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JET365 enters the conversation early in the debate over how private aviation is evolving, particularly around how access is purchased and controlled. For decades, private flying has promised speed, privacy, and control. For many travelers, those benefits have also come with constraints: multi-year contracts, fixed aircraft categories, monthly management fees, and capital tied to depreciating assets. Over the past two years, a quieter alternative has gained ground among high-net-worth individuals and corporate flight departments: the deposit-based jet card.
Rather than locking clients into ownership or rigid prepaid hours, these programs function more like stored aviation credit. Flyers place funds on account and draw them down as they travel, without committing to a single aircraft type or long-term agreement. As post-pandemic demand reshapes private aviation, deposit-based models are increasingly redefining how access is purchased.
From Ownership to Optionality
Industry data points to a gradual move away from ownership toward access. WingX estimates that global business jet activity in 2024 remained roughly 30 percent above pre-pandemic levels, while new aircraft deliveries continued to lag demand. At the same time, the National Business Aviation Association has reported growing interest in alternatives to fractional programs, particularly among travelers flying fewer than 100 hours annually.
Fractional ownership can still make sense for heavy users, but it carries trade-offs. These include upfront capital requirements, exit restrictions, ongoing management fees, and limited flexibility when travel patterns shift. Deposit-based jet cards sidestep many of these constraints by separating access from asset ownership. Deposits remain liquid, aircraft categories can change trip by trip, and usage can expand or contract without penalty.
“Not everyone wants to tie capital to an airplane they may not fly consistently,” said Alessandro Figliano, founder and chief executive of JET365. “Many clients want access without the balance-sheet exposure.”
How Deposit-Based Jet Cards Work
The structure is relatively simple. Clients place a defined deposit, often starting in the mid-six figures, and those funds become immediately available for flight usage. Unlike older jet card programs, deposits are refundable, and pricing is set on fixed hourly rates that bundle fuel, crew, and standard operating costs.
Flexibility is central to the appeal. Travelers can select different aircraft categories depending on route length, passenger count, or mission profile, rather than being locked into a single class. For frequent flyers, this can mean lower costs on short regional trips while retaining access to long-range aircraft when needed. Most programs allow bookings within 48 to 72 hours, with higher tiers offering protection during peak travel days.
JET365’s jet card is built around this logic. “Our Jet Card gives clients what they actually want: premium aircraft, flexible access to any jet category, and fixed pricing without being stuck on older, beat-up airframes and interiors like fractional programs,” Figliano said. “Our safety standards are second to none, and we’ve built a true member community that gets top-tier treatment, private dinners, high-profile events, and access bigger providers reserve only for their top 1%. We deliver private aviation and a Members Jet Card the way it should be, and that won’t change.”
Cost Clarity and Operational Realities
Price transparency has become a growing expectation, even at the upper end of private travel. A 2023 McKinsey analysis of premium mobility found that affluent consumers increasingly favor predictable pricing and fewer hidden variables. Traditional charter quotes often fluctuate due to fuel surcharges, repositioning costs, and taxi time.
Deposit-based jet cards aim to reduce that complexity. By offering all-inclusive hourly pricing and eliminating charges such as taxi time, these programs make budgeting more predictable for individuals and corporate travel managers. Some providers also extend discounts on longer domestic legs, reflecting efficiencies on extended flights.
Still, guarantees have limits. Aircraft availability during major cultural and sporting events, including Formula One races, global art fairs, or holiday periods, remains constrained across the industry. The viability of deposit-based programs depends heavily on broker relationships and operator vetting, particularly during peak demand.
Corporate Travel and Liquidity Concerns
Corporate flight departments represent another area where deposit-based cards are gaining traction. Companies with complex travel policies, such as restrictions preventing certain executives from sharing aircraft, often find fractional programs inflexible. Custom deposit structures allow firms to align aviation usage with internal policy rather than forcing policy to conform to ownership models.
Liquidity also plays a role. With higher interest rates, tying capital into long-term aviation assets carries a clearer opportunity cost. Refundable deposits preserve flexibility, an attribute that resonates with finance teams managing variable travel needs.
For brokers, the model changes the nature of their work. Instead of selling ownership shares or fixed hours, they manage access, safety oversight, and logistics across a global operator network. “A good brokerage earns their value when plans change,” Figliano said. “That’s when clients see what they’re actually paying for.”
A Measured Evolution
Deposit-based jet cards are not a universal replacement for every form of private aviation. Ultra-high-utilization flyers may still favor ownership, while occasional travelers may remain best served by ad-hoc charter. The steady adoption of deposit-based models reflects a broader recalibration, with flexibility and liquidity becoming central to purchasing decisions.
The sector continues to absorb new demand and shifting expectations, and programs that reduce lock-in without sacrificing access are finding a receptive audience. The appeal is less about novelty than about removing constraints, allowing private aviation to better align with how people actually travel today.
