Bombardier Learjet 35A private jetPilatus PC-24 private jet

Learjet 35A vs PC-24

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

Bombardier Learjet 35A

BOMBARDIER

Bombardier Learjet 35A

The Learjet 35A is the icon that built the brand — a six-seat light jet with transcontinental range and the speed to outpace many newer designs. Heavily used in the air-ambulance and military-support sectors.

FULL BOMBARDIER LEARJET 35A 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

METRICLearjet 35APC-24
Passengers6–88
Range2,056 nm2,000 nm
Cruise speedMach 0.81Mach 0.74
Cabin height4'4"5'1"
Cabin width4'11"5'6"
Baggage40 cu ft90 cu ft
Runway4,972 ft2,930 ft

Bombardier Learjet 35A — strengths

  • Mach 0.81 cruise — fast for a light jet
  • Strong availability for air ambulance configurations
  • Lowest hourly cost in the Learjet family

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

BOMBARDIER LEARJET 35A
Miami → Bahamasfrom $9,800
Munich → Olbiafrom €11,200
PILATUS PC-24
Geneva → St Moritzfrom CHF 8,200
Denver → Telluridefrom $8,700

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

EXPERT VERDICT

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

The Learjet 35A pulls ahead on range / non-stop reach and speed & block time; the PC-24 answers with cabin comfort 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

Learjet 35A

2,056 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

Even

Matched specifications.

Airport access

PC-24

Shorter 2,930 ft balanced-field requirement — opens up restricted alpine, island and city-adjacent airfields.

Speed & block time

Learjet 35A

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 Learjet 35A or the PC-24.

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CHOOSE WITH CONFIDENCE

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

A tailored summary for the Learjet 35A and PC-24: the deciding reasons in this matchup, plus the buyer archetypes each aircraft serves best.

BOMBARDIER

Top reasons to choose the Learjet 35A

  • Cruises at Mach 0.81, trimming block time on every leg vs the PC-24 (Mach 0.74).
  • Mach 0.81 cruise — fast for a light jet
  • Strong availability for air ambulance configurations
  • Lowest hourly cost in the Learjet family

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.

PILATUS

Top reasons to choose the PC-24

  • Bigger cabin envelope (5'1" tall × 5'6" wide) than the Learjet 35A — meaningful difference on flights over three hours.
  • Lands in 2,930 ft balanced field — accesses short, restricted and city-adjacent airports the Learjet 35A cannot.
  • 90 cu ft of baggage volume — fits ski, golf and extended-stay luggage that crowds the Learjet 35A.
  • Only jet certified for unimproved runways
  • Largest flat-floor cabin in class

BEST FOR

  • Short-field departures

    2,930 ft balanced field unlocks airports the Learjet 35A 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.

  • 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.

PROS & CONS

Honest assessment

BOMBARDIER

Bombardier Learjet 35A

PROS

  • +Mach 0.81 cruise — fast for a light jet
  • +Strong availability for air ambulance configurations
  • +Lowest hourly cost in the Learjet family
  • +Faster cruise (Mach 0.81) trims block time on every leg vs the PC-24.

CONS

  • Lower ceiling than the PC-24 (4'4" vs 5'1") — stand-up movement is restricted.
  • Needs more runway than the PC-24 (4,972 ft vs 2,930 ft) — fewer short-field options.
  • Tighter baggage capacity than the PC-24 (40 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
  • +Taller cabin (5'1") than the Learjet 35A — easier to move around on long flights.
  • +Wider cabin (5'6") makes a meaningful difference at the shoulders vs the Learjet 35A.
  • +Shorter runway requirement (2,930 ft) unlocks airfields the Learjet 35A cannot use.

CONS

  • Slightly slower in cruise than the Learjet 35A (Mach 0.74 vs Mach 0.81).

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 35A

Curated example: Teterboro → Aspen sits in the Learjet 35A'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 PICKLearjet 35A

Curated example: Teterboro → Aspen sits in the Learjet 35A's sweet spot.

SEE FULL AIRCRAFT →

SCENARIO 04

Family of five to a Mediterranean island for a long weekend

OUR PICKLearjet 35A

Larger cabin seats the full group (6–8).

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 35A vs PC-24 — frequently asked

Learjet 35A vs PC-24: which has the longer range?OPEN

The Bombardier Learjet 35A has a published range of 2,056 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 — Learjet 35A or PC-24?OPEN

Cruise speeds are Mach 0.81 for the Bombardier Learjet 35A and Mach 0.74 for the Pilatus PC-24. On a Miami → Bahamas-style mission the faster aircraft typically saves 10–25 minutes block time.

How many passengers does each aircraft carry?OPEN

The Bombardier Learjet 35A seats 6–8; 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 Bombardier Learjet 35A vs the Pilatus PC-24?OPEN

Indicative one-way pricing on a benchmark mission: Bombardier Learjet 35A from from $9,800, 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

LEARJET 35A × PC-24 CLUSTER

Continue researching Learjet 35A or PC-24

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