When Should You Charter a Small Private Jet?

Different types of small planes

Very light jets

This new class of aircraft was born in 2006 with the release of the Eclipse 500, originally developed by Eclipse Aviation. The six-seater American small private jet was the response to a growing demand for smaller, more cost-efficient aircraft that could carry a limited number of passengers over shorter distances at a lower price point – the Eclipse 500 first sold for around $1.5 million. Hot on the Eclipse’s heels was the Cessna Citation Mustang (still the bestselling aircraft in its class), followed by the Embraer Phenom 100 and the Honda Jet.

Also called compact light jets or ‘air taxis’, these small types of planes seat up to six passengers, have no lavatory on board, and are flown by one pilot. They have a maximum take-off weight that is less than 12,500 pounds and are suited to short or mid-range trips, which is usually 3 to 3.5 hours of flight before having to stop to refuel. Carrying less fuel over shorter distances significantly impacts the private jet charter cost when renting a very light jet.

Light jets

Since the first Learjet 23 hit the market in the 1960s, light jets have been ideal for flying fewer people and less baggage over shorter distances at a speed and on a budget. This makes them a popular private jet charter choice for regional business trips as well as leisure travel, especially sightseeing, skiing trips, and remote ecotourism jaunts. 

Typically seating four to eight people, and with a take-off weight of around 10,000 pounds, light jets are a luxurious way to travel distances of up to 1,500 miles before having to refuel, or three to four hours of flying time. The small private plane is equally at home in large international airports and small regional airfields, which makes it an extremely versatile ride.

Turboprop planes

The hardworking turboprop falls somewhere between the larger light jet and smaller piston airplane. Turboprop planes offer exceptional power and greater efficiency at higher altitudes and slower flying speeds. They perform well on shorter runways and can access remote destinations and high-altitude airports. This makes them an especially cost-efficient small passenger plane over distances of 600 to 1,000 miles.

Choosing a very light jet

If you have a same-day business trip or you’re planning a weekend away, consider choosing a very light jet charter.

One of our most popular private jet charter planes in this class, the Cessna Citation Mustang has a lower hourly private jet charter cost than most other aircraft in this category. The Citation Mustang offers an ideal balance of performance, comfort and efficiency. With half a continent’s worth of range (1,342 miles) and increasingly good value for money in the wider private aircraft market, the Mustang is a solid choice for short-haul flights. The nose and tail-cone baggage compartments have ample room for personal baggage and leisure equipment like golf clubs, skis or snowboards. 

Another firm favorite in the very small plane category is the Embraer Phenom 100. This intelligently designed compact executive jet comfortably seats four passengers, with a rear private lavatory and the largest windows in its class. Being a fairly recent addition to the private jet charter market, interiors are often sleek, with luxury trimmings and space to store coats and laptops, as well as a surprisingly large baggage hold. With a range of 2,071 miles, the Phenom 100 can comfortably fly nonstop from New York to Miami, São Paulo to Buenos Aires, or London to Ibiza.

The stalwart Eclipse 500 small jet offers a great combination of performance and efficiency at a cost-effective price. With the environment in mind, manufacturer Eclipse Aerospace has gone to great lengths to leave a minimal carbon footprint, using PhostrEx as its fire-suppression agent. With a cruise speed of 425 mph and a solid range of 1,295 miles, connecting London to St Petersburg or Dallas to New York and Las Vegas is well within the small jet’s capabilities. A more advanced version of the aircraft, the Eclipse 550 entered service in 2013. Building on its environmental record, the manufacturer built the Eclipse 550 as the most fuel-efficient twin-engine jet on earth. Burning just 48 to 59 gallons of fuel per hour while flying at cruise speed, you can fly 430 mph at just double the fuel burn of a large SUV traveling on the interstate.

If you would like to book a private jet rental on the Eclipse 500 or any of our other very light jets, contact our charter experts. Or you can visit our private jet charter page to find out more about how a private plane charter can turn your point-A to point-B into an experience of ultimate comfort and convenience.

Choosing a light jet

Light jets have been serving the business jet industry for more than 50 years and they’re an increasingly popular choice for leisure and last minute travel.

A perennial favorite is the Cessna CitationJet, the original aircraft in the citation jet range. Powered by two turbofan engines, the CitationJet is a small but highly flexible business jet that proved so popular, the original basic design was used to inspire a range of Cessna Citation jets, including the development of jets in the Very Light Jet category. A CitationJet private plane rental gives you a range of 1,335 miles, an easy non-stop trip from New York to Miami in less than two hours.

The Cessna Citation CJ3 is often requested as a private plane rental for family vacations and trips with up to six friends. The aircraft’s wings are longer and wider than its predecessor the CJ2, and the plane offers increased speed (480 mph), longer range (2,071 miles), faster climb and increased fuel efficiency. With an extended cabin and more cabin space, the CJ3 is an optimum choice in the light jet category.

For longer non-stop trips and an extraordinarily comfortable ride, the Hawker Beechcraft Premier I has a range of 2,356 miles and offers a six-seat stand-up cabin that is unique in the Light Jet. This private plane’s exceptionally spacious cabin has folding tables, four plush club seats, two forward seats, and a partitioned aft toilet. The IA variant has improved cabin features and aviation systems.

Bombardier’s Learjet 40 is based on the Learjet 45 but has a shorter fuselage of 24.5 inches. The Learjet 40XR is an upgraded version that offers higher take-off weights and a cruise speed of 534 mph. With seating for up to six passengers, it can complete flights from Chicago to San Francisco and Singapore to Hong Kong with a range of 1,982 miles.

If you’re considering a cost-efficient light jet to get you to your destination in comfort and style, contact us to find out more about your various private plane charter options.

Choosing a turboprop

The impressive Piaggio Avanti P180 and P180 II are arguably the most impressive turboprop planes on the market and one you’d want to consider if you’re traveling with more baggage and expect to land on the rougher terrain of airfields or remote locations. The Piaggio is where Italian elegance and craftsmanship come together to deliver an aircraft that offers extraordinary performance and one of the most comfortable rides around. The unique rear-mounted turboprop engines make the P180 instantly recognizable, but this is just one of the many features that set this airplane apart. The manufacturers of Piaggio set out to create an aircraft outside the typical turboprop box. The result is a plane that combines the best characteristics of both turboprops and jets.

Delivering on both range and speed, the Beechcraft King Air 350I is a twin-engined turboprop that can fly up to 1,921 miles non-stop with eight passengers on board. With a cruise speed of 352 mph, the airplane offers optimal performance from a turboprop. The plane can take off from shorter runways with ease, without compromising payload, and has an impressive payload capacity at 2,545 pounds. The stretched fuselage has a two club configuration and the luxurious aircraft interior includes laminated cabinets, electronic shutters and plush carpet. A modular refreshments center, forward flat-screen, adjustable cabin temperature, and Wi-Fi capability, provide passengers with unparalleled levels of comfort and convenience. This makes the King Air 350I a popular private jet rental for business travel.

Private jet charter allows you to shop around for your perfect small jet fit

If you don’t have a clear favorite in the very light, light jet or turboprop categories, private jet rental exposes you to various types of planes in this class. By chartering a different jet for each flight, you will be able to experience the comfort and performance of the various aircraft available to you on the market.

Choose to use the services of a professional private jet charter operator who will guide you through the process of selecting the best small plane that matches your requirements perfectly. As a jet charter customer, you’re automatically treated to a VIP concierge service to ensure ultimate comfort and convenience throughout your journey.

If you would like to find out more about private jet charter, please speak to our team about the benefits of fast, agile, and personalized air travel. We’d also be happy to speak to you about your other options for flexible, cost-effective jet charter, like our short-haul air taxi service or our jet card that offers you a range of benefits unsurpassed by any other product on the private aviation market.