Overview
- Hours-long security lines from a mid-February Department of Homeland Security funding lapse have pushed more travelers to book private flights.
- Aviation analytics firm WingX reports private-jet departures rose in New York, Houston, and Atlanta by about 2% to 5%, with Baltimore up 10% and New Orleans up 11% as TSA absentee rates hit roughly 39% in Houston and above 40% in Atlanta.
- Charter marketplace Jettly says reservations jumped 39% since February with first-time users up 52% and bookings within 72 hours up 34%.
- Prices have climbed on short notice, with trips like New York to Houston reaching about $34,000 and short flights from New York starting near $13,000.
- Travelers are also turning to premium workarounds such as private terminals at LAX and semi-private carriers like JSX to bypass crowded checkpoints, and operators like XO report rising interest.