LIMITLESS SKY
Hawker Beechcraft Hawker 400XP — Light Jet charter aircraftPilatus Pilatus PC-24 — Light Jet charter aircraft

Hawker 400XP vs PC-24

A Hawker Beechcraft vs Pilatus showdown in the light jet class. The Hawker 400XP carries 7 passengers with 1,500 nm of range; the Pilatus PC-24 carries 8 with 2,040 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'9" × 4'11" versus 5'1" × 5'7", and runway numbers read 3,950 ft against 3,090 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 →
Pilatus PC-24

PILATUS

Pilatus PC-24

The Pilatus PC-24 is the only business jet in the world certified for short, unimproved and gravel runways. With a flat cabin floor, large cargo door and class-leading flexibility, it accesses 21,000 airports — far more than any rival.

FULL PILATUS PC-24 PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICHawker 400XPPC-24
Passengers78
Range1,500 nm2,040 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.78Mach 0.74
Cabin height4'9"5'1"
Cabin width4'11"5'7"
Baggage53 cu ft90 cu ft
Runway3,950 ft3,090 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)

Pilatus PC-24 — strengths

  • —Only jet certified for unimproved runways
  • —Largest flat-floor cabin in class
  • —Access to 21,000 airports worldwide

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
PILATUS PC-24
Geneva → St Moritz€2,800–€3,700 (≈ €350–€463 per passenger, 8 seats)
Denver → TellurideEstimate on request

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

EXPERT VERDICT

The PC-24 is the stronger all-rounder, but the Hawker 400XP still wins where it counts for the right mission.

The Hawker 400XP pulls ahead on speed & block time; the PC-24 answers with range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity and airport access. 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

PC-24

2,040 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

PC-24

Taller and/or wider cabin (5'1" × 5'7") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

PC-24

Seats up to 8 — the right pick when the manifest grows.

Airport access

PC-24

Shorter 3,090 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

Hawker 400XP

Cruise of Mach 0.78 — 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 PC-24.

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 PC-24: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

HAWKER BEECHCRAFT

Top reasons to choose the Hawker 400XP

  • ★Cruises at Mach 0.78, trimming block time on every leg vs the PC-24 (Mach 0.74).
  • ★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

  • 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.

  • Last-minute charter

    Largest charter fleet of any jet class — strongest empty-leg availability.

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

PILATUS

Top reasons to choose the PC-24

  • ★Reaches 2,040 nm non-stop — 36% more range than the Hawker 400XP, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • ★Bigger cabin envelope (5'1" tall × 5'7" wide) than the Hawker 400XP — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • ★Seats up to 8 passengers vs 7 on the Hawker 400XP — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • ★Lands in 3,090 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Hawker 400XP cannot.
  • ★90 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Hawker 400XP.

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Hawker 400XP's envelope, the 2,040 nm legs of the PC-24 keep reserves intact.

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 8 seats vs 7 on the Hawker 400XP — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.

  • Short-field departures

    3,090 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Hawker 400XP cannot use, putting passengers closer to the door.

  • Two-hour business hops

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

FULL PC-24 SPECS →ZURICH → COURCHEVEL →
BROWSE THE FULL FLEET →REVERSE: PC-24 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
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.78) trims block time on every leg vs the PC-24.

CONS

  • −Shorter range than the PC-24 (1,500 nm vs 2,040 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • −Maximum 7-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 7 — the PC-24 adds 1 seat.
  • −Lower ceiling than the PC-24 (4'9" vs 5'1") — stand-up movement is restricted.
  • −Needs more runway than the PC-24 (3,950 ft vs 3,090 ft) — fewer short-field options.
  • −Tighter baggage capacity than the PC-24 (53 cu ft vs 90 cu ft).

PILATUS

Pilatus PC-24

PROS

  • +Only jet certified for unimproved runways
  • +Largest flat-floor cabin in class
  • +Access to 21,000 airports worldwide
  • +Longer legs than the Hawker 400XP (2,040 nm vs 1,500 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 8 passengers vs 7 on the Hawker 400XP — better for larger groups.
  • +Taller cabin (5'1") than the Hawker 400XP — easier to move around on long flights.

CONS

  • −Slightly slower in cruise than the Hawker 400XP (Mach 0.74 vs Mach 0.78).

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 PICKPC-24

Shorter runway requirement (3,090 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 PICKPC-24

Larger cabin seats the full group (8).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Paris190 nmPC-24Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Geneva → Ibiza560 nmPC-24Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
Teterboro → Miami950 nmPC-24Both reach it, but the longer-legged option keeps more fuel reserves for weather and routing changes.
London → Athens1,500 nmPC-24Only 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 PC-24 — frequently asked

Hawker 400XP vs PC-24: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP has a published range of 1,500 nm; the Pilatus PC-24 is rated at 2,040 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Hawker 400XP or PC-24?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.78 for the Hawker 400XP and Mach 0.74 for the Pilatus PC-24. 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 Pilatus PC-24 seats 8. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does the Hawker 400XP vs the PC-24 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 Pilatus PC-24 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 Pilatus PC-24 cabin dimensions?OPEN

The Hawker 400XP cabin is 4'9" high and 4'11" wide; the Pilatus PC-24 is 5'1" high and 5'7" wide. Baggage: 53 cu ft vs 90 cu ft.

Hawker 400XP or PC-24: 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 5'1" cabin height), seats (7 vs 8) and price. Beyond that, the Pilatus PC-24 (2,040 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 PC-24?OPEN

Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Hawker 400XP and Pilatus PC-24 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 PC-24?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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