Private jet charter brokers see a surge in calls as hundreds of U.S. airline and private jet flights across the Caribbean are cancelled.
As the U.S. government’s operation to remove Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro grounded hundreds of flights by U.S. airlines and private jets across the eastern and southern Caribbean, foreign-registered private jets continued to operate.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted on X, “Early this morning in support of the Department of War, the FAA restricted the airspace in the Caribbean and Venezuela to ensure the safety of the flying public. When appropriate, these airspace restrictions will be lifted. Please work with your airlines directly if your flight has been impacted. God bless President Trump and the United States military.”
A spokesperson for Flexjet tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, “We have several dozen customers whose flights have been impacted by this situation.”
She says, “We are closely monitoring the status of the no-fly zone and whether it will be extended into additional dates.”
Flexjet is the second-largest private jet operator based on fractional and charter flight hours.
She says, “We have been in active communication with our flight crews and our customers,” adding, “In addition, we are reconfiguring flights, so when the no-fly zone is lifted, we can get our customers on their way as soon as possible.”
For NetJets, the largest private jet operator in the world, a live flight map shows none of its over 800 aircraft operating in the restricted zone (below), which runs east and south from Puerto Rico to the Venezuelan coastline.
The same held for its NetJets Europe unit.
However, FlightAware data shows private jets operated by Air Charter Scotland, Jet Concierge Club, Qatar Executive, and VistaJet flying today from the Caribbean.
The flights were bound for both Europe and the United States.
FlightAware showed VistaJet flights from Canouan to Munich, Antigua to Leeds/Bradford, and St. Vincent to Paris.
A Qatar Executive flight departed Antigua bound for London.
An Air Charter Scotland flight repositioned from Antigua to St. Maarten before flying to Miami early this afternoon.
Multiple private jet charter brokers say charter availability is scarce.
Prices, they say, are running as much as 100% above normal.
Even if the closure for the U.S. private jet operators ends at midnight tonight, as is possible, there could be delays for several days.
Airlines have offered waivers, and one broker says a client who was scheduled to return on a U.S. airline was told the earliest availability to rebook their group was Thursday.
Another broker says he is advising clients to extend their accommodations to at least Tuesday.
Even if the flights with U.S. airplanes begin tomorrow, he says there isn’t enough infrastructure to handle the demand.
This weekend is generally the busiest of the year for flights from the Caribbean back to the U.S. and Europe.
Brokers say UHNWs head home after spending New Year’s and even Christmas in the islands.
Before you make alternative arrangements, read your current charter, jet card, or fractional contract, brokers say.
Cancellations could fall under force majeure clauses in virtually all private jet fractional, jet card, and charter contracts.
They are also likely inside the cancellation deadline.
The brokers say that means you may not be eligible for a refund if you make alternative plans.
“If you were flying tomorrow through Tuesday, then you are within the cancellation terms,” one broker said.
For many jet card and fractional programs, this weekend falls into peak days.
That means more extended cancellation periods.
Some programs don’t allow cancellations on peak days.
International charter flights often carry a 100% cancellation penalty after booking.
READ: Jet Card Peak Days: Here’s what you need to know
Brokers say they are being inundated with calls from first-timers and occasional flyers whose airline flights have been cancelled.
They say if you are trying to snag a charter, have your credit card ready and be prepared to pay without the typical back-and-forth.
You either take the airplane, or it won’t be there 10 minutes later, one broker says.
READ: A lawsuit spotlights financial risks of ASAP private jet charter flights
Pricing is running as much as double the normal high-demand date rates, several brokers said.
Craig Ross of Aviation Portfolio helps aircraft and fractional owners manage their experience.
He says some operators try to capitalize on peak-day demand during regular times.
He says, “There are some smaller operators that purposely, on high-demand days like now, don’t book their airplane so they have availability so that they can gouge people at the last minute. It’s an ambulance-chaser model. For them, this is the Super Bowl of gouging.”
Brokers say, for the most part, they are recommending that clients wait if there isn’t availability with established, reputable operators.
One broker said, “The longer you can wait, the better. Today, tomorrow, and Tuesday are likely going to be delayed.”
Some foreign airlines were operating today from places banned for U.S. carriers.
FlightAware showed at least one Air Canada flight operating.
Calvin Yoon, a partner in Amalfi Jets, which is known for its TikTok social media, posted from aboard an Air Canada flight today.
He wrote on his @calvinyoon7 Instagram, “Feels like that scene in Argo. God bless Canada.”
He had been vacationing in St. Barts.
A previous post showed him aboard a private jet.
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