MIDSIZE JET — COST PER HOUR
Midsize Jet Charter Cost Per Hour
Midsize jets are the sweet spot for transcontinental US flights and Europe-to-Middle-East legs. Expect $5,500 to $7,500 per flight hour retail. You get a stand-up cabin, enclosed lavatory, up to nine passengers and 2,800 – 3,200 nm of range — enough for New York to Los Angeles, Paris to Dubai, or London to Nairobi with a fuel stop.
HOURLY RATE
$5,500 – $7,500 /hr
RANGE
2,800 – 3,200 nm
PASSENGERS
7 – 9 passengers
CABIN HEIGHT
5 ft 7 in – 5 ft 9 in
CRUISE SPEED
450 – 480 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 |
|---|---|
| Hawker 900XP | $5,500 – $6,800 |
| Cessna Citation XLS+ | $5,800 – $7,000 |
| Learjet 60XR | $5,500 – $6,500 |
| Embraer Legacy 500 | $6,500 – $7,500 |
Sample route totals
All-in retail estimates for one-way charter on typical routes for this category.
| Route | Flight time | Indicative total |
|---|---|---|
| New York → Los Angeles | 5h 15m | $32,000 – $44,000 |
| London → Marrakech | 3h 20m | €22,000 – €28,000 |
| Paris → Dubai (1 stop) | 6h 30m | €42,000 – €54,000 |
| Geneva → Mykonos | 2h 50m | €18,000 – €24,000 |
Where the hourly rate goes
Approximate share of the midsize jet charter cost per hour by cost line, based on typical operator P&L at healthy utilisation.
| Cost line | Share |
|---|---|
| Fuel | ~ 30% |
| Crew & training | ~ 20% |
| Maintenance reserves | ~ 22% |
| Ownership / lease | ~ 18% |
| Insurance & admin | ~ 10% |
Frequently asked
Is a midsize jet worth the extra cost over a light jet?
For legs over about 1,500 nm, yes. A midsize's stand-up cabin, enclosed lavatory and 400 – 700 nm of extra range removes a fuel stop and adds two hours of cabin comfort. For 2-hour flights the delta is rarely worth 30% more per hour.
Can a midsize jet fly transatlantic?
Only marginally. New York to Shannon (2,700 nm) is possible for a Legacy 500 or Citation Sovereign+ with light payload and favorable winds. For reliable transatlantic service, super-midsize (Challenger 350, Praetor 600) or heavy jets are the safer choice.
How much does an empty leg on a midsize jet cost?
Retail empty-leg pricing on midsize aircraft typically runs $2,800 – $4,500 per hour — a 40 – 60% discount versus contracted charter. See live empty leg availability for current pricing.