Turboprop Charter
The turboprop is the most economical way to fly privately, and on a short regional trip it is often the most sensible. It carries six to nine in a comfortable cabin, costs less to run than any jet, and lands at small fields that jets cannot use. For a European brokerage, it is the aircraft that opens up the smaller airfields across the continent — the routes where a jet would mean a longer drive at either end. It is one of ten cabin classes we arrange for private jet charter across Europe.
We arrange these aircraft through certified operators. We do not operate them ourselves — which means we recommend the right tail for your route rather than the one we happen to own.
At a glance
- Passengers: 6–9
- Range: 1,000–1,600 nm (roughly 3–4 hours)
- Cruise: 300–360 mph
- Cabin: enclosed, comfortable seating for short to medium legs, with a lavatory on most tails
What a turboprop is
A turboprop uses a jet engine to turn a propeller. That gives it most of the reliability and smoothness of a jet at a fraction of the running cost, and it lets the aircraft take off and land in far shorter distances. The trade is speed — a turboprop cruises slower than a jet — but on a leg of an hour or two that difference amounts to a few minutes, not an hour.
In practice it means an enclosed, pressurised cabin, a quiet and stable ride, and the freedom to land close to where you are actually going rather than at the nearest jet-capable airport.
Range — where it fits across Europe
This is where the class earns its place. A turboprop covers most of Central Europe nonstop. From a hub like Geneva or Zurich it reaches Paris, Milan, Munich, Vienna, Nice and the Adriatic coast comfortably, and much of Western Europe is within range with a fuller cabin.
Its real advantage is not distance but access. A turboprop can use short, regional and unpaved runways that close every jet out — the Pilatus PC-12 needs roughly 2,500 feet of runway and is certified for grass and gravel. That puts thousands of smaller European airfields in play, including the one nearest your destination. For a longer leg across the continent, or for more speed, you move up to a jet, and we will tell you so plainly.
Cabin and comfort
The cabin seats six to nine, usually in a club or double-club layout, with an enclosed and pressurised interior and a lavatory on most tails. It is sized for a regional trip rather than a transcontinental one — there is room to work and talk across a two-hour leg, and baggage capacity is generous, which matters for ski, golf or hunting trips into smaller airfields.
It is a cabin built for the short hop done well, which is what most regional flying actually asks of an aircraft.
The aircraft we charter
We hold access to the full turboprop class through our operator network. These are the tails we arrange most often.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range (nm) | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pilatus PC-12 | 6–8 | ~1,800 | Single-engine economy; short-field and unpaved access |
| Beechcraft King Air 350 / 360 | 8–9 | ~1,800 | Twin-engine cabin comfort; the regional workhorse |
| Beechcraft King Air 250 | 7–8 | ~1,700 | Strong short-field performance in a smaller cabin |
| Cessna Grand Caravan | 8–9 | ~900 | Rugged utility; the shortest and roughest strips |
Ranges are representative, with reserves, and vary with payload and winds. See our full fleet for every cabin class.
What drives the price
The turboprop carries the lowest running cost of any private aircraft — below an entry-level jet — which is the main reason clients choose it for short regional work. What you pay for a specific trip moves with the aircraft, the routing, repositioning to and from base, and crew and landing fees, so we quote each trip rather than work from a rate card.
For how charter pricing is built up, see what charter costs. To choose between a turboprop and a jet on range and cabin, see which cabin to choose, or request a quote for your route.
Is a turboprop right for your trip
It is the right aircraft when you are flying:
- Six to nine passengers on a regional trip
- Short legs of one to three hours, where speed matters less than cost
- Into a small or regional airfield that a jet cannot reach
- A trip where you want private flying at the lowest running cost
If you are flying a longer leg across Europe, or speed and a stand-up cabin matter to you, an entry-level jet or light jet will serve you better. If you need transcontinental range or a larger cabin, you move up the fleet again. To see how this class sits alongside the rest, compare the private jet types we charter. We will match the aircraft to the trip — not the other way round.
Request a quote · Compare cabin classes
Frequently asked questions
How many passengers fit on a turboprop?
Typically six to nine, in a club-style cabin. Eight is the realistic planning figure for a comfortable regional trip with full baggage.
How far can a turboprop fly nonstop?
Most cover 1,000 to 1,600 nautical miles — roughly three to four hours. From a Central European hub that clears most of the continent nonstop, with much of Western Europe in range. For longer legs you move up to a jet.
What does it cost to charter a turboprop?
The turboprop carries the lowest running cost in private aviation, but there is no rate card. The figure for a specific trip depends on the aircraft, routing, repositioning and fees, so we quote each trip individually. Tell us your route and an advisor replies with clear options.
Turboprop vs jet — what is the difference?
A turboprop costs less to run, lands at far smaller airfields, and is the better value on short legs. A jet flies faster and farther with a larger cabin. On a one- or two-hour trip the time difference is small and the cost saving is real; on a longer leg the jet earns its premium.
Can a turboprop land at small or unpaved airfields?
Yes — this is its main advantage. Aircraft like the Pilatus PC-12 operate from runways as short as roughly 2,500 feet and are certified for grass and gravel, opening up thousands of regional fields that close every jet out. We check the destination airfield before we quote.