More executives use private jets

AIRPORT terrorist alerts have caused a dramatic surge in the use of personal executive jets.

Latest figures from NetJet, which operates the world's sixth largest fleet of executive aircraft, show that demand almost doubled over the festive season.

The airline, owned by legendary US investor Warren Buffett, is essentially a timeshare plan for jet travel.

Top executives, sports stars and celebrities buy a share in a plane, which gives them a certain number of flying hours a year.

Owners pay from £250,000, guaranteeing them 50 flying hours a year. There are also yearly management fees of about £3,400 and clients pay £1,500 for each hour of use.

Between 23 December and 6 January - when the US security fears were at their highest - demand for NetJet planes almost doubled in Europe with 220 in use.

Tour operator First Choice is to review whether to place sky marshals on its US charter flights.

Last week, rival Thomas Cook said it would cancel any transatlantic flight where a sky marshall was put aboard.