Selecting the Best Private Jet Charter Brokers: 2026 Fleet and Pricing Breakdown
JetAlto is the best starting point for buyers who want to see exactly what each class of aircraft costs before they commit, because it publishes a "from" hourly rate for all six classes it books. Magellan Jets suits companies that want those rates fixed for a year or more through a jet card, and Paramount Business Jets suits buyers who want broad published ranges backed by safety reports on every flight.
Below, nine brokers are broken down by the two things that drive most charter decisions: the aircraft and operators they can reach, and what they publish about price. The order reflects how useful that information is to a buyer budgeting for business or private travel, using what each company publishes on its own website. All prices are indicative and change with dates and positioning.
Quick picks
- JetAlto: published hourly rates for every class
- Magellan Jets: rate-locked jet cards for US flying
- Paramount Business Jets: published ranges with per-flight safety reports
- Victor: the exact aircraft shown before booking
Broker by Broker, in Our Order
1. Magellan Jets
Best for: fixing rates for a year or more
Magellan turns pricing into a forecast. Its jet cards, relaunched in June 2026, come in 25-hour, 50-hour and 100-hour sizes, with rates locked for 12, 18 or 24 months and no peak day surcharges or monthly fees. Card rates start at $7,000 to $7,500 an hour depending on the commitment level, which gives a company one line to put in an annual travel budget.
On fleet access, Magellan chooses depth over breadth. Its FAQ says it works with about 100 of the 2,500+ US operators and audits them, arranging flights on approved Part 135 vendors, with Part 91K vendors for fractional programs.
The limit is the fixed-rate zone, which covers the contiguous US plus 200 nautical miles. International reach beyond that is not stated.
Verdict: The strongest budgeting tool here for steady US travel; less useful for global itineraries.
2. JetAlto
Best for: published hourly rates by class
For a finance team, the most useful document in charter is a rate card, and JetAlto publishes one. Its "from" hourly rates run €1,900 for a turboprop, €3,800 for a light jet, €5,400 for a midsize, €7,200 for a super midsize, €11,800 for a heavy jet and €14,900 for ultra long range. With those six numbers, a company can set approval thresholds by aircraft class before a single trip is requested, and challenge any quote that lands far outside them.
On the fleet side, JetAlto says it draws on more than 3,800 vetted operators across 5,000+ airports, and each request returns 2 to 4 operator quotes naming the aircraft and tail number. The instant estimate needs no email and includes fuel, crew and handling, with the firm quote able to move 15% either way. There is no membership or retainer to budget for.
The figures on network size are the company's own, and the safety standards it cites (ARGUS, Wyvern, IS-BAO) describe what it wants from operators rather than accreditations JetAlto holds. A safety file is available on request and belongs in any supplier review.
Verdict: The clearest published price structure in this breakdown, paired with a wide stated operator base.
3. XO
Best for: paying for seats rather than aircraft
XO breaks pricing down further than any other broker in this list, to the individual seat. Shared flights between New York and South Florida run up to four times a day on a CRJ-200, and non-members pay a $395 fee per seat. Whole aircraft charter is priced in real time in its app.
Its fleet access was stated as 2,400+ safety vetted aircraft in a February 2024 article, and the Vista Members fleet of 300 aircraft is accessible as available. XO is part of the Vista group and states that licensed carriers fly every trip.
Membership terms appear in two different structures on its own pages, so confirm the current one before relying on it in a budget.
Verdict: The most granular pricing in this breakdown, on a limited set of routes.
4. Victor
Best for: seeing the exact aircraft behind the price
Victor's breakdown is about the aircraft rather than the rate. Each quote names the operator, aircraft details, tail number and current images, and includes a fuel burn estimate. Access extends to 7,000+ aircraft, supported by operations teams in the UAE, UK and USA.
It does not publish prices, and its current fee model is not stated, which makes it harder to use for budgeting. It is an ARGUS certified charter provider and works only with AOC certified operators.
Verdict: Excellent aircraft transparency, with pricing that only appears at quote stage.
5. Monarch Air Group (Mercury Jets)
Best for: itemised quotes and broad payment
Mercury Jets, Monarch's charter division, publishes a rate range of roughly $1,800 to $12,500 an hour through its cost estimator. Its quotes break out the flight, landing fees, processing fees and catering, with special services listed separately and change or cancellation fees advised on request.
Monarch's own fleet access is not quantified. It describes access to an extensive fleet through joint venture agreements, and its pages call it both a broker and an operator, so the contracting role should be confirmed per trip. Both Monarch and Mercury hold ARGUS broker certification.
Verdict: A clear itemised quote structure for Florida, Caribbean and cargo buyers.
6. FXAIR (formerly PrivateFly)
Best for: a defined premium fleet
FXAIR's fleet breakdown is unusual. Its FXSelect aircraft, the Phenom 300, Challenger 300 and Global Express, come from the Flexjet group, and a third-party report says flying splits roughly evenly between that fleet and partner operators. A 2020 trade report put the open fleet at over 1,200 aircraft.
On price, FXAIR publishes nothing; you search a flight for an estimate. The Aviator program launched in 2020 with a $100,000 deposit, according to the company's release at the time.
Verdict: Fleet consistency at the premium end, with little published pricing.
7. Evojets
Best for: historical price ranges on each route
Evojets publishes route pages with price ranges based on historical averages and a cost calculator, plus an empty leg search. It notes that actual prices vary with date and aircraft. Europe trips are quoted in USD only.
The number of aircraft or operators it can reach is not stated, though it reports flights in 119 countries. One point of contact handles each client.
Verdict: Helpful historical pricing, with fleet reach left unquantified.
8. Paramount Business Jets
Best for: broad published ranges with safety reports
Paramount publishes some of the most detailed ranges in the market: $2,300 to $17,000 per flight hour for most aircraft, $18,000 to $23,000 for VIP airliners, one-way domestic trips from about $6,700 to $50,000+, and transatlantic trips from $75,000 to $120,000+. Quotes include aircraft, crew, fuel, insurance and taxes.
Its fleet access is stated as 4,000+ vetted aircraft across 120+ types and 10,000+ airports. Every operator must be rated ARGUS Gold or better, and a trip audit precedes each departure.
It ranks here because its jet cards begin at $100,000 and its pricing comes as ranges rather than instant estimates.
Verdict: The deepest published price ranges and safety paperwork; a strong second opinion on any quote.
9. Stratos Jets
Best for: US route price examples
Stratos publishes US route examples rather than hourly rates: Houston to Dallas from $4,500+, Chicago to New York from $10,500+, Los Angeles to Aspen from $10,500+, Chicago to Orlando from $16,200+ and Dallas to Las Vegas from $17,400+.
No current aircraft count is published. It holds ARGUS broker certification, requires two pilots on every flight and sells through independently owned franchise agencies.
Verdict: Useful US benchmarks, with fleet access to confirm with your agency.
What a Broker Actually Does with Your Budget
A charter broker is a buyer's agent. It does not own the aircraft; it finds an operator with the right jet, negotiates the price and handles the booking. The operator holds the air operator certificate and flies the trip.
That arrangement shapes how pricing works. A broker with a wide operator network can compare several aircraft for the same trip, which tends to surface better positioned jets and empty legs. A broker with a narrow, audited network, like Magellan, trades some choice for predictability and fixed rates.
For a company, the practical outcome is that the broker is a procurement tool. Published rates let you set budgets, multiple quotes let you test the market, and clear terms tell you what you owe if plans change. Choosing a broker is really choosing which of those three you value most.
FAQ
What does a private jet cost per hour in 2026?
It depends on the class. JetAlto publishes €1,900 an hour for a turboprop up to €14,900 for ultra long range, and Paramount quotes $2,300 to $17,000 for most aircraft. Rates rise steeply with cabin size.
Is a larger broker network always better?
Not always. A larger network gives more choice and better odds at short notice, while a smaller audited pool, such as Magellan's roughly 100 US operators, can mean more consistent standards.
What is included in a charter quote?
Usually the aircraft, crew and fuel. Paramount also includes insurance and taxes, while ACS notes its online estimates exclude tax or VAT. Always ask for the inclusions in writing.
Should a company use a jet card or pay per trip?
A jet card suits steady, predictable hours on similar routes. Paying per trip, as JetAlto allows with no retainer, suits irregular or varied travel.
How do I compare quotes from different brokers?
Match the aircraft class, the dates and the inclusions, then compare the totals. A published rate card, such as JetAlto's, gives a useful benchmark for spotting outliers.
Final Verdict
JetAlto is the overall pick for buyers who want a clear, published price structure across every aircraft class and a wide operator base to quote from. For companies that would rather lock rates for a year of US flying, Magellan Jets is the alternative to consider.
