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Coronavirus: How to charter a private jet for less than £1,200

Would you like to charter a private jet? It might be more affordable than you think. Credit: Getty.
Would you like to charter a private jet? It might be more affordable than you think. Photo: Getty.

Coronavirus has seen private jet flights rocket as wealthy passengers have sought safe ways to travel.

When travel restrictions eased in Europe Charter airline company Air Partner saw a 321% increase in private jet requests compared to last year.

And Charter Service, the world's largest aircraft charter broker, has reported a 93% rise in new customer enquiries.

Households are joining bubbles and sharing the cost of chartering an aircraft together making the elite form of transportation more affordable.

Private air travel is becoming more attractive due to the ability to social distance, avoid queues and crowds, and be seated in a clean environment.

There are 700 touch points for potentially passing on contagion in the average commercial flight, according to research by jet charter operator GlobeAir. This compares to just 20 in a private plane.

And if you charter a plane in a large group the price becomes more economical.

For example Europe's largest private jet operator AirX, which charters the Citation X carrying eight passengers, charges around £30,000 ($39,200) for a return trip to Malaga in the peak season - that's £3,750 per person.

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Meanwhile Air Partner will currently charter a party of 12 to Nice, Pisa and Mykonos for £1,392, £1,633 and £2,592 respectively, per person for a one way trip.

Prices include all taxes, Air Passenger Duty, insurance, catering and fixed-base operator handling, according to a This is Money report.

And Christmas trips could prove even more affordable with Air Partner quoting a one way trip in early December from Biggin Hill to Munich at around £1,188 each, for a full capacity eight seater plane.

Mark Briffa, chief executive of Air Partner, told the Mail: "Private aviation gives clients the confidence to feel secure and safe in a COVID-19 world. Private jet travel gives clients the reassurance to travel safely and will continue to grow in popularity."