Aircraft
Private jets are chartered in three practical classes. A light jet carries six to seven passengers up to about 2,010 nm. A midsize jet carries eight with a stand-up cabin and 2,700 nm of range. A heavy jet carries ten to twelve intercontinentally, with roughly 4,000 nm of range.
Side by side
Charter aircraft are grouped by cabin size and range. The figures below are the published specifications of one widely chartered reference aircraft per class, so they describe a real aircraft rather than a marketing average.
| Specification | Light jet | Midsize jet | Heavy jet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reference aircraft | Embraer Phenom 300E | Cessna Citation Latitude | Bombardier Challenger 605 |
| Passengers (typical) | 6-7 | 8 | 10-12 |
| Range (nautical miles) | 2,010 nm | 2,700 nm | 4,000 nm |
| Long-range cruise (knots) | 385 kt | 405 kt | 425 kt |
| High-speed cruise (knots) | 464 kt | 446 kt | 459 kt |
| Stand-up cabin | No | Yes | Yes |
| Luggage | 3-4 soft bags | 6-8 bags, including ski or golf bags on most airframes | Unrestricted for practical purposes on most trips |
Range figures assume a typical payload and standard reserves. A full cabin, strong headwinds or a hot, high airfield all reduce what an aircraft can do on the day, which is why we confirm the aircraft against your actual route rather than the brochure number.
Pick a class
Embraer Phenom 300E · 6-7 passengers · 2,010 nm
Best for: Short European sectors of roughly one to three hours with a small party and hand luggage.
Not for: Groups above seven, ski or golf equipment for a full cabin, or non-stop sectors beyond about four hours.
Light jet in detailCessna Citation Latitude · 8 passengers · 2,700 nm
Best for: Most European charters: a full party of eight, a stand-up cabin and luggage that does not have to be rationed.
Not for: Transatlantic sectors non-stop, or parties above nine.
Midsize jet in detailBombardier Challenger 605 · 10-12 passengers · 4,000 nm
Best for: Intercontinental sectors, larger parties, and flights where a flat bed and cabin service matter. See chartering for a group for per-head figures and the aircraft above this class.
Not for: Short hops where the hourly rate buys capability you will not use, or small regional airfields with short runways.
Heavy jet in detailNot sure which class your route needs? Our flight-time table from Amsterdam shows which destinations each class reaches non-stop, the cost guide explains what each class does to the price, and the luggage guide covers what fits in each hold.
Questions
Work backwards from the two hard constraints: how many people are travelling, and whether the sector can be flown non-stop. Comfort preferences only matter once both are satisfied. If a light jet fits the party and the range, a larger aircraft buys you cabin space rather than capability.
Barely, on European sectors. Long-range cruise runs from 385 knots for a light jet to 425 knots for a heavy jet, so on a 400 nm sector the difference is a handful of minutes. Range and cabin size are the real differences between the classes, not speed.
They exist below the light-jet class and can be the sensible choice on short sectors into small fields, where they are cheaper and can use shorter runways — our turboprop comparison puts minutes and euros on it. We will offer one when it genuinely fits the trip rather than defaulting to a jet.
Ready for takeoff?
Send us the route and party size and receive a tailor-made quote within 15 minutes.
Last updated by the Mondial Jets team.