LIGHT JET — COST PER HOUR
Light Jet Charter Cost Per Hour
Light jets are the workhorse of European and US regional charter. Expect $3,500 to $5,500 per flight hour retail, with empty legs on the same aircraft as low as $1,800/hr. A light jet covers up to about 1,800 nautical miles non-stop — enough for London to Ibiza, Milan to Marrakech, or New York to Miami — and seats 6 to 8 in a stand-up-when-you-must cabin.
HOURLY RATE
$3,500 – $5,500 /hr
RANGE
1,400 – 1,800 nm
PASSENGERS
6 – 8 passengers
CABIN HEIGHT
4 ft 9 in – 4 ft 11 in
CRUISE SPEED
430 – 470 kt
Hourly rates by aircraft
Retail hourly rates for the most-chartered aircraft in this category. Empty-leg pricing typically runs 25 – 60% below these numbers.
| Aircraft | Hourly rate |
|---|---|
| Embraer Phenom 300 | $4,200 – $5,300 |
| Cessna Citation CJ3+ | $3,800 – $4,800 |
| Learjet 75 Liberty | $4,000 – $5,000 |
| Pilatus PC-24 | $4,500 – $5,500 |
Sample route totals
All-in retail estimates for one-way charter on typical routes for this category.
| Route | Flight time | Indicative total |
|---|---|---|
| London → Ibiza | 2h 15m | €8,500 – €12,500 |
| Milan → Nice | 0h 55m | €5,500 – €7,500 |
| Munich → Cannes | 1h 30m | €7,000 – €9,500 |
| New York → Miami | 2h 45m | $12,500 – $17,000 |
Where the hourly rate goes
Approximate share of the light jet charter cost per hour by cost line, based on typical operator P&L at healthy utilisation.
| Cost line | Share |
|---|---|
| Fuel | ~ 28% |
| Crew & training | ~ 22% |
| Maintenance reserves | ~ 20% |
| Ownership / lease | ~ 18% |
| Insurance & admin | ~ 12% |
Frequently asked
What is the cheapest light jet to charter per hour?
In 2026 the Citation CJ2+ and Phenom 100EV sit at the entry point around $3,200 – $3,800 per hour. The Citation CJ3+ and Phenom 300 are $500 – $1,000 more per hour but carry an extra passenger and 300+ additional nautical miles.
How far can a light jet fly non-stop?
Most light jets deliver 1,400 – 1,800 nautical miles with four passengers and NBAA reserves. A Phenom 300 can reach 1,971 nm with headwind margins — enough for London to Athens or New York to Havana non-stop.
Is a light jet cheaper than a turboprop?
Per hour, no. A King Air 350i runs $2,800 – $3,800 versus $3,500 – $5,500 for a light jet. But a light jet is 100 knots faster, so on a 900 nm sector the total cost is often within 10% while cutting one hour off the trip.