Our
Locations

  • World HQ

    6700 Côte de Liesse, suite 206,
    Montréal, Canada,
    H4T 2B5

    +1 514 636-1099

  • Ireland

    Suite 3230, Building 3000, Westpark Business Campus, Shannon, Clare, V14 AN29

    +353 61 475 802

  • San Marino

    World Trade Center, Via Consiglio dei Sessanta,
    99, 47891 Dogana, San Marino

    +39 0549 942-551
Locations
Contact Us
Own your journey®

Charter vs. Own vs. Lease a Private Jet

Once you're flying 50 or more hours per year in business aviation, the question isn't which model is right — it's which access model fits your operational profile and balance sheet. ACASS has operated, managed, and transacted across charter, ownership, and leasing for over 30 years. This guide helps you determine which structure fits.

Connect With a Specialist

Fractional Ownership: Between Charter and Full Ownership

Fractional ownership sits between the flexibility of on-demand charter and the full financial commitment of aircraft ownership.
Business jet fractional programs are structured across three layers: share acquisition, monthly management fees, and an occupied hourly rate — each varying by program and aircraft type.
Most require a minimum annual hours commitment with limited rollover provisions. Your usage volume determines whether charter or fractional ownership offers better economics for your flight profile.
Three Types of Private Jet Lease
Wet Lease (ACMI)
A wet lease, or ACMI arrangement, is the most operationally complete lease structure available. The operator provides the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance — covering the full operational layer on behalf of the client.
The client pays an hourly or block rate. For high-volume contracts, this structure provides rate certainty and operational continuity, with no acquisition capital required.
Typically structured for clients flying 300 to 800 hours per year.
Dry Lease
A dry lease covers only the aircraft hull. No crew, maintenance, or insurance is included.
The client becomes the operator and must either hold an Air Operator Certificate or partner with an existing AOC holder.
Dry leases are typically structured for corporate flight departments that fly 300 to 500 or more annual hours and are building or expanding their own operational infrastructure.
Operating Lease vs. Finance Lease
The distinction between these two structures carries significant accounting and tax implications.
An operating lease is generally treated as an operating expense, with lease payments classified as operating costs.
A finance lease, which typically includes a buyout option, is accounted for as if the aircraft were owned and appears as a liability on the balance sheet.
For corporate flight departments, this choice is a material financial decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours per year do you need to fly to justify owning a private jet?
Based on the break-even analysis above, ownership typically becomes cost-competitive with on-demand charter at 200 to 350 annual hours, depending on aircraft category, when depreciation is excluded. Including depreciation pushes that threshold to 350 to 500 hours for most categories. Charter revenue offset through a managed aircraft program can lower the effective ownership cost and bring the break-even threshold back into the 200 to 300-hour range for owners willing to place their aircraft on an AOC-managed charter program.

What are the total annual costs of owning a private jet?
The total annual cost of business jet ownership spans three primary categories: fixed costs, which accrue regardless of usage; variable operating costs, which scale with flight hours; and depreciation, which varies materially by aircraft type and prevailing market conditions. Each carries a different weighting depending on the aircraft, its age, and operational profile. ACASS builds a complete, transparent cost model for every ownership engagement — connect with a specialist for a structure tailored to your situation.

Is it cheaper to charter or own a private jet?
The right answer depends on annual flight hours, operational requirements, and balance sheet objectives. Below 150 to 200 annual hours, on-demand charter typically offers greater flexibility with no fixed commitments. Above 300 annual hours, ownership economics shift as fixed costs are amortized across greater usage. The charter revenue offset moves the calculation further. The break-even table above provides the per-category model.

What is a private jet lease, and how does it work?
A business jet lease is a contractual arrangement in which a client accesses an aircraft for a defined period, typically 12 to 36 months, under one of three structures: a wet lease, which includes aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance; a dry lease, which covers the aircraft hull only; or an ACMI block arrangement with a minimum guaranteed hourly component. Lease economics vary significantly by structure, aircraft category, and contract term — each carrying different implications for operational control and capital exposure. Leasing is particularly well-suited to clients flying 150 to 400 annual hours who want rate certainty without the capital commitment of ownership.

Can owning a private jet pay for itself through charter revenue?
Placing an owned aircraft on a managed charter program under an operator's Air Operator Certificate (AOC) can materially offset fixed annual ownership costs. Aircraft management fees and operational oversight are handled by the management company. The owner defines the availability parameters and continues to use the aircraft for personal or corporate missions. The charter revenue generated during idle hours reduces the effective annual cost of business jet ownership. ACASS manages aircraft on this basis for owners across North America and Europe.
Own Your Journey®