Business jet travel has become more popular in recent years, not only because it saves you time and provides the privacy that you need, but it could also be as cheap and more luxurious than a business class flight. However, if you are booking a business jet for the first time, you are probably wondering which aircraft would suit you best. Aircraft, like cars, come in different sizes, have different speeds, burn different amounts of fuel and have differing levels of comfort. To differentiate them easily, we can divide them by type and size in different categories – Propeller aircraft, Small Jets, Medium Jets and Large Jets.
Propeller Aircraft (Prop)
The obvious difference between a jet and a prop aircraft is their method of propulsion, however it is not as simple as it may first appear. They are usually more fuel efficient, but are therefore marginally slower than jets. The most popular Prop aircraft you can book on the business jet market at the moment is a King Air 200, which can accommodate up to 13 passengers.
The King Air 200 is one of the most popular Prop aircraft on the market. It is famous for its fuel efficiency, its ability to land at very small airports and its pressurised cabin, which also make it perfect for air ambulance flights.
Source: AeroNews
The key advantage of prop aircraft is that they burn less fuel, which in turn makes them cheaper to hire. They can also land and take-off from very small runways at hard-to-reach destinations, yet some still can take up to 13 passengers on-board. This makes props perfect for mountain resort holidays where runways are short and therefore mostly impossible to reach with a medium and large jet. The spacious and pressurised cabin also make some suitable for short haul air ambulance flights and the pictured King Air 200 is used by many companies exactly for that purpose. The maximum range of the aircraft is 1,804km with a maximum flight time of 2h, so a cost- and fuel-efficient trip from London to the Alps or even to the Balearics is more than a possibility.
The range of the King Air 200 is about 2 hours of flight time. It can easily fly routes like Vienna – Moscow or Athens –London.
Source: Cessna
Small Jets
Small Jets are excellent for short haul flights. Equipped with more powerful engines, they are considerably faster but not as fuel efficient as props. However, compared to other jet aircraft, Small Jets are certainly the most fuel efficient ones on the market. Examples include the ever popular Cessna Citation Mustang, Phenom 100 and Cessna Citation CJ1.
Also called ‘air taxi’, the Citation Mustang is one of the most fuel-efficient jet aircraft on the market.
Source: Cessna
With about the same cruise speed, and a maximum range of 1,791km (with 4 passengers on board), the Mustang and the Phenom are very similar (however you will note that their range is even less in comparison with the King Air 200). Often dubbed “air taxi”, they both can land on very short runways and can accommodate up to 5 passengers (depending on configuration). The only significant difference lies in the interior which is reflected in the charter price - the Phenom 100 has a more luxurious cabin, providing more comfort and space. In comparison, the CJ1 begins were the others left off – a longer range of up to 2,106km (with 4 passengers on board), a higher cruise speed, and has a capacity of up to 7 passengers. The CJ1 also offers a well appointed cabin, so it is perfectly equipped for a short haul trip with the utmost style.
Range comparison between two of Cessna’s most popular small jets: the Citation Mustang (less than 2h) and the Citation Jet CJ1 (2.5h).
Source: Cessna
Medium Jets
As the name suggests, Medium Jets are bigger than Small Jets, and can accommodate up to 15 passengers. They are perfect for medium-haul flights up to 6h, placing London - Istanbul or Vienna - Lisbon within easy reach. Pictured below is the Citation XLS, which is one of the most popular and best-selling business jets in the world, featuring a spacious, stand-up cabin for up to 8 passengers, amazing performance for up to 4h (3,441km) and an impeccable safety record.
As one of the best-selling Medium Jets in the world, the Citation XLS has a stand up cabin, can land at very small airports and has a total flight time of up to 4h (range 3,441km). With a large baggage capacity, it is perfect for medium-haul family holidays and business trips.
Source: Cessna
Other popular mid-sized aircraft include the Hawker 800 and Hawker 900, which feature a longer range of up to 6h (about 5,153km) and can accommodate up to 11 passengers. The XLS feature a large baggage area which make them perfect for family holidays and sport trips which require extra space for sports equipment and heavy luggage. All in all, mid-size jets are the comfortable alternative for short to medium-haul trips and are guaranteed to impress you with a speedy and efficient journey time and baggage capacity.
Large Jets
Whether you’re looking for more space, greater range or pure luxury a large jet is your only way to go. Perfect for transatlantic flights, flights up to 12h, or for carrying a group of 19 people, large jets offer the complete package for the discerning traveller.
As one of the most popular large jets on the market, the Falcon 2000S can fly transatlantic for up to 6,200km (up to 8h) with 6 people on board, making a trip from London to New York or Dubai a reality. It only needs a very short runway to land and take-off which makes the aircraft’s runway performance comparable to some mid-size jets (and even to the typical turboprop aircraft), so some small airports become accessible.
The Falcon 2000 is an exceptional Large Jet, capable of landing at airports normally only accessible by Medium and Small Jets. With a sophisticated stand-up cabin and seats which can become beds, the Falcon 2000S is ideal for transatlantic and night flights (range 6,200km; up to 8h flight time).
Source: DassaultFalcon
It features a sophisticated cabin for up to 12 passengers, providing all the space and comfort you may need for a large business meeting or a family overnight flight including a total baggage capacity of up to 725kg. In addition, the cabin is heavily insulated from engine noise, coupled with the option to configure the seats as beds, giving you the option to arrive refreshed after a truly good night’s sleep.
Another popular Large Jet is the Challenger 600. Although its range is slightly shorter compared to the Falcon 2000S (5,557km), for many it offers the best executive cabin on the market and is often compared to the comfort of a Boeing 737, which is a much larger aircraft. Commonly configured for 8-12 passengers, the Challenger is perfect for long intercontinental flights, in-flight business meetings and night flights.
If you’re looking for range, the Bombardier Global Express is your best bet. With a maximum range of 9,360km (12h of cruise), it is capable of flying intercontinentally without refuelling from New York to Tokyo or Paris to Singapore. The cabin (up to 19 passengers) can also be divided into three for maximum privacy, and is equipped with a sophisticated entertainment system and a sleeping area with beds.
If you’re looking for range, the Bombardier Global Express is your best bet with up to 12h of cruise time. It can fly easily from New York to Tokyo or Paris to Singapore.
Source: Bombardier
All in all, there is a private jet (or prop aircraft) to suit every and any occasion. Whether you’re looking for an efficient and cost effective means of flying short haul (for business meetings around Europe perhaps) or looking for long-haul luxury, there’s an aircraft for that.
Lusiya Avedisyan
Researcher Analyst
