Private plane hire with crew: how does it work?
Hiring a private plane always means hiring it with its crew: the operator provides the aircraft, pilots, fuel, maintenance and insurance, and bills it all by the flight hour — €2,458 to €3,129 an hour for a light jet. You are not renting an aircraft to fly yourself: you are chartering a flight run by a company holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
Who is on board
Most jets flown for public transport operate with two pilots. Depending on the aircraft and flight length a cabin crew member is added for service on board; on the smallest jets the pilots handle the welcome. Ask at quote stage if service matters to you.
What the crew changes in the price
Crew hours are included in the hourly rate. What comes on top is nights away: when the aircraft waits for you several days, crew accommodation and allowances appear on the quote. A same-day return avoids them.
The numbers, route by route
| Route | Category | Passengers | Flight | Estimate (one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris → Nice690 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 1h 12 | €3,000–4,000* |
| Paris → Geneva410 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 48 min | €2,000–2,500* |
| Paris → London370 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 48 min | €2,000–2,500* |
| London → Nice1,030 km | Midsize jet | up to 9 | 1h 36 | €6,000–7,000* |
Computed estimates: great-circle distance × 1.05, time at manufacturer cruise + 0.3 h taxi, published broker hourly rates (Paramount Business Jets), converted at the ECB rate. The firm price depends on aircraft positioning, fees and date.
* Flight under two hours: most operators bill a two-hour minimum per day of use, so the real price is above the computed estimate.