The short answer
Choose the smallest aircraft that carries your party and its luggage the distance without stopping. For up to four people on a flight of around two hours, a very light jet or a turboprop is enough. Light jets seat five to nine and reach most of Europe from the UK. Midsize and super-midsize jets add stand-up cabins and range; heavy and ultra-long-range jets carry 11 to 19 and fly between continents.
Key facts
- Count the passengers first, then the luggage, then the distance.
- Very light jets seat 4–5; light and midsize jets up to 9; heavy jets 11–14; the largest up to 19.
- Stand-up cabins begin with the midsize class, at about 5 ft 8 in; super-midsize and heavy jets are around six feet or more.
- From London, anything within about 900 nautical miles — Paris, Geneva, Nice, Ibiza — is non-stop for every class.
- This site describes 31 aircraft types in seven classes.
What are the classes of private jet?
| Class | Passengers | Typical flight | Range | Cabin height | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Very Light Jets | 4–5 | Up to about 2 hours | 1,150–1,550 nm | 4’6” to 4’11” | Citation Mustang, Citation M2, Phenom 100 |
| Light Jets | 5–9 | Up to about 3 hours | 1,300–2,010 nm | 4’9” to 4’11” | Citation CJ1, Citation CJ2, Citation CJ3 |
| Midsize Jets | 6–9 | Up to about 4–5 hours | 1,900–2,930 nm | 5’7” to 5’9” | Citation XLS+, Hawker 900XP, Learjet 60XR |
| Super Midsize Jets | Up to 9 | Up to about 6–7 hours | 2,700–4,018 nm | 5’8” to 6’0” | Citation Sovereign+, Citation Latitude, Praetor 600 |
| Heavy Jets | 11–14 | Up to about 8–9 hours | 3,800–4,750 nm | 6’0” to 6’2” | Challenger 604, Legacy 650, Falcon 900 |
| Ultra Long Range Jets | 9–19 | 11 hours and more | 4,600–6,150 nm | 6’2” to 6’7” | Global 5000, Global 6000, Global Express XRS |
| Turboprops | 6–8 | Up to about 2–3 hours | 1,470–1,800 nm | 4’9” to 5’9” | Pilatus PC-12, King Air 200, Piaggio Avanti II |
Figures for the aircraft types in the Charter-A fleet guides. Range is the maximum for the type; non-stop range on the day depends on passengers, baggage and winds.
How do I choose?
- Passengers. Everyone needs a seat, and a full aircraft is a snug one. On a longer flight, choose a class with a seat or two to spare.
- Luggage. The holds of very light jets suit soft bags and a few cases; a party with ski equipment or golf clubs often needs the next class up. See how much luggage you can take.
- Distance. A longer flight needs more range. A smaller jet can still fly it with a fuel stop, which costs time but can save money.
- The runway. Some airports have short runways. Turboprops and the smaller jets can use them where larger aircraft cannot.
- Comfort. Stand-up headroom, an enclosed lavatory and room to move about begin with the midsize class; heavy jets add separate areas to work, dine and rest.
- Budget. Larger aircraft cost more per hour — see how much it costs to charter a private jet.
Which aircraft can fly my route non-stop?
Distance decides. These examples are from London:
| From London to | Distance | Light jet | Midsize or heavy jet | Flown non-stop by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Le Bourget | 180 nm | 45 min | 40 min | Every class, including very light jets and turboprops |
| Edinburgh | 290 nm | 1 hr 05 min | 55 min | Every class, including very light jets and turboprops |
| Geneva | 400 nm | 1 hr 25 min | 1 hr 10 min | Every class, including very light jets and turboprops |
| Nice | 555 nm | 1 hr 50 min | 1 hr 35 min | Every class, including very light jets and turboprops |
| Ibiza | 760 nm | 2 hr 25 min | 2 hr 05 min | Every class, including very light jets and turboprops |
| Rome Ciampino | 780 nm | 2 hr 30 min | 2 hr 05 min | Every class, including very light jets and turboprops |
| Málaga | 910 nm | 2 hr 50 min | 2 hr 25 min | Light jets and larger; very light jets may need a fuel stop |
| Mykonos | 1,370 nm | With a fuel stop | 3 hr 30 min | Midsize and super-midsize jets; smaller jets may add a fuel stop |
| Tenerife South | 1,590 nm | With a fuel stop | 4 hr | Midsize and super-midsize jets; smaller jets may add a fuel stop |
| Larnaca | 1,760 nm | With a fuel stop | 4 hr 25 min | Super-midsize and heavy jets; smaller jets add a fuel stop |
Approximate airborne times in still air, worked out from the great-circle distance from central London. Routing, winds and the aircraft chosen change them on the day.
Does a bigger jet fly faster?
A little. Light jets cruise at around 380 to 450 knots and midsize jets at 440 to 460; the long-range flagships reach about 488 knots. On a two-hour flight the difference is a matter of minutes. Turboprops are slower, at around 270 to 290 knots, but on a short flight they arrive only a little after a jet would.
Jet or turboprop?
On a flight of an hour or two, a turboprop such as the Pilatus PC-12 or the King Air 200 is often the best value: a pressurised cabin for six to eight passengers, at a lower cost than a jet. Turboprops can also use short runways and smaller airfields that jets cannot. For longer flights, or when time matters most, a jet is the better choice.
What if I am not sure?
Tell us the trip and who is travelling. Charter-A recommends the aircraft that fits, and where two classes would both do the job we send both as options, so that you can compare the price and the space.
More questions
What is the smallest private jet I can charter?
A very light jet such as the Cessna Citation Mustang or Embraer Phenom 100, with four passenger seats. Very light jets suit flights of up to about two hours.
How many passengers can a private jet carry?
From four in a very light jet to 19 in a VIP airliner. Light jets carry five to nine passengers, midsize jets six to nine and heavy jets 11 to 14.
Which private jets can fly from London to New York?
Ultra-long-range jets such as the Global 6000 and Falcon 7X, with ranges of about 6,000 nautical miles, fly it non-stop with fuel to spare. Heavy jets also link the UK with North America, though some types add a short fuel stop on the longest Atlantic flights, and the super-midsize Praetor 600 can cross the Atlantic too.
Can a small jet reach the Alps or the Mediterranean from London?
Yes. Geneva, Nice and Ibiza are all within non-stop reach of every class, including very light jets. Range on the day depends on the passengers, the baggage and the winds.
Is a turboprop slower than a jet?
Yes: turboprops cruise at around 270 to 290 knots, against 380 to 450 for light jets. On a flight of an hour or so the difference in arrival time is small, and the turboprop costs less.
Related articles
How much does it cost to charter a private jet?
Chartering a private jet typically costs from around £2,000 to £3,000 per flying hour for a small jet, rising to £6,000 to £8,000 per hour and more for a large or long-range jet.
Read the answer →LuggageHow much luggage can you take on a private jet?
As a general guide, one suitcase and one soft bag for each passenger.
Read the answer →AirportsWhich airports can a private jet use?
A private jet can use almost any airport with a runway long enough for the aircraft, opening hours that suit the flight and, for an international trip, customs and immigration.
Read the answer →On this site
More from Charter-A.com
Passenger numbers, speeds, ranges and cabin heights are from the Charter-A fleet guides; distances are great-circle distances and flight times are approximate. Charter-A Ltd acts as agent for the passenger; details are confirmed for each flight at booking.