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Exploring the Top Five Fractional Aircraft Operators: Benefits and Considerations |
Nick Copley, president of SherpaReport, does the heavy lifting when it comes to defining what you need to know about access to business aviation, whether full ownership, fractional, jet cards or charters. This week he explores the differences between the top five fractional aircraft operators.
Fractional aircraft ownership continues to gain popularity among businesses and individuals seeking the convenience and flexibility of private aviation without the full financial and logistical burden of owning an entire aircraft. It is an excellent option if you fly privately at least 50 hours a year. You can buy a share of a turboprop, a light jet or an ultra-long-range jet - or anything in between.
This model allows for shared ownership of a type of aircraft, reducing costs and providing access to a fleet of that type of aircraft with a guaranteed number of flight hours annually. It allows you to enjoy the benefits of flying privately while leaving the management of the plane, including maintenance, crew sourcing, scheduling, positioning, and much more, to the fleet operator.
But which operator to choose? There are many. Here, we look at the top five, highlighting benefits and considerations.
Commonalities
The top five fractional aircraft operators, in order of flight hours, are NetJets, FlexJet, PlaneSense, AirSprint and Airshare. With any of the five, you gain access to newer aircraft and all have been growing their fleets over the past five years. Because they all operate reasonably large fleets, they all have sophisticated and sizable operation centers to coordinate flights, weather, schedules, and training for pilots, maintenance technicians and crew.
1. NetJets
NetJets boasts the largest and most diverse fleet in the fractional ownership industry, with about 1,000 aircraft, including the whole ownership aircraft they manage. Their fleet ranges from light jets to ultra long-range business jets (they offer the Bombardier Global series). This extensive selection means owners have the option of selecting a different type of plane for a special trip, although doing so would incur extra costs or expend more of the allocated flight hours, if choosing a larger airframe.
NetJets is among the two fractional operators offering ultra long-range business jets like the Bombardier Global 7500 pictured here | Image courtesy of NetJets.
NetJets offers global operations with access to 5,000 airports in 180+ countries worldwide allowing travellers to cross multiple continents. The fractional ownership programs are offered in North America and in Europe.
2. Flexjet
Flexjet offers intercontinental range with its Gulfstream G650 ultra long-range jets and six other fixed-wing aircraft including light jets, mid-sized, super mid-sized, and large cabin, to suit any type of trip. In contrast to NetJets, the fleet also includes Sikorsky S-76 helicopters which are available for fractional ownership. When flying on the G650s to New York or London, Flexjet can offer you a bundle including one hour of helicopter time to get from, say, Biggin Hill (UK) to central London, or from Teterboro (NY) to downtown Manhattan or your house in the Hamptons. In the winter, their helicopters are offered to owners flying into South Florida, as well.
Another unique offering at Flexjet is their Red Label program, which provides access to a dedicated crew for each aircraft, ensuring consistency and familiarity for owners.
NetJets and Flexjet are strong options if you ever plan to need a long-range or ultra long-range jet. Both companies also have their own terminals - usually beautifully appointed - in some of the most popular destinations. They both also offer a wide selection of lifestyle benefits such as tickets to exclusive shows and sporting events, unique hospitality offers and much more. However, if these premium offerings are not relevant to you and you are looking to add financial value, you may consider a smaller operator, such as numbers three to five on this list.
In addition to cost efficiencies, the smaller players may be slightly more flexible in terms of contracts and can offer boutique customer service, as they have a few hundred customers, compared to a few thousand.
3. PlaneSense
PlaneSense has about 60 aircraft in its fleet. It is the only large fractional provider offering turboprop aircraft and is the largest civilian operator of the Pilatus PC-12, which has been the core of its fleet for 25 years. In the last decade, PlaneSense added the PC-24 light jet. Both aircraft are known for their short field performance, meaning they can take off and land in grass fields, accessing airports that other planes cannot. Both planes are also renowned for having very large cargo capacities compared to similar aircraft, so if you have a lot of luggage - golf bags or samples, you’re in luck. These planes can take an entire pallet in the hold, if needed.
PlaneSense is the only fractional operator in the top 5 offering Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24 aircraft, which have certain benefits | Image courtesy of PlaneSense.
Turboprop aircraft are generally more cost-effective to operate compared to jets, resulting in lower ownership costs and operational expenses. PlaneSense operations are focused in North America and the Caribbean.
4. AirSprint
AirSprint operates across North America, the Caribbean and Central America. It has 36 aircraft in its fleet including midsize Embraer Praetor 500s and Legacy 450s for transcontinental flights, and Cessna Citation CJ3+s and Citation Cj2+s as their light jets.
The company is Canada’s largest fractional provider and did 5,400 unique airport pairs in 2023.
AirSprint has roughly 500 fractional owners and has inventory immediately available. Both PlaneSense and AirSprint are pure fractional programs, meaning they do not have jet cards, nor do they charter aircraft.
For those who take sustainability seriously, AirSprint aims to be 100% carbon offset by 2025.
5. Airshare
Airshare’s unique feature is its day-based program. With the other providers, you’re buying flight hours. With Airshare, you’re getting a plane for a day. For example, if you’re using the plane for business and meeting clients in several different locations throughout the day, this is very beneficial. You can make as many stops as you’d like, and the plane will stay with you. The only restriction to the amount of flying in your day will be the crew duty times. In this model, a 1/16th share equals 20 days a year.
Headquarted in Kansas, US, Airshare’s fractional program includes Embraer Phenom 300 light jets, as well as super-mid Bombardier Challenger 3500s. The company also offers charters, jet cards, and does whole aircraft management, managing over 100 aircraft across the U.S. So, although long-range jets are not available through their fractional ownership program, Airshare does charter Gulfstream G550s, Bombardier Global 5000s and Dassault Falcon 7Xs, meaning owners needing to fly to different continents once in a while could be served with this operator (outside of the fractional agreement).
Selecting the right fractional aircraft operator involves careful consideration of various factors, including fleet diversity, geographic reach, cost, and personalized service. NetJets and Flexjet stand out for their comprehensive global services and large fleets, while PlaneSense, AirSprint and Airshare offer value-oriented solutions with a focus on specific aircraft types and regional expertise. Understanding these benefits and considerations will help prospective owners make informed decisions and enjoy the myriad advantages of fractional aircraft ownership.
For 20 years, SherpaReport has been a comprehensive source for insider knowledge to help people make informed decisions about buying a private aircraft or investing in alternatives such as fractional ownership, jet cards and/or charters.
