Midsize Jet Charter — Cabin Class + Popular Aircraft
Midsize jets bridge the light-heavy gap — 7-9 passenger cabins, 4-5 hour non-stop range, cruise speeds of 450-470 knots. Best-sellers: Citation Sovereign+ (roomier cabin than any light jet), Embraer Praetor 500 (modern glass cockpit + intercontinental Wi-Fi), Learjet 60 (older but common). Popular routes: US East → Aspen, London → Sardinia, Miami → Nassau extended routes. Aircraft type increasingly overlaps with super-midsize category.
Specifications
Passengers
7-9
Range
2,500-3,000 nm (~5h)
Cruise speed
450-470 kts
Cabin height
5'8" – 5'11"
Cabin width
5'6" – 5'9"
Cabin length
17'0" – 24'0"
Empty leg discount
40-55% off charter rates
Popular aircraft in this class
| Aircraft | Manufacturer | Seats | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation Sovereign+ | Textron Aviation | 9 | 3,200 nm | Roomiest cabin in the midsize class. Popular charter workhorse. |
| Embraer Praetor 500 | Embraer | 9 | 3,340 nm | Modern flagship. Full-spectrum air quality + best cabin acoustics in class. |
| Learjet 60 | Bombardier | 8 | 2,405 nm | Older workhorse — cheaper hourly but fewer left in service. |
| Hawker 800XP / 900XP | Hawker (Beechcraft) | 8 | 2,750 nm | Long-serving midsize. Cheaper charter rates due to age. |
| Falcon 50 | Dassault Aviation | 9 | 3,050 nm | Three-engine safety margin. Popular in Europe. |
Best for
- • US East → Aspen / Miami → Aspen (4-5h range)
- • London → Sardinia + longer Med routes
- • US-Caribbean routes: NYC → Nassau, Miami → St Barts
- • Business trips 700-1,500 nm with 5+ passengers
- • Weekend routes needing more cabin comfort than light jets
Compare to adjacent classes
One step up: super-midsize (Praetor 600, Challenger 350, Longitude) for transcontinental US + Atlantic routes. One step down: light jet (Phenom 300, XLS+) for short weekend hops.
Popular routes for midsize
FAQs
Midsize vs super-midsize — real difference?
Range + cabin. Midsize typically ~2,500 nm range, super-midsize ~3,500-4,000 nm. Cabin: super-midsize has stand-up-tall cabin (5'11"+) + full lie-flat berthing. For transcontinental US or transatlantic: super-midsize minimum. For 4-hour or under domestic: midsize is often the smart cost choice.
Citation Sovereign+ vs Praetor 500?
Praetor 500 wins on modern features (glass cockpit, better cabin acoustics, higher cabin altitude comfort). Sovereign+ has more operator availability (higher fleet count in charter market). Both are excellent 4-5 hour aircraft.
Can midsize do US transcon non-stop?
Sovereign+ (3,200 nm) yes with headwind margin. Praetor 500 (3,340 nm) yes. Learjet 60 (2,405 nm) no — requires fuel stop for NYC-LA. Confirm range vs specific mission when comparing operators.
Empty leg supply on midsize?
Moderate. Midsize aircraft repositioning generates decent supply on East Coast + European routes. Fewer weekend-driven patterns than light jets. Best empty leg opportunities: post-business Fri return + Sunday leisure return legs.
Other aircraft classes: