Light jet
The practical short-haul jet
Efficient point-to-point travel for small parties, with jet speed and access to thousands of airports commercial aviation does not serve.
Representative aircraft
Typical types in this category. Actual availability varies by region and date — an advisor will tell you what is realistically on offer for your dates.
Phenom 300E
Embraer
- Passengers
- 7–8
- Range
- ~2,010 nm
- Cruise
- ~460 kt
- Charter
- $3,800–5,000/hr
Citation CJ3+
Cessna
- Passengers
- 6–7
- Range
- ~2,040 nm
- Cruise
- ~416 kt
- Charter
- $3,500–4,600/hr
Learjet 75 Liberty
Bombardier
- Passengers
- 6–8
- Range
- ~2,040 nm
- Cruise
- ~465 kt
- Charter
- $4,000–5,200/hr
What this category costs
Charter is what you pay per hour to fly. Ownership costs are what the same aircraft costs to keep, whether it flies or not.
| Measure | Approximate range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Charter rate, per flight hour | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| Direct operating cost, per hour | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| Fixed ownership cost, per year | $600,000 – $900,000 |
| Acquisition value | $6M – $12M |
All figures are approximate and for guidance only. Charter rates vary with positioning, season, and availability. Direct operating cost covers fuel, maintenance reserves, landing and handling fees, and crew expenses. Fixed cost covers crew salaries, hangarage, insurance, and subscriptions, and is incurred whether the aircraft flies or not. Acquisition values span pre-owned through new. Ask an advisor for a figure against a specific aircraft and mission.
When this category is right
Category is decided by the mission, not by preference.
Same-day return business travel
Out in the morning, meetings, home that evening. The classic case where a light jet replaces two days of commercial travel with one.
Small parties
Four to six passengers travelling together with normal luggage rather than a working party with equipment.
Airport flexibility
Access to smaller fields closer to where you are actually going, which often saves more time than cruise speed does.
What you give up
Cabins are seated rather than stand-up, baggage capacity is limited, and most light jets need a fuel stop on transatlantic or transcontinental sectors.
Compare every category
Approximate charter rates and capacity across the fleet.
| Category | Sector | Pax | Charter, per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | 1–3 h | 6–9 | $2,500 – $3,800 |
| Light jet | 2–3 h | 5–7 | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| Midsize | 4–5 h | 7–9 | $5,000 – $6,500 |
| Super midsize | 5–7 h | 8–10 | $6,500 – $9,000 |
| Heavy | 6–9 h | 10–16 | $9,000 – $13,000 |
| Ultra long range | 12 h+ | 12–19 | $13,000 – $20,000 |
| VVIP airliner | Global | 19–100+ | $25,000 – $50,000 |
Indicative only. A quote against your actual route and dates will differ.
Not sure which category fits?
Tell us the route, the party, and the dates. An advisor will tell you which aircraft is right — including when a smaller category will do.
