What was once the exclusive privilege of the top 1% of the 1% has become slightly more democratized since the pandemic. Slightly is the important word. Private jets are still used primarily by those with a minimum eight-figure net worth — but the demographics have shifted. Today’s private jet travelers are younger, more diverse, and more technology-driven than any generation before them.
This guide breaks down everything you need to know about who is using private aviation, how often they fly, what planes they’re on, and why traditional ownership models are losing ground to smarter alternatives.
Who Flies Private Jets?
The private aviation customer base is wealthier, more concentrated in tech and entertainment, and more male-dominated than nearly any other luxury market — but the edges of that profile are softening fast.
80% of charter passengers are male; 22% female
Top 12% (HNWIs with $50M+) generate 40% of revenue
45% of U.S. charter customers work in tech
30% of regulars earn $2M+ per year
72%+ of owners worth at least $30M
Avg. owner net worth: ~$190M
Owners average just 12 flights per year
Female ownership up 12% in recent years
Age & Generational Trends
Private aviation is getting younger, and fast. The stereotypical older executive is no longer the face of the industry.
Millennials are the fastest-growing group of private travelers, with their share of bookings jumping from 11% in 2020 to 18% in 2022. Travelers in their 20s remain rare — just 2% of bookings — but the overall trend line is clear: private aviation is no longer a boomer market.
How Often Do They Fly?
The typical private flier takes far fewer trips than most people assume — and the biggest story is how many new entrants are joining the market.
Only 15% of private fliers take more than 10 trips annually. The United States leads the world with 2.8 million departures in 2023, out of roughly 5.2 million globally. Activity is highly seasonal — summer volume runs up to 28% above annual averages. And first-time private fliers grew 40% between 2020 and 2022, a structural shift that suggests sustained long-term demand rather than a temporary pandemic bump.
Flight Purpose & Motivations
65% of private fliers cite saving time as their #1 motivation. Not luxury. Not privacy. Not status. Time.
Approximately 60% of private flights are for business purposes. Despite the luxury image, the dominant use case is productivity. Privacy and flexibility are the second and third most-cited motivations. And pet travel on private jets has increased 50% in recent years — private aviation is uniquely suited to travelers who want to bring animals without cargo-hold restrictions.
Preferred Destinations
Private aviation routes cluster around business hubs, luxury destinations, and international leisure corridors. About 60% of all private flights stay domestic within the traveler’s home country.
Los Angeles ↔ Las Vegas
New York ↔ Miami
New York ↔ Los Angeles
Teterboro ↔ Palm Beach
New York ↔ London
Los Angeles ↔ Tokyo
Miami ↔ Paris
London ↔ Dubai
Aircraft Types & Amenities
Despite the media attention given to ultra-long-range heavy jets, the private aviation market by volume is dominated by smaller aircraft built for efficiency and regional range.
Light jets make up 42% of the global fleet, and the average private flight lasts under two hours — mostly short domestic hops, not transatlantic crossings. In-flight Wi-Fi is the single most requested amenity across all aircraft classes.
Costs & Economic Impact
The economics of private aviation span a wide range depending on aircraft class and access model.
| Cost Category | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Charter hourly rate (2024 avg) | $5,800/hr |
| Heavy jet hourly rate | $10,000+/hr |
| Annual operating costs (owned jet) | $1M–$2M |
| Operating cost as % of value | ~10%/year |
| Global Private Aviation Market | $36 billion |
Trends & Changes in Usage
The post-pandemic reshuffling of the private aviation industry is structural, not cyclical. Usage has grown 35% since COVID-19 and shows no signs of slowing.
Private aviation usage +35% since COVID-19
Jet cards and fractional programs replacing full ownership
Younger, more geographically distributed buyers
Light and midsize jets dominate new demand
Types of Private Aviation: A Quick Primer
Private aviation isn’t one product. The statistics above reflect trends across a wide and diversified industry that includes multiple access models — each suited to a different type of traveler.
| Access Model | Best For |
|---|---|
| On-demand charter | Occasional fliers; no commitment, highest per-hour cost |
| Empty-leg flights | Flexible travelers seeking discounted repositioning seats |
| Jet card programs | Prepaid blocks of hours; locked-in rates, guaranteed access, no equity |
| Fractional ownership | People flying 50–100 hours/year; ideal share size is 1/16th |
| Full ownership | Only financially prudent for 200+ flight hours per year |
Jet cards and fractional ownership are by far the most popular entry points for buyers who fly too often to charter efficiently but not often enough to justify buying a whole plane.
The Problem With Conventional Private Travel Models
Traditional private aviation forces you into one of two options — and both have a structural flaw.
This is what you get with on-demand charter and jet card programs. You pay, you fly, and the money is simply spent. No asset on your balance sheet, no residual value, no return of any kind. Most high-net-worth individuals expect their capital to do more than disappear.
This is what fractional and full ownership offer. You get an asset — but one that loses 15–18% of its value in the first year alone. Depreciation levels out after a few years, but your capital is locked, illiquid, and guaranteed to be worth less at resale than at purchase.
Craft’s Approach: A Third Option
At Craft, we do things a little differently. Our model most closely resembles fractional ownership, but with one critical distinction: when you deposit capital, you’re not buying into a single plane. You’re investing in a diversified pod that owns a plane — alongside other assets.
That diversification matters. The plane itself will still depreciate, but the other assets in the pod carry potential upside. Instead of watching your capital melt on the depreciation curve of a single airframe, your investment has a realistic path to preserving or growing value — while still giving you the same guaranteed flight access, service quality, and booking convenience you’d expect from any premium fractional program.
It’s the access benefits of fractional ownership, without the structural depreciation problem. Book a call to learn more about Craft’s investment structure, fleet, and accommodations.