Bombardier Challenger 605 Charter

Bombardier launched the Challenger 605 in 2006 as a comprehensive avionics, cabin and airframe refresh of the 604. Same fuselage cross-section, same GE CF34-3B engines and same wing, but with Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, a larger cabin windows (24 per cent bigger), a redesigned interior architecture and improved cabin management. Around 300 605s were built between 2006 and 2015, when the 650 (further refresh) took over.

The 605 was Bombardier's most successful wide-cabin heavy jet by unit volume until the 650. It became the preferred large-cabin option for corporate flight departments, fractional operators (NetJets, Flexjet) and premium European charter houses that wanted heavy-jet space at meaningfully lower hourly rates than the Gulfstream competitors.

For charter clients the 605 is the mature, contemporary wide-cabin heavy jet — the sweet spot between the value-priced 604 and the premium 650, and a strong option for eight-to-twelve-passenger transatlantic missions.

Cabin dimensions match the 604: 28 feet 3 inches long, 8 feet 2 inches wide and 6 feet 1 inch tall. The 605 introduced larger, wider windows that brighten the cabin noticeably and a redesigned interior architecture with revised sidewall trim, updated lighting and modernised galley. Standard layout is a nine-passenger double-club plus three-place divan; charter builds frequently seat ten to twelve with a forward crew rest.

Cabin management is Rockwell Collins Venue on late-production aircraft — HD monitors, cabin display panels, Bluetooth device pairing and Iridium or Ka-band Wi-Fi options. Baggage volume is 115 cubic feet in an externally accessed heated hold. The lavatory is fully enclosed with vanity, natural light and belted seat.

Twin General Electric CF34-3B engines deliver 9,220 pounds of thrust each. Maximum operating Mach is 0.85; long-range cruise Mach 0.80. Certified ceiling is FL410. NBAA IFR range with eight passengers is 4,077 nautical miles — enough for New York to Paris, London to Dubai, Los Angeles to Honolulu or Dubai to Kuala Lumpur.

Balanced field length is 5,840 ft. Landing distance is 2,880 ft. Runway performance is identical to the 604, which is to say adequate for essentially every business airport but not a short-field specialist.

Charter hourly rates run $8,200–$10,000 in North America; €8,800–€10,800 in Europe. Empty-leg availability is broad. Indicative pricing: New York to London from $75,000; London to Dubai from £62,000; Aspen to New York from $38,000; Los Angeles to Honolulu from $58,000.

Against the 604 the 605 offers modern avionics, larger windows and updated cabin management at 15–20 per cent higher cost. Against the 650 the 605 gives up Rockwell Pro Line 21 upgrades and CF34-3B1 engine improvements at 15 per cent lower cost. Against the Gulfstream G450 the 605 offers a wider cabin at similar hourly rates.

Charter the 605 when the mission demands a wide heavy-jet cabin for eight to twelve passengers on transatlantic or transcontinental sectors and modern cabin experience matters. The 605 is the sweet spot in the Challenger heavy family — mature, contemporary, well-supported and priced sensibly relative to the 650.

Prefer the 650 for the newest cabin and latest avionics, or the 604 for value-driven missions where budget is decisive. For most premium heavy-jet charter clients, the 605 is the rational Challenger choice.