According to a recent article in Business Traveller magazine, private jets are entering the mainstream thanks to apps enabling travellers to book seats on aircraft that would otherwise fly half-full or even empty on return trips.

Think of it as Uber for the skies…

PrivateFly, which launched in 2010, provides access to more than 7,000 jets around the world and claims it can get passengers from the ground to the air in 45 minutes.

JetSmarter, which entered the market in 2013, offers more than 2,500 empty legs a month at a cost of US$7,000 per year, plus 3,000 planes available for charter.

There’s also Blackjet, which sells seats on jets travelling between ten US cities (annual membership is US$2,500 and grants discounted empty-leg flights).

Meanwhile, Surf Air has a US$1,750 a month payment plan with 44 daily flights to eight US cities.

Fresh Jets doesn’t charge anything to sign up, has more than 1,200 aircraft and flights starting from US$799.

Subscribers can read the full feature on 21 Travel Trends in the April edition of Business Traveller.