HondaJet Elite II private jetPilatus PC-24 private jet

HondaJet Elite II vs PC-24

A head-to-head look at two of the most-chartered aircraft in the light jet class.

HondaJet Elite II

HONDA AIRCRAFT COMPANY

HondaJet Elite II

The HondaJet Elite II is the most innovative light jet in production — its patented over-the-wing engine mount delivers a quieter, larger cabin and 20% better fuel efficiency than any direct competitor. Ideal for short European or US business missions.

FULL HONDAJET ELITE II 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

METRICHondaJet Elite IIPC-24
Passengers5–68
Range1,547 nm2,000 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.72Mach 0.74
Cabin height4'10"5'1"
Cabin width5'0"5'6"
Baggage66 cu ft90 cu ft
Runway3,699 ft2,930 ft

HondaJet Elite II — strengths

  • Over-the-wing engine mount — patented
  • Quietest light-jet cabin
  • Lowest fuel burn in class

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

HONDAJET ELITE II
London → Amsterdamfrom £5,400
New York → Bostonfrom $7,200
PILATUS PC-24
Geneva → St Moritzfrom CHF 8,200
Denver → Telluridefrom $14,500

All-inclusive indicative one-way pricing. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes.

EXPERT VERDICT

The PC-24 is the stronger all-rounder, but the HondaJet Elite II still wins where it counts for the right mission.

the PC-24 answers with range / non-stop reach, cabin comfort, group capacity, airport access 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

PC-24

2,000 nm of range — the better choice for transcontinental and intercontinental missions.

Cabin comfort

PC-24

Taller and/or wider cabin (5'1" × 5'6") — 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 2,930 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

PC-24

Cruise of Mach 0.74 — shaves meaningful minutes off every long leg.

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

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

HONDA AIRCRAFT COMPANY

HondaJet Elite II

PROS

  • +Over-the-wing engine mount — patented
  • +Quietest light-jet cabin
  • +Lowest fuel burn in class

CONS

  • Shorter range than the PC-24 (1,547 nm vs 2,000 nm) — may require a tech stop on long sectors.
  • Maximum 6-seat layout is tight if you regularly travel with more than 6 — the PC-24 adds 2 seats.
  • Slightly slower in cruise than the PC-24 (Mach 0.72 vs Mach 0.74).
  • Lower ceiling than the PC-24 (4'10" vs 5'1") — stand-up movement is restricted.
  • Needs more runway than the PC-24 (3,699 ft vs 2,930 ft) — fewer short-field options.

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 HondaJet Elite II (2,000 nm vs 1,547 nm) — fewer fuel stops on intercontinental missions.
  • +Carries up to 8 passengers vs 6 on the HondaJet Elite II — better for larger groups.
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.74) trims block time on every leg vs the HondaJet Elite II.

CONS

  • Marginally more expensive per block hour than the HondaJet Elite II 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 PICKHondaJet Elite II

Curated example: London → Paris sits in the HondaJet Elite II's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 02

Weekend ski trip — Geneva to Sion with full ski equipment

OUR PICKPC-24

Shorter runway requirement (2,930 ft) opens up the airfield.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 03

Day-return board meeting between secondary cities

OUR PICKHondaJet Elite II

Curated example: London → Paris sits in the HondaJet Elite II'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 > 1,547 nm).

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

FAQ

HondaJet Elite II vs PC-24 — frequently asked

HondaJet Elite II vs PC-24: which has the longer range?OPEN

The HondaJet Elite II has a published range of 1,547 nm; the Pilatus PC-24 is rated at 2,000 nm. The longer-range aircraft opens up more non-stop city pairs without a tech stop.

Which is faster — HondaJet Elite II or PC-24?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.72 for the HondaJet Elite II and Mach 0.74 for the Pilatus PC-24. On a London → Amsterdam-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The HondaJet Elite II seats 5–6; the Pilatus PC-24 seats 8. Charter prices below assume a typical executive layout — high-density configurations are available on request.

What does it cost to charter the HondaJet Elite II vs the Pilatus PC-24?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: HondaJet Elite II from from £5,400, Pilatus PC-24 from from CHF 8,200. Confirmed quote in 10 minutes — pricing varies with empty-leg availability, season and routing.

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.

MORE COMPARISONS

Compare more light jets

HONDAJET ELITE II × PC-24 CLUSTER

Continue researching HondaJet Elite II or PC-24

Not sure which to charter?

Tell us your route and party size — we'll recommend the right aircraft and send a confirmed quote in 10 minutes.

REQUEST A QUOTE