Jet card peak days dropped to 35.4 by the end of Q1 2025, down from 44.6 at the end of 2024 and well below the 2022 peak of 55.7, according to the latest data from Private Jet Card Comparisons. The drop reflects increased competitiveness among jet card programmes, which once raised peak days to cope with surging demand and fulfilment issues in 2021 and 2022.

“With peak-day booking deadlines ranging as far out as two weeks, rates not guaranteed in some cases, surcharges up to 100%, the ability to shift departures by as much as plus or minus four hours from the requested time, the reduction in peak days reflects that jet cards are becoming more competitive for flyers who need flexibility,” says Doug Gollan, editor-in-chief and president of Private Jet Card Comparisons.

The company’s database tracks over 500 programme options and has been updated more than 60 times this year alone. Despite the recent drop, peak days remain higher than the pre-Covid average of 22.8 and much higher than the 10 peak days common to fractional programmes.

Average hourly rates increased 0.9% in Q1 to $11,147. By category, turboprops fell 1.2% to $6,588, very light jets dropped 0.7% to $7,869, light jets rose 2.8% to $8,305, midsize jets went up 3.1% to $9,817, super midsize jets increased 1.4% to $12,510, large cabin jets dipped 0.1% to $15,197 and ultra long-haul jets rose 1.2% to $19,152.

Rates are now 25.8% higher than December 2019 and 32.6% higher than the end of 2020 when tax waivers applied.

Daily minimums fell to 80.8 minutes, below their 2020 low of 86.2 minutes. “The reduction in daily minimums favours private jet users who are taking shorter flights,” Gollan says.

The average non-peak callout remains at 65.7 hours and has been steady for the past year, while peak callouts averaged 23.2 hours, with some as low as six hours. Booking windows remain well above pre-2019 levels.