Light Jet Charter
The light jet is the workhorse of European business charter. It carries six to eight passengers, clears most of the continent nonstop, and lands at the small airports closest to where you are actually going. For a European brokerage, it is the aircraft that turns a full day of connections into a morning flight — London to Geneva, London to Paris or Geneva to Zurich, city centre to city centre, with no airline schedule to work around. It is the cabin most clients start with when they charter a private jet 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: 6–8
- Range: 1,500–2,500 nm (flights up to roughly 3 hours)
- Cruise: 440–480 mph
- Cabin: stand-or-stoop, club seating, refreshment centre and an enclosed lavatory
What a light jet is
A light jet sits one step above the entry-level cabin and one step below a midsize. It gives you a real private cabin — club seating, baggage for a week away, an enclosed lavatory — at the lowest running cost that still flies a genuine three-hour leg. It is the class most European business trips default to, and the reason it is the busiest cabin in the market.
In practice it means a quick, direct flight for a small team, access to airports an airliner cannot use, and a cabin you can hold a conversation or read a brief in without raising your voice.
Range — what it clears across Europe
This is where the class earns its keep. From a hub like London or Geneva, a light jet reaches Paris, Zurich, Milan, Nice, Vienna, Rome and most of mainland Europe nonstop. The Mediterranean coast, the Alps and Scandinavia are all comfortable. These are the routes that make up the bulk of European business travel, and the light jet flies almost all of them in a single hop.
Where it stops short is the long leg. A flight beyond about three hours — the Canaries, the eastern Mediterranean at full payload, anything transatlantic — moves you up to a midsize or larger. We will tell you so plainly rather than stretch an aircraft past where it is comfortable.
Cabin and comfort
The cabin is sized for a small group on a short flight. Seating is club-style for six to eight, with a refreshment centre, room for a week’s luggage, and an enclosed lavatory on most tails in the class. Standing height is limited — you stoop in the aisle on most light jets — which is the honest trade for the lower running cost.
For a flight of two to three hours with a small party, it is the right amount of cabin. It is built to get a team there quickly and quietly, not to host a transcontinental crossing.
The aircraft we charter
We hold access to the full light jet class through our operator network. These are the tails we arrange most often.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range (nm) | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer Phenom 300 / 300E | 7–8 | ~2,000 | The best-selling light jet for over a decade — range and ramp presence |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 7–8 | ~2,000 | Most cabin and range in the Citation light line |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 / CJ3+ | 6–7 | ~1,900 | The European charter staple — efficient and widely available |
| Bombardier Learjet 75 | 6–8 | ~2,000 | Flat-floor cabin and the highest cruise speed in the class |
Ranges are representative, with reserves, and vary with payload and winds. See our full fleet for every cabin class.
What drives the price
The light jet sits above an entry-level jet and below a midsize on running cost, and most operators apply a daily or two-hour minimum. What you pay for a specific trip moves with the aircraft, the routing, repositioning, and crew and landing fees, which is why a quote, not a rate card, is the honest answer.
For how charter pricing is built up, see what charter costs. To choose between cabins on range and size, see which cabin to choose, or request a quote for your route.
Is a light jet right for your trip
It is the right aircraft when you are flying:
- Six to eight passengers on a short to medium European leg
- Nonstop within Europe — London to Geneva, London to Paris and the like
- Up to about three hours, where speed and low cost matter more than cabin size
- A trip where you want a private cabin and small-airport access at the lowest sensible running cost
If you are flying two or three people on a sub-hour hop, an entry-level jet will cost less and serve you just as well. If you need a stand-up cabin, longer range or a fuller party, a midsize is the better fit. It can help to compare the full range of private jet types before you decide. 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 light jet?
Typically six to eight, in a club-style cabin. Six seated comfortably with full baggage is the realistic planning figure for a longer leg.
How far can a light jet fly nonstop?
Most cover 1,500 to 2,500 nautical miles — flights up to roughly three hours. Across Europe that clears London, Paris, Geneva and most of the mainland nonstop. Beyond about three hours you move up to a midsize.
What does it cost to charter a light jet?
There is no rate card. The figure for a specific trip depends on the aircraft, routing, repositioning, fees and any daily or two-hour minimum, so we quote each trip individually. Tell us your route and an advisor replies with clear options.
Light jet vs midsize — what is the difference?
A light jet is faster to book, cheaper to run and ideal for short European legs with a small party. A midsize gives you a stand-up cabin and longer range at a higher running cost. The light jet is the better value below about three hours; the midsize earns its premium beyond it.
Which light jet is best?
There is no single best — it depends on the trip. The Phenom 300 is the all-round benchmark, the Citation CJ4 carries the most cabin and range in its line, and the Learjet 75 is the fastest with a flat floor. We recommend the right tail once we know your route and party.