As the current US government shutdown continues, demand for private jet travel is increasing. As reported by CNBC, the CEO of popular private jet charter and fractional ownership company Flexjet has stated that his company has seen a sizeable increase in last-minute bookings, a trend that may be happening across the industry.
This comes as the impact of the government shutdown is taking a heavier toll on the commercial airline industry with each passing day. Workers, particularly air traffic controllers and TSA agents, are not getting paid, and this is leading to an increase in sick calls, leading to delays and flight cancellations. With the FAA now cutting flights, demand for private jets is higher than ever.
More Demand For Private Jet Flights
When speaking with CNBC, Flexjet CEO Andrew Collins stated that demand for the company’s services has spiked over the past month. Reportedly, while revenue hours for its leasing and fractional ownership division in 2025 are up by 20% overall compared to the prior year, the first seven days of November saw a 42% increase compared to the same period in 2024. As Collins explained in an interview on Saturday, this means that customers are using the aircraft more.
Flexjet’s charter division, FXAIR, has seen a 56% jump in revenue hours in October 2025 compared to the same time period in 2024, compared to an overall increase of 17% year-to-date from 2024. Its Sentient Jet unit, which issues jet cards to customers, has 24% more revenue hours booked for the remainder of November compared to 2024, and the company’s overall flight hours were up by 23% in October compared to 2024.
Collins has refrained from drawing any conclusions from the spike, but has also reported an uptick in last-minute bookings (within 10 hours). Whether this is a long-term, sustainable trend is questionable, and likely the reason why Collins has not drawn a long-term conclusion from the increased bookings. However, in the immediate term, what we see is that customers of Flexjet and likely others are seeking their services more as a result of the government shutdown.
The Longest Government Shutdown In US History
At 42 days, the current shutdown of the United States government is the longest in history. Federal workers are not being paid, and this is leading to a slowdown in the aviation industry. The impact was minimal at first, but with more air traffic controllers calling out, this has led to a crippling increase in flight delays and cancellations, as the controllers still working in the towers are unable to handle the volumes.
There are over 13,000 air traffic controllers currently working without pay in the US, and nearly 50% of the country’s major ATC facilities are short-staffed. Earlier in the month, Newark Liberty International Airport was forced to implement several ground stops due to a lack of air traffic controllers, leading to over 120 flight cancellations. In October, meanwhile, Hollywood Burbank Airport had no air traffic controllers for hours.
Air traffic controllers are also not the only aviation workers impacted by the government shutdown. TSA agents are also considered essential workers by the government, and the lack of pay has caused a significant uptick in absences and callouts. This is leading to longer security lines that can be unpredictable to anticipate, leading to more passengers missing their flights.
Outlook On US Aviation Today
The US has already been struggling with a shortage of qualified air traffic controllers. Six-day work weeks and mandatory overtime are common at the US’s largest airports, and when combined with outdated equipment and high flight volumes, it creates a system that’s fragile during the best of times. Flight delays are already common due to ATC issues, and when a scenario like a government shutdown arises, the system collapses.
The FAA has ordered a 4% reduction of flights at the nation’s largest airports as of Friday, November 14, which will go up to 10% by November 17. These cuts are still set to take effect on these dates, despite the Senate now having sent the bill to reopen the government to the House of Representatives. This will eat into airline earnings and cause mass disruption for travelers.
While the FAA is limiting private jet flights by prohibiting non-scheduled operations at 12 major US airports, these cuts have a significantly smaller impact than those on commercial flights. As such, it’s not surprising that those with the means are increasingly opting to bypass the airlines and hire their own aircraft.
