Factoring Ramp and Fuel Fees Into Your Jet Operations Cost

Private jet ownership and flying in your corporate jet comes with a set of fees beyond the cost to buy, maintain, and insure your plane.

Understanding how these fees are calculated and how they accumulate will help you plan and manage your budget. They’re also vital parts of your cost-benefit analysis of purchasing and managing a used private jet for sale for your corporate travel needs.

Three fees those exploring jet ownership may not be familiar with are landing, ramp, and fuel fees. For each journey you make in your private jet, you’ll come across these fees. Learn what’s included in - and left out of - them so you can plan more effectively.

What are ramp fees for?
Airports charge jet owners and operators a ramp fee when the plane is parked for a certain amount of time - and that time varies. Several factors go into determining these fees, including your jet’s maximum take-off weight (MTOW), aircraft wingspan, and the time on the ground.

Some airports waive ramp fees for certain time periods, while others instate the charge the moment you land. Sometimes fees are waived if your jet is only parked for a short time, or if you purchase fuel and fill up your tank while on site. There’s no hard and fast rule for how these fees are incurred.

What are landing fees for?
The airport authority typically collects landing fees, which, like ramp fees, depend on the size and weight of your private jet. Approach and take-off noise levels also can contribute to the cost of landing fees.

These fees will vary greatly, just as ramp fees do.

What are fuel fees for?
When you need to refuel after landing at an airport, you can purchase fuel from them while parked at the gate. If you refuel at the airport, sometimes the airport authority will waive your ramp fee.

Some fuel costs do not include taxes, so be sure to find out what’s included in the price of fuel before planning to land at a specific airport.

If you’re planning a multi-stop trip, you may consider “tankering,” or filling up where fuel is cheapest and purchasing the minimum required at other airports on your itinerary. Anecdotally, private jet travelers have reported quicker turnarounds and attentive service at smaller, regional airports, which may make slightly more expensive fuel worth it, especially if you need to move quickly.

How do I determine how much these fees will cost?
There’s no set rule for how much landing and ramp fees will cost. They can vary greatly between countries, to the tune of thousands of dollars.

These fees underline the fact that it’s vital to research airports where you may be landing, so you’re aware of what to expect, or so you can choose an alternative location to land. You may find that smaller airports charge more affordable fees, while larger ones are much more expensive.

Although you might find an airport with lower fees, you might end up spending the difference in uplifting fuel, or the cost to shuttle your company’s leaders to their meeting, especially if the less expensive airport is farther from the original destination. Fuel costs can even vary by day of the week and time of day.

There’s no perfect solution, but as long as you do your due diligence and research your options, you can make an informed decision that smartly utilizes your budget.

Where can I get help with my private aviation industry questions?
Everyone starts their journey in private aviation somewhere. Your business isn’t the first and won’t be the last to have questions about private jet ownership, required fixed costs, and flexible costs.

To set yourself up for success, begin by working with an International Aircraft Dealers Association Accredited Aircraft Dealer, who will help you navigate purchasing a used private jet for sale. You can start by browsing vetted listings of used jets for sale on AircraftExchange.com.

Your IADA dealer also will help you identify the best private aviation service providers, including escrow services, pilot and crew training, flight planning, maintenance programs, tax, title, management, operations consulting, and more. These experts make it easy for your company to own and operate a business jet.

Find an IADA dealer and browse listings of aircraft for sale.