How Much Does It Cost to Own a Private Jet in 2026?

The purchase price is only the beginning. Owning a private jet means paying for crew, hangar space, insurance, training, maintenance, fuel and the quiet cost most owners underestimate: depreciation.

This guide breaks down what private jet ownership costs in 2026, using real estimates for four aircraft ranging from a light jet to an ultra-long-range flagship.

The Short Answer

Using Conklin's October 2026 estimates at 150 flight hours per year:

Measured against purchase price, annual cash cost works out to roughly 4% (G700) to 12% (Phenom 300 and Falcon 7X) of the aircraft's value at this utilization. It varies a great deal by type, and the depreciation line changes the picture dramatically.

The Two Types of Costs

Fixed Costs: What You Pay Whether or Not You Fly

Fixed costs accrue every month. They typically include:

• Crew salaries and benefits. Often the largest fixed item. A light jet may need one pilot (or two for insurance), while large-cabin aircraft need two pilots, and often a flight attendant or mechanic.
• Hangar or parking. Hangar costs vary by region and aircraft size.
• Insurance. Hull coverage and liability, which rise with aircraft value and pilot experience requirements.
• Training. Recurrent simulator training for each pilot.
• Modernization and navigation databases. Avionics updates, regulatory mandates and subscriptions.
• Management fees if you use a management company.

For the Falcon 7X, Conklin puts fixed cost at about $1.6M per year. For the Phenom 300 it is about $599,000, and for the Elite II about $321,000.

Variable Costs: What You Pay by the Hour

Variable costs rise with every flight hour:

• Fuel. A major driver. A Falcon 7X burns roughly 375 gallons an hour in The Jet Guys' model, a G700 about 493, and a HondaJet about 123.
• Maintenance. Labor and parts.
• Engine and component reserves. Money set aside for overhauls. Enrollment in an engine program can convert unpredictable cost into predictable hourly cost.
• Landing, handling and parking fees.
• Crew travel and catering.

Conklin's variable costs run about $2,037 per hour for the Elite II, $3,086 for the Phenom 300, $8,138 for the Falcon 7X and $8,960 for the G700.

Depreciation: The Hidden Cost

Depreciation is not a cash payment each month, but it is real money. For a new aircraft it is often the single largest annual cost. Conklin's model shows depreciation making up about 60% of the G700's total annual cost (about $4.67M of $7.80M), compared with about 32% for the Falcon 7X and about 36% for the HondaJet Elite II.

That is why many buyers consider pre-owned aircraft. A used Falcon 7X's depreciation curve is much flatter than a new G700's, even though both can take you across oceans.

Real-World Examples

• A light jet owner flying 150 hours a year on the Elite II might see all-in cash costs under $650,000 a year, and still pay about $4,000 per hour effectively when fixed costs are spread across hours.
• A Falcon 7X owner flying 150 hours would spread about $2.8M across those hours, over $18,000 per hour. At 300 hours the effective hourly rate drops significantly because fixed costs are spread over more flights. Utilization matters.

Hidden and Often-Forgotten Costs

• Unscheduled maintenance and discrepancies
• Major inspections that come due in lumps
• Interior refurbishment and repainting
• Connectivity subscriptions
• Charter management fees or lost revenue if you place the aircraft in charter
• Transaction costs such as pre-purchase inspections, legal fees, escrow and sales tax or use tax, which varies by state

Own vs Charter: Which Makes Sense?

A rough break-even framework many advisors use: if you fly fewer than about 100 to 200 hours a year, chartering or a jet card is often cheaper than owning. Above 200 hours, and especially when you need availability on short notice or a consistent cabin, ownership starts to make more sense.

Consider:

1. Hours per year. The single most important variable.
2. Trip pattern. Many short, predictable trips favor owning. Varied destinations and aircraft sizes favor charter.
3. Capital and tax strategy. Ask your CPA about depreciation treatment and sales or use tax.
4. Control and convenience. Owning gives you control over crew, maintenance and schedule.

How to Build Your Own Estimate

1. Decide how many hours you will fly per year.
2. Choose two or three aircraft types that fit your typical trip.
3. Request current fixed and variable cost models for each.
4. Add a contingency for unscheduled maintenance.
5. Compare against your annual charter spend.

The Jet Guys can provide aircraft-specific market reports and operating cost models so you can compare options on the same assumptions.

Related reading: Gulfstream G700 vs Dassault Falcon 6X, HondaJet Elite II vs Phenom 300 and our pre-purchase inspection checklist.