Freedom from management responsibilities: Many people who buy private jets end up chartering them out to defray the costs of empty legs and help recoup some of that sky-high sticker price. If you go this route, you incur management expenses and significant drains on your time and energy.

Yes, you can buy a private jet and rent it out, a practice commonly referred to as putting the aircraft out for charter. For many owners in 2026, this is a strategic way to offset the massive fixed costs of ownership, such as hangar fees, insurance, and crew salaries. To do this legally, the aircraft must be managed by a company with an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and must meet more stringent maintenance standards (Part 135 in the U.S.) than a strictly private plane (Part 91). Most owners partner with an Aircraft Management Company that handles the marketing, scheduling, and pilot staffing. While chartering can generate significant revenue—often several thousand dollars per flight hour—it is rarely a "profit-making" business after depreciation and operating expenses are factored in. Instead, it is viewed as a "cost-recovery" mechanism. Another option is fractional ownership, where you own a share of a jet and the management company handles the rental of the unused hours to other members of the program.