Frustrated holidaymakers are clubbing together to book private jets to beat Britain's airport chaos, new figures show.
Families are teaming up to reduce the cost of a private charter to their favourite holiday destinations like Spain, Ibiza and Greece.
A group of 10 can buy seats for around £150 more than on a traditional large passenger charter - many of which have been cancelled.
So-called empty leg flights - when a private plane returns empty to its home airport - are being snapped up for a fraction of the normal hire cost.
Empty leg bookings cut the losses of the plane operator and allow ordinary people to afford a seat on a private jet.
Airport chaos across the country has lead to unprecedented demand of private flights, especially the empty leg price options.
Flight booking app TailHail - which allows passengers to book empty leg flights - has seen a 50 per cent increase in bookings compared this time last year.
It has also recorded a 100 per cent increase in requests for private flights in the last two months, while searches for empty leg flights have increased by 450 per cent in the last month.
There has also been a 90 per cent increase in enquiries about the cost of a private jet in the last month.
The app says it has seen "unprecedented" group bookings from people seeking to avoid airport chaos.
Chief aviation officer James Moon said: "New technology has lifted the curtain on what has always been an exclusive service.
"For those who are willing to spend a little more to avoid long queues and uncertainty - but not by paying the ridiculously unaffordable cost of a traditional private jet charter - there is an alternative out there.
"A wide range of aircraft are readily available using digital booking systems giving access to numerous flight options including empty leg flights - which can reduce the cost of flying by up to 40 per cent."
He added: "We are seeing ordinary people who would never have charted a private jet teaming up with friends, relatives and neighbours to bring the price down and ensure they not only catch their flight but have the holiday they want."
A traditional private charter of a ten-seater turbo prop plane to Palma, Mallorca, would cost between £15,000 to £25,000.
But the price can be reduced to as little as £600 per person for a group of ten by booking a plane's empty leg flights for outward and home journeys.
A typical economy two-week return to Palma in Mallorca is around £450 depending on when it is booked - just £150 cheaper - with no guarantee the flight will take off this summer.
The app searches the current and future locations of thousands of private jets and books two empty leg flights for the outward and return trips.
The more passengers it can match to the flight the cheaper it becomes per passenger.
It is possible to book up with friends or share the jet with strangers.
Britain's airports have been plunged in chaos caused by staffing shortages after many workers were laid off during the pandemic.
It has resulted in thousands of cancelled flights and thousands of passengers stranded at airport, with unusually high demand after the pandemic fueling the crisis.
