Home · Charter Costs
The honest numbers · 2026

What a private jet
actually costs.

No "call for pricing" games. Here are real 2026 hourly rates by aircraft class, real all-in starting prices on the routes Tampa actually flies, what's in the number, and the four legitimate ways to pay less — from the operator's side of the desk.

$5,900Short hops start at
$2.5–13kHourly by class
60 secTo price your route
Hourly rates

2026 charter rates by class

Charter pricing is fundamentally hourly: the aircraft's operating cost times your flight time, plus fixed trip costs and 7.5% federal excise tax. Bigger cabins cost more per hour but fly faster — which is why the right question is never "what's cheapest per hour," it's "what's the smallest cabin that does my mission well?" (Our aircraft classes guide answers that.)

Aircraft classTypical hourlySeatsSweet spot from Tampa
Turboprop$2,500 – $3,5006–8Keys, Naples, 30A, Orlando
Very Light Jet$3,000 – $4,00041–2 hr hops, 1–3 travelers
Light Jet$4,000 – $5,5006–8Atlanta, Nashville, Charleston
Midsize$5,000 – $6,5007–9New York, Dallas, Chicago
Super Midsize$6,000 – $8,0008–9Vegas, Denver, coast-to-coast
Heavy Jet$8,500 – $13,000+10–14West Coast, international

Ranges reflect typical 2026 retail charter rates for well-maintained aircraft with professional crews; individual aircraft vary. Hourly rate × flight time is a floor, not a quote — see below for what else is in the number.

Real routes

All-in starting prices from Tampa

These are one-way starting estimates from our flight planner — taxes and fees included, lowest-cost class shown. Each links to a full route guide with pricing for every cabin class.

RouteFlight timeOne-way fromGuide
Tampa → Naples0h 30m$5,900Route guide →
Tampa → Miami0h 38m$5,900Route guide →
Tampa → Key West0h 50m$5,900Route guide →
Tampa → Atlanta1h 15m$7,900Route guide →
Tampa → Nassau1h 25m$8,200Route guide →
Tampa → Washington, DC1h 55m$10,800Route guide →
Tampa → New York2h 19m$12,600Route guide →
Tampa → Boston2h 40m$14,500Route guide →

Estimates only, inclusive of 7.5% federal excise tax; international routes carry additional government fees. Your dates and aircraft availability set the firm price.

Inside the number

What you're actually paying for

In every quote

The aircraft and fuel, two professional pilots, standard catering and ice, ground handling and FBO fees, positioning, and the 7.5% federal excise tax. When we say all-in, the number you approve is the number you pay.

Itemized up front

Things your trip may genuinely need: international arrival fees, US customs coordination, de-icing in northern winters, special catering, ground transport, or pet preparation. You'll see each as a line item before you book — never after you land.

Why quotes differ

Two operators can quote the same route hundreds apart because of aircraft age, repositioning distance, and minimum daily hours. We quote from our own fleet first and vetted partners second — and we'll tell you plainly when a competitor's leg is the better deal.

Pay less

Four honest ways to lower the bill

1 · Right-size the cabin

The most common overspend is flying four people in a cabin built for nine. Our aircraft classes guide shows what each class really does — on short Florida hops, a turboprop or our Citation Mustang often saves thousands with zero comfort penalty.

2 · Ride the empty legs

Repositioning flights sell at 25–75% off. If your dates flex even a little, the live empty-leg board is the single biggest discount in private aviation — and you can get alerts the moment a leg posts.

3 · Flex your schedule

Shifting a trip by a day — or even a few hours — can open a better-positioned aircraft or turn your flight into someone else's return leg. Tell us your flexibility when you request a quote; we shop it for you.

4 · Fly often? Jet Card.

The WSA Jet Card locks in hourly rates on pre-purchased flight hours built around the routes you actually fly — predictable pricing, guaranteed response, no aircraft to own.

Good to know

Charter cost FAQ

How much does it cost to charter a private jet from Tampa?
As a rule of thumb from Tampa in 2026: turboprops run roughly $2,500–$3,500 per flight hour, very light jets $3,000–$4,000, light jets $4,000–$5,500, midsize $5,000–$6,500, super-midsize $6,000–$8,000, and heavy jets $8,500–$13,000+. Short hops like Naples or Orlando start near $5,900 all-in; Tampa to New York starts around $12,600. Our flight planner prices your exact route across every class in about 60 seconds.
What is included in the quoted price?
Our quotes are all-in for the flight: aircraft, crew, fuel, standard catering and ground fees, plus the 7.5% federal excise tax. Extras like international fees, de-icing, or special catering are itemized up front — no surprise line items after you land.
Why do short flights seem expensive per mile?
Every charter carries fixed costs — crew duty day, positioning, minimum daily hours — so a 30-minute hop absorbs them over fewer miles. That is also why empty legs and turboprops shine on short routes: the fixed overhead is lowest there.
How can I pay less to fly private?
Four levers: fly the smallest cabin that fits the mission, be flexible on dates and times, watch our live empty-leg board (25–75% off one-way pricing), and if you fly often, ask about the WSA Jet Card for locked-in hourly rates.
Is a round trip cheaper than two one-ways?
Often, yes. A round trip on the same aircraft avoids repositioning, so the aircraft waits for you instead of flying home empty. The estimates on our route pages show both one-way and round-trip pricing so you can compare.
Ready when you are

Get a number for your trip.

Sixty seconds in the flight planner gets you estimates across every class. A real person confirms the firm price, usually within the hour. No games.

No obligation · A real person replies, usually within the hour