United StatesJFK
MexicoMEX
BrazilGRU
ArgentinaEZE
ChileSCL
ColombiaBOG
PeruLIM
PanamaPTY
Costa RicaSJO
Dominican RepublicPUJ
JamaicaMBJ
BahamasNAS
BarbadosBGI
United KingdomLHR
IrelandDUB
FranceCDG
GermanyFRA
NetherlandsAMS
BelgiumBRU
SwitzerlandZRH
AustriaVIE
ItalyFCO
SpainMAD
PortugalLIS
GreeceATH
TurkeyIST
DenmarkCPH
SwedenARN
NorwayOSL
FinlandHEL
PolandWAW
Czech RepublicPRG
HungaryBUD
IcelandKEF
United Arab EmiratesDXB
QatarDOH
Saudi ArabiaRUH
IsraelTLV
EgyptCAI
MoroccoCMN
South AfricaJNB
KenyaNBO
NigeriaLOS
IndiaDEL
PakistanLHE
Sri LankaCMB
SingaporeSIN
MalaysiaKUL
ThailandBKK
VietnamSGN
PhilippinesMNL
IndonesiaCGK
Hong KongHKG
ChinaPVG
TaiwanTPE
JapanHND
South KoreaICN
AustraliaSYD
New ZealandAKLPrivate jet sizes are usually grouped into five classes: light, midsize, super-midsize, heavy (often called large-cabin) and ultra-long-range. The labels are informal; manufacturers and charter operators draw the lines slightly differently. What the categories really describe is a trade-off between cabin space, range and cost per hour, and choosing the right one is the single biggest lever on a charter price.
This guide uses published specifications from aircraft manufacturers to show what each class can do, then runs real routes against them. It also covers the part people forget: the bags you bring determine both the aircraft and the car that meets it.
What are the main private jet sizes?
Light jets carry a small group on trips of a few hours in a cabin you cannot stand up in. Midsize jets add a stand-up cabin and coast-to-coast range. Super-midsize jets stretch toward transatlantic range. Heavy jets seat larger groups over intercontinental distances, and ultra-long-range jets fly the longest nonstop sectors.
The table below uses one representative model per class, with figures taken from each manufacturer's own specification page. Maximum range is quoted under the manufacturer's stated conditions; seating depends on the cabin layout of the specific aircraft you charter.
| Class | Example model | Maximum range (manufacturer) | Seating (manufacturer) | Baggage volume | Cabin height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Cessna Citation CJ4 | 2,165 nm | 10 maximum occupants | 77.1 cu ft | 57 in (1.45 m) |
| Midsize | Cessna Citation Latitude | 2,700 nm | 9 maximum occupants | 127 cu ft | 6 ft stand-up |
| Super-midsize | Bombardier Challenger 3500 | 3,400 nm | Up to 10 passengers | 106 cu ft | 1.83 m |
| Super-midsize | Cessna Citation Longitude | 3,500 nm | 12 maximum occupants | 112 cu ft | 6 ft stand-up |
| Heavy / large-cabin | Gulfstream G500 | 5,300 nm | Up to 19 seats, sleeps up to 8 | 175 cu ft | 6 ft 2 in |
| Ultra-long-range | Gulfstream G700 | 7,750 nm | Up to 19 seats, sleeps up to 13 | 195 cu ft | 6 ft 3 in |
Note that Textron quotes "maximum occupants", which includes the crew, while Bombardier and Gulfstream quote passenger seats. On a light jet with two pilots, the passenger count is lower than the headline number.
Light jets: short hops for small groups
A light jet such as the Citation CJ4 is the entry point for jet charter. Textron lists a maximum range of 2,165 nm, a maximum cruise speed of 451 knots, 77.1 cubic feet of baggage space and a cabin 57 inches (1.45 m) high. You sit comfortably, but you do not stand up.
Light jet charter typically suits small groups on trips of a few hours. Teterboro to Palm Beach is about 900 nm on the Great Circle Mapper, well inside the CJ4's published range, which is why that corridor is classic light-jet territory in winter.
Where light jets struggle: full cabins with ski bags or golf clubs, long sectors into headwinds, and high, hot airports. A cabin full of luggage can force a fuel stop that a slightly larger aircraft would avoid.
Midsize jets: the stand-up cabin
The midsize class is where the cabin becomes a room. Cessna describes the Citation Latitude as having a 6-foot stand-up cabin with a flat floor, a maximum range of 2,700 nm and 127 cubic feet of baggage space, and says that range allows nonstop flights such as Los Angeles to New York or Geneva to Dubai.
Run the numbers on the Great Circle Mapper and Van Nuys to Teterboro is about 2,134 nm, so a coast-to-coast nonstop is within the published maximum. That is why midsize jet charter is popular for business trips that cross a continent with five to seven passengers and normal luggage. Teterboro to Aspen, about 1,506 nm, is another typical midsize mission, though mountain airports carry their own performance limits that the operator will check.
Super-midsize jets: transatlantic reach with a wider cabin
Super-midsize jets add range and cabin width without the cost of a large-cabin aircraft. Bombardier states that the Challenger 3500 has a range of up to 3,400 nm, seating for up to 10 passengers and a 106 cubic foot baggage compartment that is accessible at all times. Textron lists the Citation Longitude as a super-midsize jet with a maximum range of 3,500 nm and 112 cubic feet of baggage.
Teterboro to Farnborough is about 2,994 nm and Farnborough to Dubai's Al Maktoum airport about 2,991 nm, so on paper both sit within these ranges. In practice the return leg across the North Atlantic, flown into prevailing westerly winds, is the one to check with the operator, along with your passenger and baggage load. Our guide to flying private across the Atlantic goes deeper into fuel stops and planning.
Heavy jets: large cabins and intercontinental range
Heavy jet charter (large-cabin) buys space for bigger groups, separate living areas and the range for many intercontinental trips. Gulfstream lists the G500 with a maximum range of 5,300 nm, seating for up to 19, sleeping for up to 8 and a 175 cubic foot baggage compartment.
Read the footnote: Gulfstream states the G500 range as an NBAA IFR theoretical range at Mach 0.85 with eight passengers, three crew and reserves, and notes that range is affected by speed, weather, outfitting and other factors. Van Nuys to Tokyo Haneda is roughly 4,750 nm great-circle, within that figure; Teterboro to Dubai at about 5,963 nm is not.
Heavy jets also suit missions where range is modest but the group is large, such as a film unit or a sports delegation moving with equipment, where the cabin and hold matter more than distance. Event weekends are a good example: a party of ten flying from Farnborough to Nice for the Monaco Grand Prix covers only about 560 nm, yet the passenger count and luggage may still point to a large cabin rather than two smaller jets. From the Nice business aviation terminal, Monaco is about 22 km (14 miles), 30 to 60 minutes by road, and Grand Prix week is slower still.
Need the car to meet the aircraft? Price it here; the fare is confirmed before you pay.
Ultra-long-range jets: the longest nonstop sectors
At the top of the scale sit ultra-long-range aircraft. Gulfstream lists the G700 with a maximum range of 7,750 nm, seating for up to 19, sleeping for up to 13, up to five living areas and a 195 cubic foot baggage compartment, again quoted under stated passenger, crew and reserve assumptions.
That range is what turns Teterboro to Dubai, about 5,963 nm, into a nonstop proposition. Ultra-long-range jets make sense when a fuel stop would cost hours you do not have, or when you need a crew rest area and full beds on an overnight sector. For anything shorter, they are usually more aircraft than the mission needs, and you pay for that capability by the hour.
How to choose the right private jet size
Work through four questions in order:
- Longest leg. Find the great-circle distance of your longest sector and compare it with the published range, leaving a generous margin for winds, weather and reserves. If the margin is thin, ask the operator whether the flight is planned nonstop with your load.
- Passengers. Count adults, children and any staff or security travelling, then check the passenger seats on the specific aircraft, not the brochure maximum.
- Baggage. Count bags and note long or awkward items such as skis, golf clubs or equipment cases. Our sibling guide to private jet baggage limits covers what fits in each class.
- Comfort over time. Under two hours, cabin height matters less. On five hours or more, a stand-up cabin, a proper lavatory and the ability to work or sleep become worth paying for.
Airports add a fifth filter. Runway length, elevation, weight limits, noise rules and slot restrictions can rule out some aircraft at some fields, so the operator's flight planners have the final word on whether a given jet can serve a given airport with your load. If your destination is unusual, mention it in the first request so the quote is built around an aircraft that can actually land there.
Choosing one size up often costs less than you think once you add the fuel stop, the extra flight time and the risk of offloading bags on the smaller aircraft. Choosing one size too large is the most common way to overpay; see how category affects rates in our guide to private jet charter cost.
Matching the car to the jet and the bag count
The bag count that decides your aircraft should also decide the car. A light jet with three passengers and soft bags is a different pickup from a heavy jet with twelve guests, staff and equipment cases.
Send the desk the same numbers you sent the charter team: passengers, bags and any oversized items. For one or two travellers with modest luggage, a black car sedan is usually enough. Families and executives with more luggage are better served by an SUV from our fleet. For groups, a Sprinter van with driver keeps everyone and every bag together, or the desk can split passengers and luggage across two vehicles so the principal leaves the FBO without waiting.
Typical FBO drives: Teterboro to Midtown Manhattan is about 19 km (12 miles), 25 to 35 minutes off-peak and 45 to 90 minutes at rush hour. Van Nuys to Beverly Hills is about 20 km (12 to 13 miles), 25 to 45 minutes. Farnborough to central London is about 56 km (35 miles), 60 to 110 minutes. Al Maktoum (DWC) to Dubai Marina is about 30 to 35 km (19 to 22 miles), 25 to 45 minutes.
Our private jet car service tracks the tail number and adjusts to early or late arrivals, and a meet and greet can be added where the FBO layout calls for it.
Booking the jet and the car together
Send your route, dates, passengers and bag count through our private jet charter request and we will suggest the right size. LimousineWorldwideDirectory.com acts as your booking agent; every flight is operated by a licensed air carrier, such as an FAA Part 135 operator or an EU or UK air operator certificate holder, which holds operational control. For the ground segments, book online with the fare shown before you confirm, or call (877) 860-3388.
Sources
- Citation CJ4 specifications (Textron Aviation)
- Citation Latitude specifications (Textron Aviation)
- Citation Longitude specifications (Textron Aviation)
- Challenger 3500 (Bombardier)
- Gulfstream G500 (Gulfstream Aerospace)
- Gulfstream G700 (Gulfstream Aerospace)
- Great Circle Mapper distance calculations (Great Circle Mapper)
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest private jet I can charter?
Below light jets sit very light jets and turboprops, which suit short regional trips with few passengers and little luggage. They are economical on short sectors but have small cabins and limited baggage space. For most trips of more than an hour or so with several passengers and bags, a light jet is the practical starting point.
How many passengers fit in a light jet?
It depends on the model and layout. Textron lists the Citation CJ4 at 10 maximum occupants, a figure that includes the crew. With two pilots on board and real luggage, the practical passenger count is lower than the headline figure. Always check the seats on the specific aircraft offered.
Can a midsize jet fly coast to coast nonstop?
Often, yes. Van Nuys to Teterboro is about 2,134 nautical miles, and Cessna lists the Citation Latitude at a 2,700 nm maximum range, citing Los Angeles to New York nonstop. Winds, weather and load still apply, so the operator confirms whether a specific flight is planned nonstop.
What is the difference between a heavy jet and an ultra-long-range jet?
Both have large cabins. The difference is mainly range: Gulfstream lists the G500 at 5,300 nm and the G700 at 7,750 nm. Ultra-long-range aircraft also tend to offer more living areas and sleeping space. If your longest leg fits a heavy jet's range comfortably, the ultra-long-range aircraft is usually unnecessary.
Does a bigger jet always cost more?
Generally the hourly rate rises with size, but the trip total is what counts. A larger, faster aircraft may avoid a fuel stop, cut flight time or carry everyone in one aircraft instead of two. Compare total quotes for the whole itinerary rather than hourly rates.
What car should meet a heavy jet with a large group?
Match the vehicles to passengers and bags rather than to the aircraft. Large groups usually need a Sprinter van or several SUVs, sometimes with a separate luggage vehicle. Give the desk the passenger and bag count, and our booker shows the fare for each vehicle before you confirm.
Plan the rest of the trip
Booking WorldwideOnline travel agency · our travel desk partnerYour chauffeur is booked here. Book the rest of the trip in one place: hotels, flights, resorts, activities, packages and car rentals in every country.
Plan your trip
