The short answer
On a flight of an hour or two, a turboprop is often the better value: a pressurised cabin for six to eight at a lower cost, arriving only a little after a jet. Choose a jet when time matters most, when the sector is longer, or when you want a jet cabin. The Piaggio Avanti II blurs the line, cruising at over 400 knots on turboprop running costs.
Key facts
- Turboprops in the fleet cruise at 270 to 285 knots, except the Piaggio Avanti II at 402 knots.
- Very light and light jets cruise at 340 to 453 knots.
- Turboprop range is 1,470 to 1,800 nm, so they suit sectors of up to about two to three hours.
- The Pilatus PC-12 can use grass strips, and turboprops generally use shorter runways than jets.
- Turboprop cabin heights are 4 ft 9 in to 5 ft 9 in, similar to a very light or light jet.
What is the difference between a turboprop and a jet?
Both are turbine aircraft in a pressurised cabin, flown by two type-rated pilots on every flight Charter-A arranges. The difference is how the engine drives the aircraft: a jet pushes air out of the back, and a turboprop uses a turbine to turn a propeller. In practice that gives you three differences you notice as a passenger: how fast the aircraft cruises, how short a runway it can use, and what it costs per hour.
The fleet holds three turboprops in the turboprop class: the Pilatus PC-12, a single-engine aircraft, the King Air 200, a twin, and the Piaggio Avanti II, a twin with its propellers behind the cabin. They are set against the very light jets and light jets, the classes closest to them in size and price.
How do the aircraft compare on the figures?
| Aircraft | Class | Passengers | Cruise | Range | Cabin height | Baggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilatus PC-12 | Turboprop | Up to 8 | 285 kt | 1,800 nm | 4 ft 10 in | 40 cu ft |
| King Air 200 | Turboprop | Up to 8 | 270 kt | 1,500 nm | 4 ft 9 in | 53 to 55 cu ft |
| Piaggio Avanti II | Turboprop | Up to 7 | 402 kt | 1,470 nm | 5 ft 9 in | 44 cu ft |
| Citation Mustang | Very light jet | Up to 4 | 340 kt | 1,150 nm | 4 ft 6 in | 4 cases |
| Citation M2 | Very light jet | Up to 5 | 404 kt | 1,550 nm | 4 ft 9 in | 46 cu ft |
| Citation CJ1 | Light jet | Up to 5 | 380 kt | 1,300 nm | 4 ft 9 in | 5 cases |
| Citation CJ2 | Light jet | 6 to 7 | 418 kt | 1,613 nm | 4 ft 9 in | 65 cu ft |
| Phenom 300E | Light jet | Up to 9 | 453 kt | 2,010 nm | 4 ft 11 in | 74 to 84 cu ft |
Figures from the Charter-A fleet guides; passenger numbers are the highest seen for each type. Baggage is given in cases or cubic feet, as the guides record it, so the two are not directly comparable.
Two things to see in the table. The turboprop ranges of 1,470 to 1,800 nm sit in the same bracket as the smaller jets, below the longest-range light jets, and the baggage holds are close to those of the smaller jets rather than far below them. The clear difference is speed, and the Avanti II removes even that.
How much slower is a turboprop on a short sector?
The gap is a matter of minutes. The simple sum below uses cruise speed alone over a straight sector, so it is an illustration, not a timetable. Real times add the climb, the approach and the wind on the day.
| Aircraft | Cruise | 250 nm sector | 500 nm sector |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Air 200 | 270 kt | About 56 minutes | About 1 hr 51 min |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 285 kt | About 53 minutes | About 1 hr 45 min |
| Citation Mustang | 340 kt | About 44 minutes | About 1 hr 28 min |
| Citation CJ1 | 380 kt | About 39 minutes | About 1 hr 19 min |
| Citation M2 | 404 kt | About 37 minutes | About 1 hr 14 min |
| Piaggio Avanti II | 402 kt | About 37 minutes | About 1 hr 15 min |
| Phenom 300E | 453 kt | About 33 minutes | About 1 hr 6 min |
Distance divided by cruise speed from the Charter-A fleet guides, in still air, cruise only. Not a flight time: a real flight adds the climb, the descent and the winds.
On 250 nautical miles the gap between the PC-12 and a light jet is around 15 to 20 minutes, and at 500 nautical miles it is about 25 to 40. That is real, and you will notice it on a long day with several legs. On a single sector it is often a small price for a lower cost. The existing size guide says the same in plainer words: on a short flight a turboprop arrives only a little after a jet would.
Which one handles short runways and small airfields?
The turboprop. The class is described as able to reach places jets cannot: shorter runways, smaller regional airfields and, in the case of the PC-12, grass strips. The PC-12 also has an oversized rear cargo door for suitcases plus skis, golf clubs or bicycles. The King Air 200 is described as opening up airfields jets cannot use, and as a good fit for short strips such as races, estates and island hops. The Avanti II operates from shorter fields, including performance-limited airports that restrict larger jets.
Some jets also have short-field manners. The Citation Bravo is described as opening up smaller airports with shorter runways, the Citation Sovereign+ as using airfields larger jets cannot, and the Pilatus PC-24 as using airports other jets cannot. So the gap is real but narrower than the label suggests. For a specific airfield, the airport page gives the runway length, and we check the aircraft against it.
What about the cabin and the baggage?
Turboprop cabins are pressurised and executive-configured, and they are smaller in height than a midsize jet: 4 ft 9 in to 4 ft 10 in for the PC-12 and King Air, against 5 ft 8 in and more in midsize jets. The Avanti II is the exception at 5 ft 9 in, described as a stand-up cabin taller than most light jets, and quiet because the propellers sit behind the cabin. If you want to stand and walk, a turboprop is not the aircraft, except for the Avanti II.
Baggage depends on the type more than the engine. The King Air 200 holds 53 to 55 cubic feet, which is close to a Citation CJ2 at 65, and the PC-12 at 40 is closer to the smallest holds. Where the figures are in cases, such as the Citation Mustang, the guides use a different unit, so ask for the hold of the actual aircraft. The luggage article covers how much each class takes.
What does the difference in altitude mean?
The fleet guides record the highest altitude each type is certified to. The PC-12 is certified to 30,000 feet and the King Air 200 to 35,000, against 41,000 to 45,000 for the very light and light jets and 41,000 for the Avanti II. A higher ceiling gives a wider choice of altitude, which can help in finding smoother air or flying above weather. The very light jet class is described as climbing above most weather. The ceiling is not the whole story, and the crew chooses the altitude for the day.
Is a turboprop cheaper than a jet?
Usually, on the same route. The cost guide describes turboprops as costing less than jets on short flights, and very light jets as having the lowest hourly cost of any jet. We do not publish a separate hourly rate for turboprops here, because the figure depends on the aircraft and the date. Guide rates for light and larger jets are in how much it costs to charter a private jet, and the quote for your trip is the real figure. Ask for a turboprop and a light jet side by side when the sector is under about two hours.
When does each one suit?
| Choose a turboprop when | Choose a jet when |
|---|---|
| The sector is an hour or two and value matters | The sector is longer than about two to three hours |
| The airfield is small, short or grass | You want the quickest journey on a day of several legs |
| You are six to eight people and cost matters more than pace | You want a taller or more spacious cabin |
| Skis, golf clubs or bikes need a big cargo door | The route is near a turboprop range limit of 1,470 to 1,800 nm |
| You want twin-engine reassurance at turboprop cost (King Air 200) | You want a higher altitude and jet speed (very light and light jets) |
Based on the Charter-A fleet guides. The aircraft offered depends on availability on your dates.
Where you cannot decide, the Avanti II is worth asking about. It cruises at over 400 knots on turboprop running costs, so it can give light-jet schedules on short and performance-limited airfields, though it is a seven-seater, with a hold of 44 cubic feet.
How do the three turboprops differ?
They are three quite different aircraft, and picking between them matters as much as picking between a turboprop and a jet. The Pilatus PC-12 is a single-engine turboprop with a Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine, described as the world’s top-selling single-engine turboprop. It has the longest range of the three at 1,800 nm and a cargo door that takes skis, golf clubs and bicycles, and it is the one that can use grass strips.
The King Air 200 is a twin with two Pratt & Whitney PT6A engines, described as the most trusted twin turboprop ever built. It brings twin-engine reassurance to every sector, a baggage hold of 53 to 55 cubic feet and the slowest cruise of the three at 270 knots. The Piaggio Avanti II is the unusual one: a twin with its propellers behind the cabin, a 402-knot cruise, a stand-up cabin and seven seats.
Can a very light jet do the job of a turboprop?
Often, yes, and the comparison is worth making on any short sector. The Citation Mustang has four seats and cruises at 340 knots, and the Citation M2 has five seats and 404 knots, so for one to four people they offer a faster journey than the PC-12 or King Air, in a smaller cabin. The cost is the room: four or five seats against eight, and holds of four cases or 46 cubic feet against 40 to 55 for the turboprops.
So the size of the party decides it. For a party of six to eight, the turboprop is the cheaper way to travel in one cabin, and a very light jet cannot carry them. For a party of three or four, the very light jet guide describes it as usually the most cost-effective way to charter a jet on a short sector.
Which turboprop or jet suits a UK regional trip?
The class guides say it directly: turboprops are for UK regional flights and short cross-Channel sectors, short runways and smaller airfields, and for six to eight passengers where value matters more than pace. The light jets are for four to seven passengers with luggage, London to the Alps, the Riviera, Spain and Italy, and same-day European returns, and the very light jets for one to four passengers travelling light.
So the dividing line is partly the destination. A day trip to a regional airfield with a short runway points to a turboprop. A same-day return from London to Italy or Spain, where the sector is longer and the day is tight, points to a light jet. Our airport pages show the runway length and opening hours for each airfield, which is where the decision between the two is usually made.
How should you decide on the day?
Start with the sector length, because it settles the most. Under about two hours a turboprop is competitive, and under an hour the time difference is slight. Then count the party and the bags: six to eight people and a hold of around 40 to 55 cubic feet is turboprop territory, and four people with soft bags can fly in a very light jet. Then look at the airfield, since a short runway or grass strip can make the choice for you.
Last, think about the whole day rather than the single flight. Several legs in one day add up the minutes a turboprop gives away, and a same-day return across the Channel is where a light jet earns its price. For a single leg to a regional airfield, the turboprop is often the sensible choice. Charter-A quotes both when the sector is close, with one inclusive price for each.
More questions
Is a turboprop safer or less safe than a jet?
Neither type is presented here as safer. Every flight Charter-A arranges is flown by two type-rated pilots with an approved operator. The twin-engine King Air 200 and Avanti II have two engines, and the PC-12 has a single proven turbine. See our safety article.
How fast is a private turboprop?
The Pilatus PC-12 cruises at 285 knots and the King Air 200 at 270, against 340 to 453 for the very light and light jets. The Piaggio Avanti II is the exception, at 402 knots, close to light jet pace.
Can a turboprop land on a grass strip?
The Pilatus PC-12 can, according to the fleet guide, and turboprops generally use shorter runways and smaller airfields than jets. Whether a particular strip is usable depends on its length, surface and the load, so we check each one.
How far can a turboprop fly?
The fleet turboprops have a maximum range of 1,470 nm (Piaggio Avanti II), 1,500 nm (King Air 200) and 1,800 nm (PC-12). They suit sectors of up to about two to three hours, and range on the day depends on load and winds.
Can I stand up in a turboprop?
Mostly not. The PC-12 and King Air 200 cabins are about 4 ft 10 in and 4 ft 9 in high. The Piaggio Avanti II is 5 ft 9 in and is described as a stand-up cabin, taller than most light jets.
Do turboprops carry as much luggage as light jets?
Close to it in some cases: the King Air 200 holds 53 to 55 cubic feet, the Avanti II 44 and the PC-12 40, against 46 to 90 for the very light and light jets in the guides. The PC-12 also has a large cargo door for skis and clubs.
Related articles
Which size of private jet do I need?
Compared by size, the rule is simple: choose the smallest aircraft that carries your party and its luggage the distance without stopping.
How much luggage can you take on a private jet?
As a general guide, one suitcase and one soft bag for each passenger.
Is chartering a private jet safe?
Yes, chartering a private jet is safe, provided the flight is operated by a licensed air carrier.
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Speeds, ranges, cabin heights, baggage figures, ceilings and runway descriptions are from the Charter-A fleet guides; the sector times are simple distance-over-cruise-speed arithmetic on those figures, not flight plans. Charter-A Ltd acts as agent for the passenger; details are confirmed for each flight at booking.