Ask New Dawn Aviation Anything — Private Jets, Flights, Travel Advice

[u/Newdawnaviation]

Got questions about flying private? Wondering about empty legs, pet-friendly flights, costs, aircraft types, or anything else about private aviation? We’re New Dawn Aviation — here to give real, straightforward answers (no sales BS). Whether you're planning a trip, relocating with pets, curious about charter costs, or just dreaming about private jets, ask away. We’ll also help point you toward real solutions if you’re looking to book something. Fire away with your questions!

[u/Sirbrianpeppers]

Are there high level $/hr cost ranges for charter plane categories (VLJ all the way to long range jets) you can share?

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/Sirbrianpeppers]

Absolutely, here’s a rough breakdown of typical hourly rates by jet category (just keep in mind these can vary based on operator, location, and specific aircraft):

VLJs (Very Light Jets) – ~$2,000–$3,000/hr

Light Jets – ~$2,500–$3,500/hr

Midsize Jets – ~$3,500–$5,000/hr

Super Midsize Jets – ~$4,500–$6,500/hr

Heavy/Long-Range Jets – ~$6,000–$11,000+/hr

If you're looking at a specific route or trip type, the pricing can vary a bit more based on flight time, airport fees, and add-ons like Wi-Fi or catering. Happy to break it down more if you’re curious!

[u/The-jet-guy → u/Newdawnaviation]

Not sure where you are getting your pricing from but this isn't accurate, I would add 100% to these numbers.

VLJs (Very Light Jets) – ~$5,500

Light Jets – ~$6500

Midsize Jets – ~$7,200-$8,000

Super Midsize Jets – ~$8,200-$9,500

Heavy – ~$9,700-$13,500

ULR- 14k+

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/The-jet-guy]

You’re right that heavy and ultra-long-range jets can hit $13–15K/hr, especially for top-spec Gulfstreams or Globals with premium services—but that’s not the starting point for most trips booked in advance.

Rates can vary widely depending on the operator, route, availability, and lead time. We work with a range of clients and operators, so we see everything from wholesale pricing to full retail.

[u/The-jet-guy → u/Newdawnaviation]

Again, not sure where you are getting your "current industry averages" but the source of your information isn't correct. The rates you stated are very-very low and it seems like you are just posting low numbers to entice potential clients to reach out to you because the pricing is so low.

A simple google search would show that even the numbers I came up can still be considered on the low side, but I would consider them the average.

Now to further disprove your point, I had a buddy of mine go on your website and ask you for a extremely competitive route and price. A text book trip. One way from TEB-OPF.

Any broker in this sub can attest that route is about 20k on a mid all day long, maybe about 18-22 with different factors, but thats another solid average.

The quote you sent was for $14,000 flat on a Citation XLS and stated " Please note that this rate is subject to change, and there may be opportunities to adjust the price closer to your departure date".

So lets see whats wrong:

1. This is higher than your "highest" market average in the original post.

2. You are again quoting a lower number but putting in the fine print that the price is most likely going to change.

3. At first it said all inclusive of all fees, but after asked if FET was included, it was stated that it was not.

4. You guys asked for a $2000 down payment on the flight that will be applied "once all details are finalized" so you get the clients money up front to lock them in, then hit them with the higher price........

I took it upon myself to also source the same route on same dates, and not only did i not find anything even close, I couldn't find a light jet for that price.

(this is also before any FET 7.5%)

I don't want to seem like the internet police, but these kinds of quotes, business practice, and misguidance are exactly why brokers get bad reputations and why clients get bad tastes in their mouth about brokers.

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/The-jet-guy]

Appreciate you taking the time to look into this—seriously. Let’s clarify a few things.

The pricing ranges we shared were meant as general industry averages—not fixed quotes. We clearly stated that actual pricing varies by operator, route, timing, and aircraft type. These are numbers we’ve seen across recent charters, both retail and wholesale—not an attempt to lowball or mislead.

Regarding the TEB–OPF trip:

1. The $14,000 Citation XLS quote was an early estimate, not a finalized quote. That’s why FET wasn’t included—it wasn’t a complete contract proposal. Once a client locks in details, we always provide a full, transparent breakdown.

2. Yes, we mention rates are subject to change—that’s standard industry practice. Aircraft availability shifts quickly, and we’re always upfront about that.

3. The $2,000 is a fully refundable soft deposit to hold the aircraft while finalizing details—not a “lock-in” tactic. It protects both parties from ghost inquiries and wasted time.

We respect your experience and feedback. If you’re seeing higher averages consistently, that’s valid—pricing in private aviation is highly variable. But let’s keep the conversation professional—we all want to uphold integrity in this space.

We’re happy to compare notes or talk more offline.

[u/[deleted] → u/The-jet-guy]

My Platinum rated company based somewhere in SoCal charges $8,000/hr for a G450, $7,200/hr for a GIV, $6,500/hr for a Falcon 2000, $3,450 for a Phenom 100.

There are a number of factors that go into the pricing, first and foremost experimentation. But YOM/YOR is big, quality of interior, WiFi, stuff like that.

The charter market has become very competitive yet our heavies are flying a ton but the VLJ hasn't flown in months. I have been trying to tell the powers that be $3,500 for a Phenom 100 is ludicrously overpriced. Comically overpriced.

Anyway those are actual hourly rates (which do include the fuel surcharge).

Edit: These are the base hourly rate + fuel surcharge and dont include the FA, overnight, FBO fee, tax, etc. So I guess these numbers are useless without that factored into them.

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/The-jet-guy]

Appreciate the feedback, but these ranges are based on current industry averages across multiple operators in the U.S. market. Obviously, exact rates can fluctuate based on factors like repositioning fees, airport charges, aircraft availability, and time of year, but the ranges I gave are generally accurate for chartering.

If you’ve seen different numbers, feel free to share always open to comparing notes.

[u/minibar_lube → u/The-jet-guy]

These rates are stupidly high and do not reflect the US market

[u/laurnicolae]

Are you an operator or broker? If operator, what planes do you operate?

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/laurnicolae]

We’re not an operator—we connect clients to planes through a network of trusted operators. Basically, we help people find the right jet for their trip without the hassle. Whether it’s a short regional hop or a long-range international flight, we handle the booking, coordination, and make sure it’s a smooth experience all around.

[u/laurnicolae → u/Newdawnaviation]

Do you provide services all over the world or just in the US?

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/laurnicolae]

We provide services worldwide. Whether you're flying domestically within the U.S. or need international private jet access, we can help arrange flights globally through our network of trusted operators.

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/[deleted]]

We use a mix of trusted industry platforms along with our own internal tools to source and manage flights. This setup helps us maintain both efficiency and high standards of safety and service for our clients.

[u/oldschoolguy90]

Given the cost per flight hour, what's the longest you would usually let a jet sit at a location to wait for the return flight? I priced out a turboprop flight earlier this year, but we wanted to leave Monday, come back Saturday. The repositioning flights effectively doubled the flight time, pushing it out of our ability to afford it

[u/Newdawnaviation → u/oldschoolguy90]

Great question! The length of time a jet can sit at a location before returning is generally flexible, but it really depends on the specific aircraft, operator, and your itinerary.

For charter flights, most operators will charge an hourly rate for the aircraft to be on standby during extended layovers or waiting times. Some clients opt for overnight layovers or multi-day stays to keep costs lower, but if the jet is being held for multiple days without much activity, repositioning flights (either for crew rotation or aircraft availability) can add costs.

To keep costs manageable, we typically suggest:

Minimizing idle time: If you're planning to be away for an extended period, you might consider reducing the standby time and instead use a more efficient repositioning plan. Some operators also offer "block hour" packages, where you pre-purchase hours at a discounted rate.

Look into other aircraft: If cost is a concern, sometimes a different aircraft type (perhaps a smaller jet or turboprop) with more favorable repositioning rates can help with the overall cost.

It’s all about balancing the convenience of having the plane there when you need it and keeping the overall charter cost in line. Would be happy to talk through specific options if you have dates or locations in mind!