Turboprop
Reaches what the jets cannot
Short regional sectors, and the only category that reliably operates into short, unpaved, and high-elevation strips.
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.
King Air 350i
Beechcraft
- Passengers
- 8–9
- Range
- ~1,800 nm
- Cruise
- ~310 kt
- Charter
- $2,800–3,800/hr
PC-12 NGX
Pilatus
- Passengers
- 6–8
- Range
- ~1,800 nm
- Cruise
- ~290 kt
- Charter
- $2,500–3,400/hr
TBM 960
Daher
- Passengers
- 4–5
- Range
- ~1,730 nm
- Cruise
- ~330 kt
- Charter
- $2,200–3,000/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 | $2,500 – $3,800 |
| Direct operating cost, per hour | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| Fixed ownership cost, per year | $400,000 – $600,000 |
| Acquisition value | $3M – $9M |
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.
Regional and island routes
Sectors where a jet spends more time climbing and descending than cruising, and the fuel burn cannot be justified.
Constrained airfields
Short, unpaved, or high-elevation strips that jets are not certified into, or cannot depart from at useful weights.
Cost-sensitive utilisation
Frequent short flights where hourly cost matters more than cabin size or cruise speed.
What you give up
Slower and lower than a jet, with a smaller cabin and more noise. Beyond about three hours the time difference becomes the deciding factor.
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.
