Inside private jet Bollywood stars prefer: Rs 18-30 lakh for a round trip, compartments that transform into beds, check-in 15 minutes before take-off

Indian Express

3 hours ago

Recently, we saw the Kapoor family — Karisma Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, and Saif Ali Khan — fly in a private jet from Mumbai to Delhi for the funeral and prayer meet of Karisma's ex-husband, Sunjay Kapur. Like the Kapoor family, many celebrities frequently rent private jets to conveniently and quickly travel to their destinations. Paparazzi often shoots celebs as they reach Mumbai's Kalina airport for flying off in a private jet.
In a recent interaction with The Hollywood Reporter India, Maria Charles, Director of Skyline Charters, broke down every detail of flying in a private jet — including the cost of renting one, all the complimentary services provided to the stars, and the minimum time required to reach the private airport before departure.
During the interaction, Maria shared that the Legacy 600 Executive Jet Aircraft, a 13-seater private jet, is the preferred choice of most celebrities. The flight typically includes two pilots and one cabin crew member, although the number of cabin crew can increase to two if there are more guests on board.
She also offered a look inside the private aircraft, which is divided into two compartments. One of these compartments can be transformed into two beds, which can be separated by drapes, offering a private space within the jet itself.
When asked how far in advance a person should book a private flight, Maria responded, 'No time limit is there, I have activated flights in 2 hours also. The operator needs 2 hours to activate the flight. The pilot has to reach the airport, aircraft has to fuel up, catering has to be ordered. Every pilot have to rest for 14 hours after every flight, so we have to check that and see if pilots can fly. If everything is in place then there is no time limit to charter business.'
She also explained that charter flights can only fly during designated time slots, and they must book these slots. Only if the desired slot is available can the charter flight take off at that time. Clients are asked to arrive just 15 minutes before takeoff since they're using a private aircraft.
She noted that since passengers go through a private airport separate from the main terminal, they don't have to deal with crowds. For domestic flights with luggage, guests must arrive 30 minutes prior, and for international flights, 45 minutes before departure — a significant contrast to the usual three-hour pre-arrival requirement for international commercial flights. She also shared that the celebrities are provided with local delicacies of the place that they are travelling to and anything under the sun for catering.
Maria further explained that the cost of renting a private jet depends on the destination and flight duration. She shared an example, 'To fly from Mumbai to Delhi it takes 2 hours and 15 minutes, one way, so the total charter, round trip will be 4 hours and 30 minutes. So, any aircraft ranging from an XL to a Legacy will cost you between Rs 18 lakh to Rs 30 lakh plus GST for the round trip.'
Beyond the time flexibility and exclusivity, another major perk for celebrities flying private is the hassle-free luggage process. Maria explained that airport staff handle the entire luggage procedure for celebrity passengers, who are asked to send their baggage ahead of their arrival. The luggage is checked in and loaded onto the aircraft before they even reach the airport. 'The luggage is sent on board before you reach the airport,' she added. She also shared that celebrities are offered local delicacies from the destination they are traveling to, along with virtually anything they desire when it comes to catering.