Very Light Jet Charter
The very light jet is the most affordable way to fly private. It carries four or five passengers on short legs, lands at small regional airports a turboprop would reach, and does it on a real jet at jet speed. For a European brokerage, it is the aircraft that turns a business day into a same-day round trip — out in the morning, back the same evening, no overnight. It is the most affordable cabin in our fleet for private jet charter in 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: 4–5
- Range: 1,000–1,300 nm (roughly 2–3 hours)
- Cruise: 400–460 mph
- Cabin: seated, club or facing seats, refreshment center, a private or partitioned lavatory on most models
What a very light jet is
A very light jet — sometimes called an entry level jet or VLJ — is the smallest jet in regular charter service. It sits one step above a turboprop and one step below a light jet. You get jet speed and jet altitude over a smaller cabin and a shorter range, at the lowest running cost of any jet class.
In practice it is built for the trip a turboprop cannot quite make, or cannot make in comfort: a fast hop of one to three hours, four people, point to point, into an airport closer to where you actually need to be than the nearest hub.
Range — what it clears across Europe
This is where the class earns its place. From a hub like Geneva or Zurich, a very light jet covers most of the short and medium European hops nonstop. London to Geneva, Geneva to Zurich, or London to Paris is comfortable inside the cabin’s range, and the longer-range models reach Milan, Nice and the Adriatic coast.
It is not a long-haul aircraft, and we will say so plainly. For a four-hour leg with a full cabin, or for transcontinental Europe nonstop, you move up to a light or midsize jet. The very light jet is at its best on the trips it was designed for: short, fast, frequent, and into airports the airlines do not serve well.
Cabin and comfort
The cabin seats four or five in a club or facing layout. Standing height is limited — this is a seated cabin, not a stand-up one — but for a flight of one to three hours that is rarely the constraint. Most models carry a refreshment center, in-flight access to baggage, and a private or partitioned lavatory. Baggage capacity suits a few overnight bags for a full cabin rather than a week away.
It is a cabin built for a working hop: a flat surface, quiet enough to take a call or read a brief, and quick enough that the flight is over before comfort becomes the question.
The aircraft we charter
We hold access to the very light jet class through our operator network. These are the tails we arrange most often.
| Aircraft | Passengers | Range (nm) | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer Phenom 100EV | 4–5 | ~1,200 | The cabin and baggage benchmark of the class |
| HondaJet Elite | 4–5 | ~1,300 | Longest legs in the class; over-wing engines, quiet cabin |
| Cessna Citation M2 | 5–6 | ~1,300 | Seats up to six; the most capacity at the entry level |
| Cessna Citation Mustang | 4 | ~1,100 | The original entry level jet; proven, widely available |
Ranges are representative, with reserves, and vary with payload and winds. See our full fleet for every cabin class.
What drives the price
The very light jet carries the lowest running cost of any jet class — above a turboprop, below a light jet — and most operators apply a minimum daily charge. 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 very light jet right for your trip
It is the right aircraft when you are flying:
- Four or five passengers, not a full eight-seat cabin
- A short European hop of one to three hours, point to point
- A same-day business round trip where speed and schedule matter more than cabin size
- A trip where you want a real jet at the lowest running cost, where a turboprop will not quite do
If your trip is shorter still, or strictly budget-led, a turboprop may serve you for less. If you are flying six or more, need a stand-up cabin, or have a leg beyond three hours, step up to light jets, or compare the full range of private jet types first. 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 very light jet?
Typically four or five, in a seated club or facing cabin. The Citation M2 seats up to six. For a comfortable short trip with bags, four is the realistic planning figure on most models.
How far can a very light jet fly nonstop?
Most cover 1,000 to 1,300 nautical miles — roughly two to three hours. Across Europe that clears most short and medium hops nonstop. For longer legs or a full cabin over distance, a light or midsize jet is the better aircraft.
What does it cost to charter a very light jet?
It is the lowest running cost of any jet class, but there is no rate card. The figure for a specific trip depends on the aircraft, routing, repositioning, fees and any minimum daily charge, so we quote each trip individually. Tell us your route and an advisor replies with clear options.
Very light jet vs turboprop — what is the difference?
A very light jet flies faster and higher than a turboprop and is a jet throughout, at a modestly higher running cost. A turboprop can be the cheaper choice on the shortest legs; the very light jet earns its premium on speed, altitude and ride. We will tell you which suits your route.
Which very light jet is best?
There is no single best — it depends on the trip. The Phenom 100EV leads on cabin and baggage, the HondaJet Elite flies the longest legs and runs the quietest, and the Citation M2 seats the most. We recommend the right tail once we know your route and party.