For UHNWs with multiple properties around the world, global business interests and internationally dispersed family members, private jet ownership is an appealing proposition.
‘Someone could have a meeting in London for breakfast, lunch in Geneva and dinner at home in Monaco,’ one adviser tells Spear’s. ‘That schedule all in the same day would be impossible without the use of a private plane.’
But navigating the complex world of purchasing or chartering private aircraft requires both technical expertise and industry knowledge that only the best aviation advisers can provide.
[See also: Inside the ‘fastest jet since Concorde’]
Related
The experts in the 2026 Spear’s Aviation Advisers Index are not just brokers but trusted consultants. In addition to helping their clients make decisions about whether to own or charter an aircraft, or opt for fractional ownership or a subscription model, they have an in-depth understanding of the different aircraft and operators in the market.
For those UHNWs seeking to buy their own plane, a private aviation specialist can also advise on the most appropriate ownership structure, for example a holding company or trust – both options that can maxismise tax efficiency while managing liability and privacy. They are also equipped to coordinate insurance, documentation, certification and regulatory compliance.
Their role extends beyond facilitating a transaction to helping their clients make informed decisions that best support their lifestyle and travel requirements.
[See also: Private jet subscriptions expand as Hans Jet debuts turboprop membership]
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Increasingly, private aviation is viewed as a productivity tool rather than a luxury. As Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway owns chartering firm NetJets, famously said, ‘The rich invest in time.’ For internationally mobile entrepreneurs like Buffet, executives and family offices, the value lies less in the aircraft itself than in the time it saves. Flying privately allows clients to reach destinations not easily served by commercial airlines, visit multiple locations in a single day and travel according to their own schedules.
Explore the other rankings within the 2026 Spear’s Lifestyle Indices:
- Best Art Advisers
- Best Yacht Advisers
- Best Whisky Advisers
- Best Collectibles Advisers
- Best Gallery, Auction House & Dealership Representatives
- Best Wine Advisers
Bernhard Fragner tells Spear’s that he founded GlobeAir after becoming frustrated with the inefficiency of commercial flights while running an international business. ‘I had to travel a lot across the entirety of eastern Europe, and to put it simply, I needed more time and more efficiency in my travel schedule,’ he explains. ‘It’s the same problem I hear from new customers, and the only way to get around it is by using private aviation.’
[See also: The best aviation and yacht lawyers]
The best aviation advisers have access to strong networks and maintain close relationships with operators, brokers and service providers, which allows them to organise exclusive deals and arrangements. As Laurent Eugene of AirPlans, a new addition to this year’s index, tells Spear’s, a key part of the adviser’s role is helping clients understand what’s realistic, and what makes sense based on how they actually use aviation.
Trends in 2026
Charter, set, go
Ownership is no longer the only route to flying privately.
Over the last five years, wealthy travellers have increasingly opted for subscription and membership models. These range from annual retainers, which cover a set number of flights, to member cards, which allow customers to purchase flying time in hourly blocks.
Companies including VistaJet, Flexjet and NetJets offer access to private aviation without the long-term financial and operational commitments of owning your own plane.
While considerably more affordable than purchasing a Boeing or Bombardier jet outright, these services remain a significant investment. A NetJets jet card will set clients back €188,500 for 290 days of annual access.
Steve Varsano, founder of The Jet Business and president of Flexjet, tells Spear’s that charter pricing can ‘vary drastically’, but that membership programmes offer clients a more personalised service. ‘It gives you an account with a charter company or charter broker,’ he says. ‘They have a relationship – they know who the client is, and they usually know what type of aeroplane you like.’
The post-Covid bubble
The pandemic introduced many wealthy individuals to private aviation for the first time. The benefits of a controlled environment and reduced exposure to members of the public led to a surge in charter demand.
‘Things have changed over the last six years; we see C-suite executives who were suddenly chartering or getting together with friends and chartering for their family or business,’ Chris Tofts notes. ‘Are those people still chartering now? Yes, I think they are.’
While some clients have returned to commercial flights, multiple advisers note that some who picked up private aviation during the pandemic are continuing to charter long after lockdown.
Click the links below to jump to a section of this article:
- Methodology
- The best aviation advisers: some names to know
- The best aviation advisers: the complete list
- Contact us
Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best aviation advisers: some names to know
Tim Barber
- Focus: EMEA aircraft sales and maintenance
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Duncan Aviation
Tim Barber covers the EMEA region as part of Duncan Aviation’s aircraft sales team.
Explaining the company’s origins and growth in the private jet space, he says: ‘Having started out in 1956 as an aircraft sales company, in response to client demand, we started providing maintenance services, and now that’s by far the biggest percentage of the business. Often when someone, even our competitors, are selling their aircraft, they’ll refer to the fact that the last major check was carried out by Duncan Aviation, as it’s synonymous with quality.’
Most of Barber’s clients are individuals or family offices, and his primary focus is ensuring they find a quality product and know what they’re getting into in terms of running costs.
‘Duncan Aviation is right up there at the very, very top of the market in terms of the perception of quality and customer service, and we can’t do anything to jeopardise that.’
Read Tim Barber’s full profile on Spears500.com
Bernhard Fragner
- Focus: Private jet charter
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: GlobeAir
As founder and CEO of GlobeAir, Bernhard Fragner oversees the world’s largest fleet of Cessna Citation Mustangs, small four-seater private jets that are well equipped to land at small airports around Europe.
‘Our large fleet size can give you a certain flexibility in terms of when you can fly – we can offer guaranteed availability,’ he tells Spear’s. ‘Plus, we cover the full range of services, not just the flight. If someone needs a helicopter, limousine or hotel, we take care of that.’
GlobeAir is licenced to land at almost 1,000 sites in Europe, including London City, St Moritz, Nice, Cannes and Monaco. It offers specialist services for politicians, high-profile individuals and sportspeople, with key events including Formula 1, the Monaco Yacht Show and ATP tournaments, where they work with both athletes and spectators.
Read Bernhard Fragner’s full profile on Spears500.com
Chris Tofts
- Focus: Charter services
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: 365 Aviation
‘I’m old school. I believe in picking up the phone and speaking to people,’ says Chris Tofts, who founded jet charter firm 365 Aviation in 2011. Formerly an operations director, he was motivated to create a company where ‘outstanding service [would be] paramount’.
With over 5,000 private aircraft available for charter, 365 Aviation has now grown into a global brand, with clients from across the globe seeking to fly anywhere from London or Paris to Singapore or Dubai. New areas of business include India, South America, Asia and Australasia. ‘A lot of our work comes from client referrals, but we also have a lot of repeat business,’ he says.
Tofts tells Spear’s that the company has grown by virtue of ‘providing clients with a single point of contact’ and creating ‘bespoke solutions where comfort, style and competitive pricing are key’.
Read Chris Tofts’ full profile on Spears500.com
Olga Tcacenco
- Focus: Wealth structuring
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Kendris
Kendris partner Olga Tcacenco has accrued a wealth of expertise in private aircraft management. She helps UHNW families, family offices and entrepreneurs with wealth structuring when purchasing or operating private planes, which she combines with a strong technical understanding of aviation.
Tcacenco assists clients on all aspects of private aircraft care and often acts as an intermediary between jet operators, brokers and owners.
She studied law at the University of Wales and has over 15 years of experience in private wealth structuring, including working with international trust issues and on cross-border matters, which allows her to keep a holistic view of her clients’ assets: ‘We don’t just look at the particular asset, we look at the entire situation of the client,’ she tells Spear’s.
Read Olga Tcacenco’s full profile on Spears500.com
Edward Reid
- Focus: Charter trips
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Villiers
Edward Reid set up Villiers in 2013, with the idea to create a company focused on discreet, exceptional client care and customer service. The boutique brokerage now boasts access to more than 10,000 private aircraft and 40,000 destinations around the world.
Reid says the firm is capable of arranging a personal, business, group, cargo or medical evacuation flight within a couple of hours, sourcing anything from a single-engine propeller plane to a business jet. Villiers also has an extensive list of empty-leg flights to destinations around the world, representing very good value, and accepts payment in Bitcoin.
Given his long and successful career in prime property brokerage, Reid is well acquainted with the needs of Villiers clients: ‘They expect us to know a great deal about them and build a genuine relationship,’ he tells Spear’s.
Read Edward Reid’s full profile on Spears500.com
The best aviation advisers: the complete list
Click on the individual names to be directed to more detailed profiles of each adviser on The Spear’s 500 website. The table is ordered by ranking and then alphabetically by surname.
Contact us
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- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2026, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
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With additional reporting from Caitlin Kilpatrick.
