Certares owned Altour says private jet charters for business have now passed family and leisure private jet usage.
AltourAir, a unit of Certares-owned Internova Travel Group, says private jet charters for business now account for the biggest share of private jet usage.
Certares, alongside Delta Air Lines and others, provided the $500 million in 2023 funding that saw the group gain control of publicly traded Wheels Up.
Altour serves as an in-house private jet charter broker for Internova Travel Group’s travel agency clients.
According to Travel Weekly, Internova Travel Group had $6 billion in 2024 sales, ranking them 10th on the list.
Per a press release, “After several years of rapid growth and volatility following the pandemic, private aviation is entering a more stable and mature phase in 2026, with demand normalizing and business travel once again emerging as the primary driver.”
The company said, “Business travel now represents the largest share of private jet usage, followed by leisure and family travel.”
Altour said instead of the COVID-period rush of new flyers, its current private jet charter customers are “repeat travelers who have incorporated private aviation into long-term travel strategies.”
Vice President Kate Scott noted, “The surge we saw during the pandemic has clearly passed.”
She adds, “What defines private aviation in 2026 is stability.”
Scott concludes, “Demand has normalized, and private air travel is now being used deliberately as a strategic tool, particularly by business travelers.”
President Gabe Rizzi adds, “Companies and travelers are making intentional decisions about how and when private aviation fits into their overall travel strategy.”
He says, “It’s no longer about reacting to disruption,” adding, “It’s about using every travel option available to protect time, productivity, and performance.”
Key trends include:
Scott says, “Planning 30 to 60 days is often key to securing preferred aircraft and schedules.”
Charter rates remain above pre-pandemic levels due to higher fuel costs, crew shortages, and rising maintenance and insurance expenses, according to the broker.
Travelers who have “flexibility with travel dates and passenger counts can create value opportunities.”
Research by Private Jet Card Comparisons shows saving time as the top reason flyers use private aviation.
Guaranteed jet card pricing was 26.9% higher than 2019 pre-pandemic levels, according to the most recent quarterly analysis of pricing by Private Jet Card Comparisons.
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