What’s in your private jet charter quote
A private jet charter quote looks like one confident number. In practice, the useful version is a short list. It covers hours in the air, fuel, carbon and taxes. It also covers empty legs, crew, the airport and what you eat.
Menkor Aviation works on-demand charter across Europe, Africa and Dubai. First, you get a ballpark. The desk then sends a quote you can reply to.
Aircraft time
Operators price block time, which runs from engine start to shutdown. Sometimes they also add a daily minimum. Cabin class, range and how scarce the type is that week all sit in this line. As a result, people compare this number. Even so, it is rarely the whole invoice.
Fuel and the SAF surcharge
Jet fuel is a live market input. On a longer Europe–Gulf or Europe–Africa sector, however, it is also a routing input. More track miles mean more uplift. Sometimes they even mean another landing.
Since 2025, ReFuelEU Aviation has required a minimum blend from aviation fuel suppliers. They must supply a minimum 2% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with conventional fuel. The rule applies at Union airports above set traffic thresholds. One threshold is passenger traffic above 800,000, while the other is freight above 100,000 tonnes. That share then rises to at least 70% by 2050. Synthetic aviation fuels also have their own minimum. It is 1.2% in 2030 and 2% in 2032. Finally, it reaches 35% in 2050.
Between 2025 and 2034, suppliers may meet the minimum as an average across Union airports. The blend in the truck at a given FBO can therefore differ from the network average. Still, the obligation sits in the price. On a private jet charter quote this often appears as a SAF surcharge on the fuel line.
Aircraft operators who depart from EU airports must also refuel for the flight. In other words, they need the aviation fuel necessary to operate it. The rule avoids extra weight and “economic tankering”, which means filling elsewhere to dodge the blend. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has its own SAF mandate. It starts at 2% in 2025, rises to 10% in 2030 and reaches 22% in 2040. So a London departure can carry a similar-looking line for a different legal reason.
EU ETS carbon costs
Flights in the scope of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) carry a carbon cost. Under EU rules, SAF used in the ETS has a zero emissions rating. The fuel line and the carbon line therefore talk to each other. In addition, the EU has allocated aircraft operators a maximum of 20 million ETS allowances. The window runs from 2024 to 2030, and the estimate is €1.6 billion. These allowances cover part or all of the price difference between SAF and fossil kerosene. The share depends on the type of SAF and on the uplift place. However, that support sits with the operator. On your side, you usually see a carbon or ETS item. Sometimes that item sits inside the fuel line.
Taxes
Taxes are the quiet lines. For example, they include passenger charges, airport taxes and national levies. The amount depends on the country of departure and the destination. It also depends on how the flight is classified. A domestic sector, a Schengen hop and a long-haul departure can each pick up a different stack. We put them on the private jet charter quote when we know them for your airports. If the handler is still confirming a tax, we flag it.
Positioning legs
If the aircraft is not already on your departure ramp, someone has to fly it there. That empty sector is positioning, or a ferry. In fact, it is often the difference between two quotes for the same cabin class. After landing, the aircraft may also reposition for its next booking. For this reason, a well-placed midsize already in the region can beat a heavier cabin that still has to cross Europe empty. So when you send dates and airports early, we search for aircraft that are already close.
Crew
Crew is duty time and nights out. On a long sector, you sometimes need a second set of pilots. An extra technical stop can turn a single duty day into an overnight. Likewise, a delayed slot or an airport curfew can do the same. Hotels, per diems and crew positioning then join the quote. That is why a slightly earlier departure can cost less than a late one, even on the same aircraft. After all, the crew day still closes at a fixed hour.
Handling and landing fees
Landing, parking, handling and the VIP terminal differ from airport to airport. A capital FBO, a secondary field and a Gulf or Maghreb stop can each price the ground differently. Overnight ramp parking is also a different line from a quick turn. That is why two city pairs of similar length can quote quite far apart.
Catering
Catering is the part you actually taste. It may be a light cabin service or a full meal. Equally, it may be special diets, champagne or a child’s tray. We specify it first, then we bill it. So tell us your preferences with the passenger list. Otherwise, the line grows if you change the menu after the truck has left the kitchen.
How to read a private jet charter quote
Ask every broker, including us, for the same clear breakdown. It should start with flying time and any daily minimum. Next comes fuel, with SAF shown on its own when it applies. Then look for ETS or carbon when the sector is in scope. Taxes and positioning should follow, along with crew overnights. Landing, parking and handling belong there too, and so does catering. Above all, remember that a firm quote is a snapshot. Fuel markets, airspace and airport fees can still move while the file is open.
If you want that breakdown for a real trip, send the city pair and the dates through our contact form. Or call +33 6 63 39 37 93. We will come back with aircraft options and a private jet charter quote you can actually read.