Business aviation offers a wide range of flight options. For every problem and every need, you’ll find the right aircraft. While price is a decisive criterion, there are other, less obvious parameters to take into account:
- cruising speed
- range: the aircraft’s maximum non-stop distance
- range: the number of seats
- baggage capacity
- cabin size
These characteristics make it possible to classify the private aircraft in a certain category, the main ones being:
It is difficult to compare aircraft in different categories, as each has its own specific features. Depending on your priorities, you’ll first need to work out what type of private jet you’re looking for. After that, you can study the different aircraft manufacturers’ offers and make your final choice. That’s why we’ve prepared a comparative study of the best models on the market, by category of aircraft:
Turboprop: Aviator TP 600 Versus Pilatus PC-12
Advantages of turboprops:
- cheapest option
- access to smaller airports inaccessible to jets and airliners
Vulcanair Aviator TP 600
- cruising speed: 400 km/h
- range: the aircraft’s maximum non-stop distance
- seating capacity: 8 seats
- hold volume: 0.5 m³
- cabin size: 4.1 m (height), 3.7 m (width)
- rental price: €1,600/hour
- purchase price: €1,600,000
Pilatus PC-12
- cruising speed: 500 km/h
- range: 2500 km
- range: 4-8 seats
- volume of cargo hold: 1.07 m³
- cabin size: 1.52 m (height), 1.4 m (width)
- rental price: €2,500/hour
- purchase price: €4,000,000
Ultra-light private jets: Embraer Phenom 100 Versus Citation Mustang
Advantages of ultra-light private jets:
- ideal for short flights in Europe
- low fares
Embraer Phenom 100
- cruising speed: 722 km/h
- range: 2,180 km
- seating capacity: 4 seats
- hold volume: 1.8 m³
- cabin size: 1.52 m (height), 1.78 m (width)
- rental price: €2,300/hour
- purchase price: €3,200,000
Citation Mustang
- cruising speed: 630 km/h
- range: 2100 km
- seating capacity: 4 seats
- hold volume: 1.6 m³
- cabin size: 1.37 m (height), 1.40 m (width)
- rental price: €1,500/hour
- purchase price: €3,500,000
Mid-size private jets: Citation XLS Versus Bombardier Learjet 45
Advantages of mid-size private jets:
- the best compromise between efficiency, comfort and performance
- suitable for group flights
Citation XLS
- cruising speed: 805 km/h
- range: 3600 km
- range: 10 seats
- hold volume: 2.55 m³
- cabin size: 1.65 m (height), 1.7 m (width)
- rental price: €3,000/hour
- purchase price: €13,000,000
Bombardier Learjet 45
- cruising speed: 840 km/h
- range: 3700 km
- range: 6-8 seats
- hold volume: 1.6 m³
- cabin size: 1.57 m (height), 1.45 m (width)
- rental price: €3,400/hour
- purchase price: €10,700,000
Long-haul private jets: Bombardier 850 Versus Dassault Falcon 7X
Advantages of long-haul private jets:
- perfect for inter-continental distances
- unrivalled comfort and a unique luxury experience
Bombardier 850
- cruising speed: 850 km/h
- range: 5000 km
- range: 14-16 seats
- cargo volume: 7 m³
- cabin size: 1.85 m (height), 2.49 m (width)
- rental price: €4,900/hour
- purchase price: €21,000,000
Dassault Falcon 7X
- cruising speed: 910 km/h
- range: 11,000 km
- range: 10-16 seats
- hold volume: 5.5 m³
- cabin size: 1.88 m (height), 2.34 m (width)
- rental price: €6,200/hour
- purchase price: €44,000,000