NetJets Private Aviation: Fractional Ownership Guide (2025)

Last Updated on July 5, 2026 by Daniel Globe

Private aviation has long promised speed, privacy, and flexibility that commercial travel can’t match — and NetJets has spent six decades building the infrastructure to deliver on that promise at scale. Here’s what the company actually offers today, how its history unfolded, and what it costs to fly with it.

The History of NetJets

NetJets traces its roots to 1964, when Executive Jet Aviation (EJA) was founded with a board that included Air Force generals Curtis LeMay and Paul Tibbets, along with entertainer Arthur Godfrey. In 1984, mathematician and former Goldman Sachs executive Richard Santulli purchased the company. Three years later, after studying pilot logbook data, Santulli’s team launched the industry’s first fractional aircraft ownership program — allowing individuals and businesses to buy a share of a jet rather than the whole aircraft.

The concept caught on because it let a much broader range of clients access private aviation without bearing the full cost of ownership. By the 1990s, the company had built a substantial fleet and a loyal client base. In 1998, Berkshire Hathaway agreed to acquire the company for approximately $725 million, giving it the capital base to expand internationally. Under Warren Buffett’s Berkshire, NetJets has continued to grow its fleet, add subsidiary businesses like Executive Jet Management and QS Partners, and refine its service offerings.

The Fleet of NetJets Airlines

Fleet Size and Composition

As of mid-2026, NetJets and NetJets Europe operate a combined fleet of more than 850 aircraft, with the company expecting to add roughly 80 new jets this year. Textron Aviation (Cessna) aircraft make up just over half the fleet, followed by Bombardier and Embraer models. NetJets has placed orders and options for nearly 2,000 additional jets across these manufacturers to keep renewing its fleet — about 40% of current aircraft are less than five years old.

Fleet Maintenance and Safety

Every aircraft goes through scheduled inspections and maintenance protocols before and between flights, in line with NetJets’ internal safety management processes.

State-of-the-Art Aircraft

The fleet spans light jets through ultra-long-range heavy aircraft. The Bombardier Global 7500 is built for long-range, transcontinental flying with a spacious cabin, while the Cessna Citation XLS+ is a smaller, more efficient option that seats up to nine passengers — a combination that lets NetJets match aircraft to trip length and group size rather than offering one-size-fits-all service.

The Benefits of Flying with NetJets Airlines

The most significant advantage of flying private with NetJets is flexibility: owners can schedule flights with as little as four hours’ notice, a level of convenience that particularly appeals to business travelers who need to adjust itineraries on short notice. Cabins are designed for privacy and productivity, with gourmet catering and dedicated crew service, and passengers can skip the crowded terminals and long security lines that come with commercial flying.

The Cost of Flying with NetJets Airlines

Fractional ownership requires an upfront investment in a share of an aircraft plus ongoing monthly management fees covering maintenance, insurance, and crew costs, along with a per-hour rate for actual flight time. For clients who don’t want that level of commitment, jet cards offer flight hours on a pay-as-you-go basis in 25-hour blocks — a more flexible but generally more expensive-per-hour option. While upfront costs are far higher than commercial airfare, many clients find the time saved and control over scheduling worth the expense.

The Destinations and Routes of NetJets Airlines

NetJets doesn’t fly fixed routes the way commercial airlines do. Instead, it offers on-demand access to more than 5,000 airports in 200+ countries and territories, including smaller regional airports that put clients closer to their actual destination. Popular routes include business corridors like New York to London or San Francisco to Tokyo, as well as leisure destinations such as Aspen and the Caribbean, with itineraries built around each client’s schedule rather than a published timetable.

The Experience of Flying with NetJets Airlines

Personalized Service from Arrival to Departure

Passengers typically depart from private terminals or fixed-base operators (FBOs), where dedicated staff handle luggage and check-in without the lines of a commercial terminal.

Comfort and Convenience in the Air

Cabins are configured for work or rest, with high-speed Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment systems.

Gourmet Dining at 30,000 Feet

Catering is prepared to a restaurant standard, with menus that can be tailored to individual requests.

The Safety Record of NetJets Airlines

NetJets maintains internal safety management processes alongside internationally recognized frameworks such as the IS-BAO program, which focuses on continuous improvement in aviation safety management. Aircraft undergo inspections before each flight, and pilots and crew go through ongoing training programs as part of the company’s broader safety culture.

The Sustainability Efforts of NetJets Airlines

NetJets has invested in more fuel-efficient aircraft and worked to optimize flight routing to reduce fuel burn. The company previously signed a 2021 agreement with Lilium to explore electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban mobility; Lilium has since ceased operations, so that particular partnership is no longer active. NetJets’ broader sustainability approach now centers more on fleet modernization and operational efficiency than on eVTOL expansion.

The Membership Options with NetJets Airlines

Fractional ownership lets clients buy a share of a specific aircraft sized to their expected annual flight hours, with guaranteed access based on share size. Jet cards suit clients who fly less often and don’t want a multi-year ownership commitment, offering fixed hourly rates and 25-hour blocks of flight time. NetJets also runs subsidiary businesses — Executive Jet Management for aircraft management and charter, and QS Partners for share sales and acquisitions — that support corporate and individual clients with more specialized needs.

The Customer Service of NetJets Airlines

Dedicated representatives support clients from initial booking through post-flight follow-up, and flight crews are trained to handle in-flight requests ranging from meal preferences to entertainment options.

The Future of NetJets Airlines

NetJets continues to grow its fleet aggressively, with orders and options for close to 2,000 new aircraft across its manufacturer partners and more than 80 deliveries expected in 2026 alone. The company’s near-term focus leans more toward fleet renewal and efficiency gains — newer, more fuel-efficient airframes — than toward experimental categories like eVTOL, following the end of its Lilium partnership. With decades of scale and a dominant share of the fractional ownership market, NetJets remains the largest player in private aviation.

NetJets Airlines is a private jet company that offers a wide range of routes for its customers. If you are interested in learning more about the various destinations and routes that NetJets Airlines has to offer, you can check out this article on TakeTravelInfo. This article provides detailed information on the different routes available and the services provided by NetJets Airlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NetJets Airlines?

NetJets is a private aviation company offering fractional aircraft ownership, jet cards, and leasing for individuals and businesses.

How many routes does NetJets Airlines have?

NetJets doesn’t operate on a fixed route system. It provides on-demand private jet travel to more than 5,000 airports in 200+ countries and territories.

How does NetJets Airlines determine flight routes?

Routes are built around each client’s specific travel needs, with access to smaller, more remote airports than commercial carriers typically serve.

Can NetJets Airlines fly to international destinations?

Yes. NetJets has a global network and can arrange international flights across its full airport network.

How does NetJets Airlines differ from commercial airlines in terms of routes?

Unlike commercial carriers, NetJets has no fixed routes or published schedules — every itinerary is built around the client’s own travel plans.

Sources

1. NetJets — Wikipedia — founding history, Berkshire acquisition, fractional program details
2. NetJets: How Fractional Ownership Was Born — origin of the fractional model
3. Berkshire Hathaway press release, July 1998 — acquisition terms
4. NetJets Private Jet Travel FAQs — airport network and route flexibility
5. NetJets Safety — maintenance and safety practices
6. IBAC IS-BAO Program — safety management framework