LIMITLESS SKY
Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 400XP — Light Jet charter aircraftBombardier Bombardier Learjet 40XR — Light Jet charter aircraft

Hawker 400XP vs Learjet 40XR

A Hawker Beechcraft vs Bombardier showdown in the light jet class. The Hawker 400XP carries 7 passengers with 1,500 nm of range; the Bombardier Learjet 40XR carries 6 with 1,860 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'9" × 4'11" versus 4'11" × 5'1", and runway numbers read 3,950 ft against 4,150 ft. Both sit in the same pricing class: an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour.

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Hawker 400XP

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Hawker 400XP

The Hawker Beechcraft 400XP is a fast, twin-engine light business jet with an unusually square, flat-floor cabin — a direct descendant of the Mitsubishi MU-300 Diamond that Beech later re-engineered into the Beechjet 400A and, after further refinement, the Hawker 400XP. Introduced in the early 2000s, it kept the airframe's signature strengths — high-speed cruise up to about 450 knots, seven-seat double-club layout, external baggage hold — while adding modernised avionics and interior. Today it remains one of the most-flown light jets on the US Part 135 fleet and a competitively priced option for regional business trips, hop-and-go family missions and time-sensitive charters.

FULL HAWKER 400XP PAGE →
Bombardier Learjet 40XR

BOMBARDIER

Bombardier Learjet 40XR

The Learjet 40XR is the shortened, lighter sibling of the 45XR — six seats, identical avionics and engines, and a slightly higher cruise altitude. Popular for two-to-three-hour US business trips.

FULL BOMBARDIER LEARJET 40XR PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICHawker 400XPLearjet 40XR
Passengers76
Range1,500 nm1,860 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.78Mach 0.81
Cabin height4'9"4'11"
Cabin width4'11"5'1"
Baggage53 cu ft50 cu ft
Runway3,950 ft4,150 ft

Hawker 400XP — strengths

  • —One of the fastest light jets in service — Mach 0.78 / ~450 kt high-speed cruise
  • —Widest square cabin in the light-jet class (double-club with real shoulder room)
  • —Strong US Part 135 availability — one of the most-flown light jets in charter
  • —Competitive empty-leg pricing versus newer light jets of similar range
  • —External baggage hold accepts golf and moderate ski loads (subject to payload)

Bombardier Learjet 40XR — strengths

  • —Higher cruise altitude than 45XR
  • —Lower hourly cost than midsize
  • —Same Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

HAWKER 400XP
Los Angeles → Las Vegas€2,800–€3,700 (≈ €400–€529 per passenger, 7 seats)
Paris → Nice€3,500–€4,700 (≈ €500–€671 per passenger, 7 seats)
Dallas → ChicagoEstimate on request
BOMBARDIER LEARJET 40XR
Denver → Los AngelesEstimate on request
Frankfurt → NiceEstimate on request

One-way estimates from our pricing engine (standard season), estimated, confirmed quote within 1–2 hours.

EXPERT VERDICT

Two closely-matched light jets — the right pick depends entirely on the mission, not the spec sheet.

The Hawker 400XP pulls ahead on group capacity and airport access; the Learjet 40XR answers with range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort and speed & block time. Both sit in the light jet class, so charter pricing is broadly aligned — let the use case (range, group size, airport pair) drive the final call.

Range / non-stop reach

Learjet 40XR

1,860 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

Learjet 40XR

Taller and/or wider cabin (4'11" × 5'1") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

Hawker 400XP

Seats up to 7 — the right pick when the manifest grows.

Airport access

Hawker 400XP

Shorter 3,950 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

Learjet 40XR

Cruise of Mach 0.81 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.

Verdict based on published manufacturer specifications, charter market data and Limitless Sky brokerage experience.

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Charter the Hawker 400XP or the Learjet 40XR.

Tell us your route — our desk returns estimated prices on both aircraft straight away and confirmed options within 1–2 hours, so you can compare like-for-like on your exact mission.

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CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE

Top reasons to choose — and who each aircraft is best for

A tailored summary for the Hawker 400XP and Learjet 40XR: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Top reasons to choose the Hawker 400XP

  • ★Seats up to 7 passengers vs 6 on the Learjet 40XR — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • ★One of the fastest light jets in service — Mach 0.78 / ~450 kt high-speed cruise
  • ★Widest square cabin in the light-jet class (double-club with real shoulder room)
  • ★Strong US Part 135 availability — one of the most-flown light jets in charter
  • ★Competitive empty-leg pricing versus newer light jets of similar range

BEST FOR

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 7 seats vs 6 on the Learjet 40XR — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.

  • Two-hour business hops

    Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.

  • Short-runway escapes

    Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.

  • 4–6 passenger weekends

    Right-sized for a couple plus friends or a small family weekend break.

FULL HAWKER 400XP SPECS →LONDON → GENEVA →NEW YORK → MIAMI →

BOMBARDIER

Top reasons to choose the Learjet 40XR

  • ★Reaches 1,860 nm non-stop — 24% more range than the Hawker 400XP, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • ★Cruises at Mach 0.81, trimming block time on every leg vs the Hawker 400XP (Mach 0.78).
  • ★Bigger cabin envelope (4'11" tall × 5'1" wide) than the Hawker 400XP — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • ★Higher cruise altitude than 45XR
  • ★Lower hourly cost than midsize

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Hawker 400XP's envelope, the 1,860 nm legs of the Learjet 40XR keep reserves intact.

  • Two-hour business hops

    Lowest jet-class operating cost for 1–2 hour European or US regional legs.

  • Short-runway escapes

    Unlocks airfields like London City alternatives, Lugano and Aspen.

  • 4–6 passenger weekends

    Right-sized for a couple plus friends or a small family weekend break.

FULL LEARJET 40XR SPECS →TETERBORO → PALM BEACH →LONDON → MILAN →
BROWSE THE FULL FLEET →REVERSE: LEARJET 40XR VS HAWKER 400XP →ALL AIRCRAFT COMPARISONS →CHARTER GUIDES →MARKET INSIGHTS →estimated prices straight away, confirmed options within 1–2 hours →

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Hawker 400XP

PROS

  • +One of the fastest light jets in service — Mach 0.78 / ~450 kt high-speed cruise
  • +Widest square cabin in the light-jet class (double-club with real shoulder room)
  • +Strong US Part 135 availability — one of the most-flown light jets in charter
  • +Carries up to 7 passengers vs 6 on the Learjet 40XR — better for larger groups.

CONS

  • −Shorter range than the Learjet 40XR (1,500 nm vs 1,860 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • −Slightly slower in cruise than the Learjet 40XR (Mach 0.78 vs Mach 0.81).
  • −Lower ceiling than the Learjet 40XR (4'9" vs 4'11") — stand-up movement is restricted.

BOMBARDIER

Bombardier Learjet 40XR

PROS

  • +Higher cruise altitude than 45XR
  • +Lower hourly cost than midsize
  • +Same Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics
  • +Longer legs than the Hawker 400XP (1,860 nm vs 1,500 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.81) trims block time on every leg vs the Hawker 400XP.
  • +Taller cabin (4'11") than the Hawker 400XP — easier to move around on long flights.

CONS

  • −Maximum 6-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 6 — the Hawker 400XP adds 1 seat.

REAL-WORLD MISSIONS

Which aircraft for which mission

Four scenarios our charter desk sees regularly — and which of these two we would actually quote.

SCENARIO 01

Two-hour business hop with four executives and overnight bags

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Curated example: Teterboro → Boston sits in the Hawker 400XP's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Shorter runway requirement (3,950 ft) opens up the airfield.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Day-return board meeting between secondary cities

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Curated example: Teterboro → Boston sits in the Hawker 400XP's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend

OUR PICKHawker 400XP

Larger cabin seats the full group (7).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Paris190 nmLearjet 40XRBoth reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Geneva → Ibiza560 nmLearjet 40XRBoth reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Teterboro → Miami950 nmLearjet 40XRBoth reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
London → Athens1,500 nmLearjet 40XROnly one reaches non-stop — the other would need a fuel stop (1500 nm > 1,500 nm).

Distances are great-circle approximations; actual fuel planning accounts for winds, weather and reserves.

FAQ

Hawker 400XP vs Learjet 40XR — frequently asked

Hawker 400XP vs Learjet 40XR: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP has a published range of 1,500 nm; the Bombardier Learjet 40XR is rated at 1,860 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Hawker 400XP or Learjet 40XR?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.78 for the Hawker 400XP and Mach 0.81 for the Bombardier Learjet 40XR. The difference in block time grows with trip length; on a Teterboro → Boston trip it is usually minutes rather than hours.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP seats 7; the Bombardier Learjet 40XR seats 6. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does the Hawker 400XP vs the Learjet 40XR cost per hour to charter?OPEN

From our pricing engine's class rates: the Hawker 400XP at an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour, and the Bombardier Learjet 40XR at an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour. These are estimates; the confirmed quote within 1–2 hours depends on positioning, season and airport fees.

What are the Hawker 400XP and Bombardier Learjet 40XR cabin dimensions?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP cabin is 4'9" high and 4'11" wide; the Bombardier Learjet 40XR is 4'11" high and 5'1" wide. Baggage: 53 cu ft vs 50 cu ft.

Hawker 400XP or Learjet 40XR: which should I choose for my trip?OPEN

For trips within the Hawker 400XP's published 1,500 nm, either aircraft can fly non-stop and the choice comes down to cabin (4'9" vs 4'11" cabin height), seats (7 vs 6) and price. Beyond that, the Bombardier Learjet 40XR (1,860 nm) flies non-stop where the Hawker 400XP may need a fuel stop. Real-world range drops with passengers, bags, winds and winter reserves, so we confirm it per trip.

Which aircraft is better for transatlantic or long-range missions?OPEN

Both belong to the Light Jet category, but range, payload and runway performance differ. See the route-recommendations table on this page for our specific pick per corridor.

How much cabin space does the Hawker 400XP have vs the Learjet 40XR?OPEN

Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Hawker 400XP and Bombardier Learjet 40XR sit in the Light Jet class, so cabin height, width and layout differ subtly — on flights over 3 hours those details matter more than raw range. Ask us for a side-by-side floorplan.

Which aircraft is safer — Hawker 400XP or Learjet 40XR?OPEN

Both aircraft in this comparison are operated under ARG/US, Wyvern or IS-BAO safety programmes when chartered through Limitless Sky. Safety is driven by operator, crew currency and maintenance regime — not the airframe. We only book operators meeting our verified due-diligence checklist.

What's the total mission cost — not just the hourly rate?OPEN

The hourly class rate is only one input. Total mission cost includes positioning legs, overnight fees, landing/handling, catering, de-icing and FET where applicable. Our confirmed quote itemises every line so there are no surprises.

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HAWKER 400XP × LEARJET 40XR CLUSTER

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