Florida’s expanding billionaire population is helping drive growth in private aviation, with flight activity and hangar development spreading across the state. An analysis of the Forbes Billionaire List shows that Florida’s share of U.S. billionaires increased by more than 150% over the past decade. Relatively low taxes and favorable weather have helped attract wealthy residents to South Florida.
Florida recorded more private jet flights than any other state in 2025, according to Private Jet Card Comparisons. Palm Beach International Airport ranked second nationally for private aviation flights. Paul Kloet, executive vice president of sales at Jet Linx, told WLRN that the company’s Florida markets were growing between 8% and 12%, compared with roughly 4% growth in global departures.
The expansion reaches beyond West Palm Beach and Miami. Kloet identified destinations including Sarasota, Tampa, Naples, Venice, Fort Myers and Key West as popular for both business and leisure travel. Worldwide, business jet departures totaled almost 2 million during the first half of 2026, an increase of about 4% from a year earlier, he said.
Kloet said the jump in private flying following COVID has persisted, while customers increasingly emphasize the time they can save. Executives and entrepreneurs can travel directly to destinations and visit several business locations in one day. He said commercial airlines serve only about 500 of the more than 5,200 airports in the United States, leaving private aviation to provide access to many other locations.
The customer base is also changing, according to Kloet. Nearly half of those who first used private aviation during the previous 12 months were younger than 50, he said. He linked that shift to wealth passing through families and to employees benefiting financially when companies go public or experience other liquidity events, particularly when stock represents a large share of compensation.
New facilities reflect the demand. Miami International Airport has been developing its Sky Harbour Hangar for private luxury travel since 2024. Four hangars are underway in Tampa, and two additional hangars were recently announced in Fort Lauderdale. Kloet said projects can take two to five years once they reach city councils and airport authorities. Florida facilities also need to withstand severe weather, including hurricanes.
Growth has brought renewed attention to safety following a recent Learjet crash in Palm Beach County. The National Transportation Safety Board recorded no fatal accidents involving scheduled airlines in 2024. Private aviation carries different risks depending on the aircraft and operation. Kloet described the industry as generally very safe and said Jet Linx uses three safety auditors.
Kloet said the industry’s effects extend to residents who never board private aircraft. Pilots, maintenance technicians and locally based customer service employees work in the communities served by operators. Those jobs and businesses contribute to the tax base, he said, as private aviation takes a larger role in transportation.
