Private jet card hourly rates ticked up by 2.8% year over year (YOY) in the fourth quarter even while softening by 0.5% from the third quarter, according to the latest report from Private Jet Card Comparisons (PJCC). In addition, the average hourly rate for fixed/capped-rate jet cards with guaranteed availability was 23.8% higher than pre-Covid fourth-quarter 2019 prices.

According to PJCC, hourly jet card rates averaged $11,052 at the end of 2024, down by $50 per hour from the third quarter. Rates include the 7.5% federal excise tax.

Minimum flying time charged increased from 86.1 minutes in the third quarter to 86.7 minutes in the most recent quarter. Even so, these minimums are in line with the 2019 average of 86.2 minutes. At the same time, peak days dropped from 47.5 days at the end of 2023 to 44.6 days at the end of 2024. That is still well above the 22.8 average in the fourth quarter of 2019.

“While general economy and airline pricing data for FY 2024 is not yet available to compare, the increase in jet card pricing is largely in line with overall air travel, which between 2019 and 2023 increased by 25.3%, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation,” said Doug Gollan, editor-in-chief and president of PJCC.

However, Gollan added that flight providers are not necessarily seeing an increase in profits despite the increased prices. “They face higher pilot salaries, maintenance technician salaries, training costs, supply chain price increases, and shortages of parts and maintenance availability that keep airplanes on the ground longer, meaning less revenue per unit.”

PJCC provides comparisons of more than 80 providers and 500 jet card, membership, and fractional programs. Paid subscribers can look at more than 65 factors when comparing programs.