How to choose a private jet

Whether you’re looking to buy or charter a private jet, with thousands to choose from it can be hard to pick the right one for you. Many factors can affect the decision-making process, but, ultimately, it comes down to what matters to you most, whether that’s:

• Manufacturer and safety record
• Cabin size, comfort and amenities
• Economical operation
• Range
• Age
• Speed

As charter experts with offices in seven continents across the world, we make choosing a private jet as simple and stress-free as possible. When you enquire about chartering a private flight with us, we’ll source a selection of the best available aircraft that suit your needs before helping you choose the best fit.

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While aircraft in the same weight class do differ in cabin length, width and height, you’ll likely not perceive the difference until you upgrade the weight category. These are:

• Piston propellers
• Turboprops 
• Very light jets
• Light jets
• Super light jets
• Midsize jets
• Super midsize jets
• Heavy jets
• Ultra-long-range heavy jets
• VIP executive airliners (bizjets)

Cabin dimensions can vary between aircraft in the same weight class. For example, a Bombardier Learjet 35 (light jet) has a cabin size of 12.9 feet long, 4.9 feet wide and 4.3 feet high and has room for six passengers. If you want slightly more interior space, you could opt for a Cessna Citation Bravo (also a light jet), which measures 15.8 feet long, 4.8 feet wide and 4.8 feet tall, and is designed for seven passengers. However, you’re unlikely to feel the difference unless you upgrade to a midsize jet like the Hawker Beechcraft 800XPI – especially in the height. Like the Learjet 35, this aircraft is designed to fly six passengers, however, unlike its light rival, the mid-size jet boasts an interior size of 21 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5.8 feet high.   

If overall comfort and modern amenities matter more to you than onboard space when choosing a private jet, consider a newer aircraft like Bombardier’s Challenger 350. On the other hand, older, unrefurbished models like the Cessna Citation II can be a cost-effective option for those who simply want to travel from A to B without all the bells and whistles.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. We delve into this further when we compare the differences between chartering an older aircraft versus a newer one.

While it might be a more obvious consideration if you’re buying a private jet  - as it impacts the overall operational costs - an aircraft’s burn rate (how much fuel it burns during a flight) is still a major factor when chartering.

Although there are also some general rules of thumb – smaller jets normally burn less fuel and newer jets tend to outperform their older counterparts, for example – an aircraft’s fuel efficiency changes depending on a host of variables like speed and altitude, weather, take-off and landing, rates of climb, drag, the number of passengers and the amount of luggage.

The Embraer Phenom 100 is renowned for its comparatively low operating costs in the very light jet class, while the Bombardier Learjet 60XR is a surprisingly fuel-efficient midsize jet. Bombardier claims its Challenger 350 is the most cost-effective super-midsize jet to run and the Challenger 850 heavy jet has the hourly cost, range and flexibility of a much smaller jet.

Completing a journey with the fewest possible stops can impact the cost and flight time of your charter, making range an important consideration for many of our customers when choosing a private jet.

The distance an aircraft can travel is often determined by its size and the number of passengers on board, with heavier jets designed to cover greater distances than lighter ones. Currently, the longest-range private jet is Boeing’s  787 business jet at 9,945 nautical miles (nm), but their 777X is set to surpass this with an 11,645nm range when it hits the market in 2025.

Bombardier dominates in the heavy jet category with the Global 8000 (7,900nm) and 7500 (7,700nm), but most ultra-long-range heavy jets like the Gulfstream G650ER (7,500nm) and Dassault Falcon 8X (6,450nm) can complete popular long-distance routes like Hong Kong to New York and Los Angeles to Sydney.

When you drop down to the midsize category, most jets have a range of 1,500-3,000nm with four passengers – a crucial consideration if you’re planning a 2,229nm trip from New York to San Francisco, for example. The Gulfstream G150 can fly nonstop between most U.S. cities, while the Hawker 900XP (2,929nm) and Embraer Legacy 450 (2,963nm) are other midsize jets built to fly longer distances than their competitors.

Light jets tend to have a range of 800-1,800nm, even when they’re full to capacity. The Bombardier Learjet 36A is the outlier, flying four passengers non-stop for 2,550nm. Embraer’s Phenom 300 is also a popular long-range light jet that can transport seven passengers for 1,811nm, while the Dassault Falcon 10 (1,520nm) can complete transcontinental flights with six passengers on board.

Newer isn’t always better when it comes to private jets – especially when you take into account personal preferences. Before weighing up any pros and cons, it’s important to note that aircraft inspection and maintenance criteria are very strict in the aviation industry. Most planes removed from service have simply become too uneconomical to run rather than unsafe.

Younger aircraft may feature the latest engine designs, aerodynamics and cabin systems, but the eye-watering cost of purchasing a brand new private jet leads many owners to opt for a cheaper, older model instead. They then use these savings to completely refurbish the inside of the aircraft with upgrades like re-covered seats, new panelling, and upgraded technology systems. Meanwhile, future add-ons like hush kits and winglets are dramatically improving the performance of older aircraft, decreasing the fuel costs of charter flights in the process.  

Older aircraft are almost always cheaper to charter than newer ones, so if the model you choose has been recently refurbished, you could save thousands while enjoying similar levels of luxury as you would on a brand new private jet.

While most private jet charter clients prioritise comfort and price, some are more concerned with reaching their destination as quickly as possible – after all, time is money.

Heavy jets tend to be the fastest. On average, the more powerful engines in this class can propel aircraft to speeds of around 500 miles per hour (mph). However, leading the way is the Gulfstream G700, which can reach speeds of around 690 mph – just shy of breaking the sound barrier and going supersonic. Other incredibly fast heavy jets include the Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X, Embraer Prator 500 and Bombardier Global 8000.

Midsize jets can reach top cruising speeds of 470-530mph. While manufacturers are always jostling to produce the fastest plane in this class, the Dassault Falcon 20 is one of the quickest, with a max cruise speed of 552mph. The Gulfstream G100 and G150 aren’t far behind at 515mph, closely followed by the Hawker 750 and Embraer Legacy 450 at 514mph.

Light jets are designed for quick jaunts to nearby destinations and most boast the speed to back this up. Most can exceed 450mph, with the Learjet 40 and 70 series renowned for their fast flight times. The majority of them can reach speeds above 450 miles per hour, with the Learjet 40 and 70 series renowned for their fast flight times. A Beechjet 400 (also known as a Hawker Beechcraft 400) is also an outlier in this class, with a maximum cruise speed of 531 miles per hour. Despite launching back in 2006, the Cessna Citation CJ4 can cruise at 522 miles per hour and travel up to 1,667 nautical miles. 

If you have any questions regarding which private jet to charter, our brokers are experts in the industry and will make the choice easy for you. Contact one of our specialists today for a no-obligation quote.