Private jet card rates slipped 1% in Q2 2026

Private jet card hourly prices fell 1% in the second quarter of 2026, according to an analysis of more than 1,000 program options by Private Jet Card Comparisons. The drop came as fuel surcharges eased, though rates remained above pre-COVID levels across every aircraft category.

Why it matters: - Private jet card rates are a benchmark for buyers comparing guaranteed private aviation pricing across aircraft types. - The latest quarter showed a modest drop, but pricing remains well above pre-pandemic levels, keeping private flying expensive for frequent users. - The analysis also highlights how jet card pricing differs from broker quotes because it includes repositioning costs.

What happened: - Average hourly rates for guaranteed jet cards fell 1% in Q2 2026 from Q1 2026. - Year over year, hourly jet card rates rose 0.4% versus Q2 2025. - North American jet card rates averaged $11,314 per hour at the end of Q2 2026. - The comparison covered published rates at the end of June.

The details: - The drop in Q2 followed lower fuel surcharges tied to softer jet fuel prices at the end of the quarter, said Doug Gollan, president and editor-in-chief of Private Jet Card Comparisons. - Jet card rates analyzed include repositioning costs, which makes them a more direct estimate of what consumers pay than many broker-quoted hourly rates. - Excluding turboprops, the average hourly rate was $11,688. - Hourly rates are based on occupied hours, so flyers do not pay repositioning charges separately. - Light Jets averaged $8,456 per hour, down 1.2% from Q1 2026. - Ultra Long-Haul Jets averaged $19,202 per hour, down 0.5% from Q1 2026. - Turboprops averaged $6,271 per hour, down 6.8% from Q1 2026 and down 4.8% from Q2 2025. - Very Light Jets averaged $7,688 per hour, down 2.1% from Q1 2026 and up 1.1% from Q2 2025. - Midsize Jets averaged $9,557 per hour, down 0.8% from Q1 2026 and down 2.6% from Q2 2025. - Super Midsize Jets averaged $12,526 per hour, up 0.7% from Q1 2026 and up 0.5% from Q2 2025. - Large Cabin Jets averaged $15,236 per hour, down 2.4% from Q1 2026 and up 0.5% from Q2 2025. - Overall jet card rates are 27.7% higher than Q4 2019 pre-COVID. - Every category remained above Q4 2019 levels, with the smallest gain in Ultra Long-Haul Jets at 14.1% and the biggest in Light Jets at 40.4%. - Hourly pricing includes base rate, fuel surcharges and the 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. - Many jet cards include guaranteed recovery, and some include de-icing and WiFi. - Private Jet Card Comparisons tracks more than 80 providers and more than 1,000 options across 65 variables. - The database saw 44 updates during the quarter, compared with 115 in Q1 2026, 45 in Q4 2025, 41 in Q3 and 33 in Q2. - Super Midsize Jets were the only category to post a quarter-to-quarter increase. - Light Jets and Very Light Jets posted the largest year-over-year increases, at 1.3% and 1.1%.

Between the lines: - The quarter-to-quarter decline suggests private aviation pricing is easing at the margin, but not enough to reverse the post-pandemic reset in rates. - Jet card buyers still face a premium over 2019 pricing, which may keep price sensitivity high even as fuel costs soften. - The mix of benefits bundled into cards can make direct price comparisons difficult, so database-driven benchmarking remains important.

What's next: - Future pricing will likely depend on fuel costs, provider inventory and how aggressively jet card programs adjust published rates. - More database updates could shift category averages as providers revise pricing and included benefits. - Buyers comparing programs will likely continue to focus on total trip cost, not just advertised hourly rates.

The bottom line: - Jet card prices eased in Q2 2026, but private flying remains materially more expensive than before COVID, and the best comparison point is still the all-in hourly rate.