JetSmarter’s aim is to make private air travel more accessible with a marketplace that connects its users with empty seats and unused private planes around the world. ‘Accessible’ is still a relative term as the app runs on a membership-only model, with users required to apply to join what the company calls an “exclusive” club.

Users can book either private or shared charters, while JetSmarter also runs fixed ‘shuttle’ routes between popular destinations, adding new routes in line with demand as new customers join the service. It currently flies across the US, as well as routes from London to central Europe, Moscow and parts of the Middle East.

JetSmarter backers include the Saudi Arabian royal family and Shawn Carter, better known as rapper and music producer Jay Z, with a total of over $150m (£117m) raised so far. Its founder is 28-year-old Russian Sergey Petrossov and the company is headquartered in Florida.