Business AviationHow Much Does It Cost to Own a Private Jet Per Year? (2026)
The real cost of owning a private jet per year and per hour: crew, pilot salaries, hangar, insurance, maintenance, fuel and depreciation, by aircraft size.
New owners often budget for the aircraft and forget the rest. Owning a jet means running a one-aircraft airline, with its own crew, maintenance plan and insurance policy.
You pay two kinds of cost. Fixed costs come whether the aircraft flies or not: crew salaries, hangar, insurance, management, training and depreciation. Variable costs come with each flight: fuel, hourly maintenance, landing and handling fees, crew travel and catering.
The tables below give ranges for each cost, totals by aircraft size and the all-in cost of one flight hour.
In This Article
- 1.Fixed Costs Per Year: Pilots, Hangar, Insurance and Management
- 2.Hourly Operating Costs: What Each Flight Hour Adds
- 3.Depreciation and the Cost of Capital
- 4.Total Cost of Owning a Private Jet Per Year: Examples
- 5.Does It Cost More in the UK, Europe, Dubai, India or South Africa?
- 6.How Owners Bring the Cost Down
- 7.Is Owning Worth It for You?
1. Fixed Costs Per Year: Pilots, Hangar, Insurance and Management
Crew is the largest fixed cost. Most jets need two pilots, and above about 300 hours a year you need a third pilot or contract pilots to cover rest and holidays. Larger cabins add a flight attendant. Salaries vary by region; the figures below reflect Europe and the United States.
Each pilot must complete recurrent training in a full-flight simulator every year, at $30,000 to $60,000 per pilot depending on the type.
| Fixed cost (per year) | Light jet | Super midsize | Ultra long range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilots (2, salary and benefits) | $250k to $350k | $350k to $480k | $450k to $650k |
| Flight attendant | - | optional | $90k to $140k |
| Recurrent training | $50k to $80k | $70k to $110k | $100k to $150k |
| Hangar | $30k to $80k | $60k to $150k | $120k to $300k |
| Insurance (hull and liability) | $30k to $60k | $50k to $100k | $90k to $200k |
| Management fee | $120k to $200k | $150k to $250k | $200k to $350k |
| Navigation data, subscriptions, Wi-Fi | $20k to $50k | $40k to $90k | $80k to $180k |
| Total fixed (approx.) | $500k to $800k | $750k to $1.2M | $1.2M to $2M |
*Indicative 2026 ranges before depreciation and financing. Hangar and crew costs vary most by location.
2. Hourly Operating Costs: What Each Flight Hour Adds
Fuel makes up the largest share of the hourly cost. A light jet burns about 700 to 900 litres an hour, a super midsize 1,000 to 1,300 and an ultra-long-range jet 1,700 to 2,200, and fuel prices differ between airports. Maintenance reserves come next: money you set aside for each hour flown to pay for engine overhauls, inspections and parts (see our maintenance cost guide).
Regional airports charge small landing, parking and handling fees; major hubs charge far more. Each night away adds crew hotels and allowances.
| Variable cost (per flight hour) | Light jet | Super midsize | Ultra long range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | $1,000 to $1,500 | $1,500 to $2,100 | $2,600 to $3,600 |
| Engine program reserves | $450 to $700 | $700 to $1,000 | $1,200 to $1,800 |
| Airframe and parts maintenance | $400 to $700 | $600 to $1,000 | $1,000 to $1,800 |
| Fees, handling, crew travel, catering | $300 to $600 | $500 to $900 | $800 to $1,500 |
| Total variable (approx.) | $2,200 to $3,500 | $3,300 to $5,000 | $5,600 to $8,700 |
*Fuel at around $1.40 to $1.70 per litre; your own contract price may differ.
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