What each category carries, how far it flies and what it typically costs per hour, with a note on how each behaves on one-way trips.
01 Spec table
Approximate US market figures. Hourly ranges are estimates before the 7.5% federal excise tax, segment fees and repositioning; quotes are always all-in.
| Category | Seats | Typical range | Cabin height | Est. hourly | Typical aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | 6–9 | ~1,800 nm | ~4.8 ft | $1,800–3,200 | Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350 |
| Very light jet | 4–5 | 1,400–1,550 nm | ~4.8 ft | $2,800–4,200 | HondaJet, Citation M2 |
| Light jet | 6–8 | 2,000–2,150 nm | 4.8–4.9 ft | $3,500–5,500 | Phenom 300E, Citation CJ4, Learjet 75 |
| Midsize jet | 7–9 | ~2,100 nm | ~5.7 ft | $4,500–7,000 | Citation XLS+ |
| Super-midsize jet | 8–10 | 3,200–4,000 nm | ~6.0 ft | $6,500–9,500 | Challenger 350, Citation Longitude, Praetor 600 |
| Large cabin jet | 10–16 | 4,000–4,300 nm | 6.0–6.2 ft | $8,500–13,000 | Gulfstream G450, Challenger 650, Falcon 2000LXS |
| Ultra long range | 13–19 | 7,500–7,700 nm | 6.2 ft+ | $12,000–20,000+ | Gulfstream G650ER, Global 7500 |
02 Category guide
The lowest hourly cost and the shortest runways. On one-ways under 90 minutes the empty return is flown at turboprop rates too, which keeps the total down.
The workhorse of one-way charter. The pool of aircraft is the largest, which raises the odds of finding one already heading your way.
More cabin height and room for bags than a light jet, with a similar range. Worth it for seven or more passengers or bulky luggage.
Coast to coast nonstop with a stand-up cabin. Its higher hourly rate makes an empty return expensive, so positioning matters most here.
Transatlantic range and separate seating areas. Long returns make large cabin empty legs especially valuable when the timing fits.
New York to Dubai or Tokyo nonstop. One-ways often carry a long return, so ask about aircraft that need to come back your way.
03 Choosing
Count seats with luggage in mind: published seat counts assume light bags. Match range to the real route, remembering that headwinds and full cabins cut it. Check the runway, since short or high-elevation airports limit what can land. Then compare all-in totals, because a lower hourly rate can lose once repositioning is added.
On a one-way, there is one more question: where does the aircraft need to be afterwards? Your advisor asks it for every option.
