Fleet taxonomy
Private jet aircraft classes
Five private jet classes, from light jets for short regional hops to ultra-long-range jets that cross oceans non-stop. Each guide covers passengers, range, cabin size, popular aircraft and example routes.
Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Light Jet Charter
light
Light jets are the workhorses of North American + European regional private aviation — 6-8 passenger cabins, 3-4 hour non-stop range, cruise speeds of 430-460 knots.
Midsize Jet Charter
midsize
Midsize jets bridge the light-heavy gap — 7-9 passenger cabins, 4-5 hour non-stop range, cruise speeds of 450-470 knots.
Super-Midsize Jet Charter
super-midsize
Super-midsize jets are the market's sweet spot for intercontinental range — 8-10 passenger cabins, 6-7 hour non-stop range, cruise speeds of 480-500 knots.
Heavy Jet Charter
heavy
Heavy jets are the workhorses of transatlantic + transcontinental luxury private aviation — 12-14 passenger cabins with true stand-up-tall + walk-around dimensions, 4,500-6,700 nm range, 490-510 knot cruise.
Ultra-Long-Range Jet Charter — G650, Global 7500, Falcon 10X
ultra-long-range
Ultra-long-range jets are the pinnacle of business aviation — 14-19 passenger cabins with bedroom + shower + full galley, 7,000+ nm non-stop range, Mach 0.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Dassault Falcon 8X business jet in flight at the Paris Air Show, Le Bourget: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Embraer Phenom 300 light jet on the apron: paullymac, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Embraer Praetor 500 midsize jet on the runway: DUNCAN KIRK from Coeur d'Alene, United States, CC BY 4.0 · Bombardier Challenger 350 super-midsize jet in flight: Tomás Del Coro from Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dassault Falcon 7X heavy jet taking off: Steve Lynes from Sandshurst, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0 · Gulfstream G650 ultra-long-range jet on the ramp: HendrikHeuvelrug, CC BY-SA 4.0