Chartering Corporate Jets

Avoiding the costs of owning corporate jets

By Zaher Karp

As global business continues to extend into every corner of the world, organizations are forced to question the options available in terms of business aircraft travel. Even with the variety of corporate jets available, a company jet can be a too vast an investment for most businesses.

Often, the most cost effective choice is a private corporate jet charter. With charter services, a company can reap the benefits of a corporate jet without the limitations of relying upon a single corporate airplane or dealing with logistical complications alone. Also with a corporate jet rental, previous obstacles presented by luggage check-ins and public airport security are avoided.

Choosing an effective business travel strategy can often provide financial relief, but there are numerous additional benefits that result from chartering corporate jets.

1. Encourage Productivity: Independent research done by Louis Harris & Associates indicates that productivity levels are elevated in a private business jet than in an office environment.

2. Reduce Time and Costs on the Road: The days of the expenses of car rentals and overnight stays are over, as you are no longer limited by the public airport system. Also the airline concerns previously fretted over, such as cancellation fees or time-sensitive booking, are reduced by your investment in a corporate jet charter.

3. Build Employee Appreciation: Communicate to your executives that you understand the value of their time with the ease of a company jet, with the customized meal service and relaxing atmosphere.

Use a charter broker

You can have a brokerage organize your business aircraft experience rather than going to individual providers. Brokers can help ease a new business into familiarizing themselves with chartering private business jets.
Try: BidQwest and Air Broker Net let you place quote requests online.

Choosing between hourly and card programs

Some charter services are based by the hour and others are purchased in bulk through various card programs. Depending on how much you are planning to utilize your charter service, you can tailor your financial commitment here.
Try: Atlantic Aviation Flight Services can provide hourly rates, which vary, or a company like Bombardier Skyjet can sell blocks of hours at a flat hourly rate through a card account, such as their Learjet card.

Check your provider's credentials

If you don't decide to go through a broker, it is important to confirm the regulations that your flight will be flown under and that the provider possesses a valid Part 135 air taxi certificate.
Try: Aviation Research Group/US, Inc. and the Wyvern Report are both well established as providers of safety reports on Part 135 charter companies. Chartered corporate airplane services will often cite this.

Save on travel costs with "empty leg flights"

Empty leg flights, one-way flights that return empty to their original departure, are efficient ways to lower costs on both ends of corporate private aircraft. On one end, it saves companies money by taking flights that would normally not be utilized. On the other, owners of jets that would normally be empty can regain costs by allowing companies to schedule these flights.
Try: OneSky Jets and ElleJet both emphasize their empty leg flight programs.

Most providers are upfront about their fees and charges, but make sure to cover all your bases by finding out exactly what your quotation includes.