Bombardier Bombardier Learjet 40XR — Light Jet charter aircraftEmbraer Embraer Phenom 300E — Light Jet charter aircraft

Learjet 40XR vs Phenom 300E

A Bombardier vs Embraer showdown in the light jet class. The Bombardier Learjet 40XR carries 6 passengers with 1,860 nm of range; the Embraer Phenom 300E carries 8 with 2,010 nm. Cabin dimensions land at 4'11" × 5'1" versus 4'11" × 5'2", and runway numbers read 4,150 ft against 3,209 ft. Both sit in the same pricing class: an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour.

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 →
Embraer Phenom 300E

EMBRAER

Embraer Phenom 300E

The Embraer Phenom 300E has been the world's most-delivered light jet for over a decade. Designed in collaboration with BMW Designworks, Embraer publishes it as the fastest single-pilot jet in production, with a cruise of up to Mach 0.80 and a 2,010 nm range — a genuine alternative to entry-level midsize aircraft at light-jet rates.

FULL EMBRAER PHENOM 300E PAGE →

SPECIFICATIONS

Side-by-side specifications

METRICLearjet 40XRPhenom 300E
Passengers68
Range1,860 nm2,010 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.81Mach 0.80
Cabin height4'11"4'11"
Cabin width5'1"5'2"
Baggage50 cu ft84 cu ft
Runway4,150 ft3,209 ft

Bombardier Learjet 40XR — strengths

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

Embraer Phenom 300E — strengths

  • —Fastest single-pilot jet in production — up to Mach 0.80
  • —Most-delivered business jet of the past decade
  • —Single-pilot certified for direct charter savings

CHARTER PRICING

Indicative pricing

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 40XR
Denver → Los AngelesEstimate on request
Frankfurt → NiceEstimate on request
EMBRAER PHENOM 300E
London → Geneva€3,600–€4,900 (≈ €450–€613 per passenger, 8 seats)
Munich → Olbia€3,900–€5,300 (≈ €488–€663 per passenger, 8 seats)
Teterboro → Aspen€9,200–€12,400 (≈ €1,150–€1,550 per passenger, 8 seats)

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

EXPERT VERDICT

The Phenom 300E is the stronger all-rounder, but the Learjet 40XR still wins where it counts for the right mission.

The Learjet 40XR pulls ahead on speed & block time; the Phenom 300E 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

Phenom 300E

2,010 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

Phenom 300E

Taller and/or wider cabin (4'11" × 5'2") — better for long flights and stand-up movement.

Group capacity

Phenom 300E

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

Airport access

Phenom 300E

Shorter 3,209 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.

REQUEST A CHARTER QUOTE

Charter the Learjet 40XR or the Phenom 300E.

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.

CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE

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

A tailored summary for the Learjet 40XR and Phenom 300E: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

BOMBARDIER

Top reasons to choose the Learjet 40XR

  • ★Cruises at Mach 0.81, trimming block time on every leg vs the Phenom 300E (Mach 0.80).
  • ★Higher cruise altitude than 45XR
  • ★Lower hourly cost than midsize
  • ★Same Honeywell Primus 1000 avionics

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.

EMBRAER

Top reasons to choose the Phenom 300E

  • ★Reaches 2,010 nm non-stop — 8% more range than the Learjet 40XR, opening city pairs that would otherwise need a tech stop.
  • ★Seats up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the Learjet 40XR — better for full-group charters and family travel.
  • ★Lands in 3,209 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Learjet 40XR cannot.
  • ★84 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Learjet 40XR.
  • ★Fastest single-pilot jet in production — up to Mach 0.80

BEST FOR

  • Longer non-stop reach

    When the mission is on the edge of the Learjet 40XR's envelope, the 2,010 nm legs of the Phenom 300E keep reserves intact.

  • Larger party charters

    Up to 8 seats vs 6 on the Learjet 40XR — the natural pick when the manifest grows last-minute.

  • Short-field departures

    3,209 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Learjet 40XR 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.

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

BOMBARDIER

Bombardier Learjet 40XR

PROS

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

CONS

  • −Maximum 6-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 6 — the Phenom 300E adds 2 seats.
  • −Needs more runway than the Phenom 300E (4,150 ft vs 3,209 ft) — fewer short-field options.
  • −Tighter baggage capacity than the Phenom 300E (50 cu ft vs 84 cu ft).

EMBRAER

Embraer Phenom 300E

PROS

  • +Fastest single-pilot jet in production — up to Mach 0.80
  • +Most-delivered business jet of the past decade
  • +Single-pilot certified for direct charter savings
  • +Longer legs than the Learjet 40XR (2,010 nm vs 1,860 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the Learjet 40XR — better for larger groups.
  • +Shorter runway requirement (3,209 ft) unlocks airfields the Learjet 40XR cannot use.

CONS

  • −Marginally more expensive per block hour than the Learjet 40XR on typical charter quotes — confirm with a live quote for your route.

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 PICKLearjet 40XR

Curated example: Teterboro → Palm Beach sits in the Learjet 40XR's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment

OUR PICKPhenom 300E

Shorter runway requirement (3,209 ft) opens up the airfield.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Day-return board meeting between secondary cities

OUR PICKLearjet 40XR

Curated example: Teterboro → Palm Beach sits in the Learjet 40XR's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend

OUR PICKPhenom 300E

Larger cabin seats the full group (8).

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

ROUTE RECOMMENDATIONS

Best pick per route

ROUTEDISTANCERECOMMENDEDWHY
London → Paris190 nmEitherBoth aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price.
Geneva → Ibiza560 nmEitherBoth aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price.
Teterboro → Miami950 nmEitherBoth aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price.
London → Athens1,500 nmEitherBoth aircraft fly this comfortably non-stop — choose on cabin and price.

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

FAQ

Learjet 40XR vs Phenom 300E — frequently asked

Learjet 40XR vs Phenom 300E: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Bombardier Learjet 40XR has a published range of 1,860 nm; the Embraer Phenom 300E is rated at 2,010 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — Learjet 40XR or Phenom 300E?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.81 for the Bombardier Learjet 40XR and Mach 0.80 for the Embraer Phenom 300E. The difference in block time grows with trip length; on a Teterboro → Palm Beach trip it is usually minutes rather than hours.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Bombardier Learjet 40XR seats 6; the Embraer Phenom 300E seats 8. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does the Learjet 40XR vs the Phenom 300E cost per hour to charter?OPEN

From our pricing engine's class rates: the Bombardier Learjet 40XR at an estimated €2,000–€2,700 per flight hour, and the Embraer Phenom 300E 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 Bombardier Learjet 40XR and Embraer Phenom 300E cabin dimensions?OPEN

The Bombardier Learjet 40XR cabin is 4'11" high and 5'1" wide; the Embraer Phenom 300E is 4'11" high and 5'2" wide. Baggage: 50 cu ft vs 84 cu ft.

Learjet 40XR or Phenom 300E: which should I choose for my trip?OPEN

For trips within the Bombardier Learjet 40XR's published 1,860 nm, either aircraft can fly non-stop and the choice comes down to cabin (4'11" vs 4'11" cabin height), seats (6 vs 8) and price. Beyond that, the Embraer Phenom 300E (2,010 nm) flies non-stop where the Bombardier Learjet 40XR 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 Learjet 40XR have vs the Phenom 300E?OPEN

Cabin comfort is the everyday difference passengers feel most. Both the Bombardier Learjet 40XR and Embraer Phenom 300E 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 — Learjet 40XR or Phenom 300E?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.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Side-by-side, inside and out

MORE COMPARISONS

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LEARJET 40XR × PHENOM 300E CLUSTER

Continue researching Learjet 40XR or Phenom 300E

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