this, business aviation pilots said that 42% of their destinations are airports with infrequent or no scheduled airline service, and 31% of the flights they conducted in the last year were to destinations that have never had any commercial air service. For adventure and sports enthusiasts, a private plane rental is sometimes the only way they can reach their destination, and when it comes to humanitarian aid missions, private charter flights save lives.

Businesses rent private jets to retain customers and improve supply chain logistics

One of the first companies that comes to mind is Amazon. Not only has Jeff Bezos used his twin-engine business jet airplane – a Gulfstream G650ER – to build his $112 billion fortune, he is also fully committed to using drone technology to get products to his customers faster than any other business on the planet. Other companies have used private aircraft for many years to respond to their customers’ needs, as well as build relationships with existing clients and get their products to market faster than their competitors.

Private jet charter also plays a significant role in supply chain improvement. Being able to hold core meetings and reviews, and oversee supplier operations, leads to better integrated and more effective supply chains. Although not one of the first benefits that comes to mind when exploring a case for private jet hire, the protection of intellectual property is becoming an increasing reason companies rent out private planes. The ability to keep laptops secure, and to discuss and review sensitive company information and data in the privacy of a private aircraft, just can’t be met by commercial airlines.

Another service offered by private jet charter companies in Canada is professional aircraft management for companies that already own their own private aircraft. This can include hiring flight personnel and organising catering, overseeing compliance, and maintenance of a private jet or fleet of aircraft.

The difference between private jet flights and commercial airline flights

The biggest difference between flying by private jet as opposed to a commercial airliner is the personalized experience and its knock-on effect. A private jet charter does away with many of the frustrating issues around commercial air travel – offering easy airport parking, and no long security lines or invasive TSA pat downs. You won’t have the liquids in your toiletry bag confiscated and, if you’re a bit late, a private aircraft will wait for you.

And you haven’t even boarded yet. A private charter flight usually means you can take more luggage or equipment with you, you have more leg room, of course, and the food is restaurant quality without a plastic knife or fork in sight.

In a private aircraft, you have the space and privacy to conduct meetings or work in peace, while the comfort of a luxury jet means you’re likely to get a good night’s sleep and reach your destination refreshed and ready to make the most of the business day or a hard-earned vacation.

To put the experience in perspective, private air travel is like having a limousine arrives at your door, with a chauffeur to stow away your bags and settle you comfortably in your seat. You’re offered delicious food and drinks along the way, your door is opened when you reach your destination and your bags are carried wherever you’d like to go. Commercial air travel, on the other hand, is the equivalent of taking the bus or train.

Private versus commercial airports

In Canada, there are 1,961 aerodromes. Of these, 26 are National Airport System (NAS) airports, 71 regional and local airports, 31 small and satellite airports, 570 certified heliports, 13 remote airports and 11 Arctic airports. Commercial airlines fly into larger airports only. Private air charter allows you to reach almost any airport or airfield in Canada no matter how small or remote.

The choice of airport that private air charter gives you is one of the most compelling reasons for renting a private plane. Currently, each year as part of the Airport Capital Assistance Program (ACAP), $38 million in infrastructure funding is being put towards runway upgrades, airfield lighting, electrical systems and snow removal equipment at a number of small airports. The purpose of the program is to increase safety and security at an increasing number of small airports.

In Canada, there are 70 Fixed-Base Operators (FBOs) spread over the country's 13 provinces and territories with an increasing number found at regional and municipal airports. FBOs are private companies that help to alleviate some of the stress on airport infrastructure by offering their own private sector alternatives. These can include maintenance, refueling and storage, car rental desks, and also catering and passenger lounges. The number of FBOs is expected to grow along with demand for private air travel to small and satellite airports.

How to book a private jet charter

It’s simpler than you think. Choose a private jet charter company in Canada that’s been around for a while and has a solid reputation. Speak to our team about the benefits of private jet charter, or you can get an instant price estimate as a starting point. There are also a number of options open to you for flexible, cost-effective jet charter, like short-haul air taxi service or a jet card that offers you a range of benefits.

From the get-go, you’re walked through the process of chartering a private plane and are usually assigned your own account manager who’ll give you the personalized attention you’d expect of a luxury air travel experience.

Types of private aircraft for hire

Never thought you’d get to pick out your aircraft of choice? When renting a private plane, your air charter specialist will help you to determine your flight needs and financial means.

Generally, for shorter trips, the smaller aircraft are the cheaper option. For short-haul flights, ‘air taxis,’ helicopters, propeller planes or very light jets, are a cost-efficient and comfortable way to fly. The four-passenger Cessna Citation Mustang provides an ideal balance of performance, comfort and efficiency, whereas the eight-passenger Bombardier Learjet 45XR has all the cost-efficiency of the Learjet 45, but with higher take-off weights and faster cruise speeds. Helicopters are all about travel flexibility, from the two-seater Robinson R22, to the 19-passenger Sikorsky S-92 with its spacious stand-up cabin that boasts one of the most impressive interiors, in terms of size and features, of any helicopter available on the charter market today.

Longer-haul flights are better suited to mid-size jets like the Hawker Beechcraft 800XP or speedy Cessna Citation XLS+. The base price of hiring these charters is higher than an air taxi, but you can avoid refueling, and extra landing costs and layovers, which would be necessary when using a light jet to travel long-range.

For distance traveling across Canada, charter a long-range private jet like the luxurious 11-passenger Bombardier Challenger 601, which can make the trip from Vancouver to Montreal in under five hours.

Group charter, typically used by multinational corporations, sports teams, entertainment management companies, and relief agencies, requires a larger passenger aircraft like a regional jet airliner, turboprop or executive airliner. The 189-passenger Boeing 727 VIP can fly for seven hours, hold 80 full-size suitcases and has double the amount of legroom of most commercial first class aircraft.

How much does it cost to charter a private jet in Canada?

Private jet charter rates in Canada are determined by whether you plan to charter a private jet for a single journey (from a major airport to a remote destination), a return trip (to a single destination and back again), or a multi-leg journey (which would allow you to access multiple destinations without having to make alternative arrangements for car hire, buses, taxis or ferries between destinations). Costs will include:

• Fuel costs determined according to the distance you’ve travelled. These prices change constantly so a surcharge is usually added to make up the difference between the projected cost on your quote, and the actual cost of flying.
• Landing fees depending on the size and weight of the aircraft, varying by airport. These fees are used to maintain runways and airport buildings.
• Airport fees cover the management of an aircraft while on the ground by an FBO or Aircraft Handling Company. Usually these charges cover servicing the aircraft’s toilets, arranging fuel, handling passenger transport to and from the terminal, and also organizing crew rest facilities.
• Passenger taxes are government fees levied on a per passenger basis.
• For a return journey, ramp fees are charged when a plane is parked at an airport overnight or for the length of time it will be required to wait until the return trip.
• Other costs involved in multi-leg journeys can include crew expenses. A crew’s meals are catered by the private jet charter company, but the cost of overnight accommodation for crew members is usually paid by the aircraft operator and billed to the client who has chartered the aircraft. Crew expenses can also include the cost of taxis for the crew to and from the hotel and airport.

It also matters when you choose to fly. If you need a charter package put together in no time at all, and only book and make payment within seven days of departure, you’ll be charged a premium. And keep in mind that the time or day of the year you choose to fly affects the price. Expensive times to fly are holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, and other high-fly periods like summer vacations.

Empty leg private jet charter flights

Empty legs are a great way to save on private air charter. This is an aviation term for a private jet that flies without passengers. When passengers are dropped off at their destination and the plane returns to its home base empty, or when it must fly empty to pick up passengers at another airport, this is an empty leg.

For private jet companies in Canada, every empty seat means lost revenue. Offering empty leg specials helps with fuel costs and puts private jet flying within reach of people who wouldn’t normally be able to afford the luxury and convenience. Empty leg specials can shave up to 75% off the cost of a regular charter, but you could save even more if you book in a group. On an empty leg, you will be charged for the full flight if you’re the only passenger on board. If the jet can accommodate 12 people, for instance, the price of the discounted flight will be divided 12 ways. You can either subscribe to an email or app alert, sign-up for a newsletter, or speak to an empty legs specialist about your preferred routes and the dates you’re most likely to travel.

If you’re looking to book a private jet charter in Canada, speak to our team who will take you through the various options available to meet your specific needs. And be sure to ask about our private jet leasing solutions and the world’s most flexible jet card.