Living in Singapore, we are fortunate to be positioned at a crossroads of global travel, with a wide array of countries in Asia and beyond easily accessible for both leisure and business. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway or an extended holiday, many of us are accustomed to heading to Changi Airport, one of the world’s best, to board a commercial flight.
However, for those with the financial means and a desire to travel with maximum convenience, there’s an alternative to the typical airport experience: chartering a private plane. Just as you might charter a luxury yacht for a few days, chartering a private jet offers the exclusivity and comfort of private travel without the long-term commitment of owning the aircraft. Instead, you’re simply paying for the time you spend aboard.
The benefits of flying private extend far beyond the comfort of plush seats and personalized service. One of the most significant advantages is the time saved — no lengthy check-in processes, no waiting in immigration queues, and no tedious security screenings. For a few, the ability to arrive at the airport and be airborne within minutes is worth the premium price tag.
In Singapore, what services allow you to charter a private plane, and how much can you expect to pay for such an exclusive experience?
Singapore Air Charter
Established in 2010 by a former airline owner and airline captain, Singapore Air Charter aims to provide a personalised aircraft charter experience. It offers a range of jet services beyond just private chartering, including medical evacuation, air freight forwarding and aviation consultancy services.
Singapore Air Charter has a range of jets in its fleet, such as light jets, midsize jets, large cabin jets, and ultra-long-range jets. This means it suits travellers with a variety of needs in terms of both distance travelled and budget.
The company states that private jet charters can cost anywhere from S$4,200 to S$30,000. This depends on several factors, including the type and size of aircraft, distance and flight time, one-way or round-trip, and fuel costs.
To get an exact quote from them, Singapore Air Charter suggests contacting their aviation consultants for a direct quote, depending on your needs.
Seletar Jet Charter
Seletar Jet Charter is appropriately named as Seletar Airport in Singapore where many of the non-scheduled flights arriving/departing are hosted (i.e., it’s one of the main airports for private jets). The company has over 40 years of experience in the aviation sector.
Like Singapore Air Charter, Seletar Jet Charter offers multiple private jet services, such as air ambulance repatriations and aircraft management services.
It offers varying jet sizes, from mid-sized to ultra-long-range jets. As an example, its ultra-long-range jet is the Bombardier Global 7500, which can take up to 14 passengers, has a cruising altitude of 51,000 feet, and can be used for flights that are up to 16 hours long.
Prices are available upon request and subject to your particular needs and circumstances.
Air Charter Service
Based in the UK but with a Singapore office, Air Charter Service is a global private jet charter service with 27 offices worldwide, including in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Air Charter Service arranges over 23,000 charter flights per year and offers price estimates on its website for those wishing to travel to any global destination. It also has access to over 50,000 different aircraft worldwide.
Flight options + costs for one-way Seletar Airport, Singapore to Stansted Airport, London
For example, to charter an entry-level King Air A350 jet—that can seat up to eight passengers—from Singapore to Bangkok would set you back an estimated S$33,150 one way (before taxes and fees). If you wanted to explore further afield in a private jet, say, with a flight from Singapore to London, an entry-level flight to the English capital on the Global 6000 (which can hold up to 14 passengers) will cost you an estimated S$233,700 one way.
You Can Save Time, If You Have The Money
Taking a chartered private jet can help save you time and give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience (if that’s what you crave). But it won’t come cheap.
To understand the specific pricing on your desired flight, you will most likely have to request a quote from these chartered private jet operators. How much you pay will depend on the size of the plane you are chartering and how many hours you will fly. At a rough estimate, you can expect to pay about $2,000 per hour per passenger. So, if you are taking a 3-hour flight for four passengers, it will cost about $24,000 (one-way).
As mentioned, various factors will decide the eventual cost, from the type and size of aircraft to the distance travelled, fuel costs, and even the airport you land at/depart from.
Occasionally, you can book an “empty leg” flight, when a private jet must return to its home base or fly empty to another destination for a scheduled pickup. These flights can be offered at a 50-75% discount compared to regular charters, though flexibility is required. So, if you crave that once-a-lifetime private jet experience, securing a private chartered flight at a lower price is possible.
Read Also: How Much Can You Earn As An Airline Pilot?
Image by Dylan Agbagni from Pixabay
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