Embraer Lineage 1000

The Embraer Lineage 1000 is the E190 regional airliner rebuilt as a private aircraft. Instead of about a hundred seats it has a cabin of some 25.6 m divided into up to five zones, usually a lounge, a dining or meeting room, a second lounge and a bedroom at the rear. Up to 19 passengers fit, and with 2.00 m of headroom everyone walks upright. Embraer put extra fuel tanks where the airliner carries its baggage, so the jet flies much further than the E190.

The final version, the Lineage 1000E, has 8,519 km of range with eight passengers. From Western Europe that means New York, Toronto, Riyadh and Dubai without a fuel stop. The type makes sense for:

• a group of 12 to 19 people who want to travel together
• a family with staff on a long holiday trip
• a delegation that wants to meet, eat and sleep on board

For six or eight people a long-range business jet costs much less than a Lineage 1000, and the extra floor space would mostly stay empty.

Five zones and a bedroom

Lineage 1000 layouts vary from aircraft to aircraft, but the principle is the same. Doors separate the zones, electrically operated in the 1000E, so part of the group can sleep while others work or watch a film.

A typical order from the front to the rear:

• Operators state up to seven places to lie flat: the bed plus sofas and seats in the other zones
• Two toilets as standard and a third one as an option; a shower was an option ordered by some owners
• Operators fly at least one cabin attendant, and on a long leg with a full cabin the operator may add a second one
• Wi-Fi depends on the aircraft

The cabin is about 2.7 m wide, less than the 3.70 m of the Airbus ACJ319 but clearly more than in the largest business jets. Compared with the Legacy 650, which shares its regional-airliner roots, the cabin is twice as long and more than half a metre wider.

Baggage: 12.54 m³ for a large group

Most of the volume sits in a pressurised compartment at the rear that can be reached in flight, the rest in an external hold. Next to the suitcases there is room for skis, surfboards, golf bags and pushchairs, and unusual items such as bicycles or musical instruments should be named before booking.

A dog or cat travels in the cabin next to the owner, if the operator agrees; tell us breed, weight and carrier size in advance. Within the EU the animal needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an EU pet passport. For the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway dogs also need a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry, and the USA and Canada have entry rules of their own, which we check before booking.

Lineage 1000 range, speed and airports

Two General Electric CF34 engines power the Lineage 1000. The earlier version reaches about 370 km less than the 1000E. The route table plans non-stop legs up to about 7,000 km at a cruise speed of 830 km/h, which keeps a margin for a fuller cabin. With 19 people and a winter headwind over the Atlantic, the operator may still plan a fuel stop in Iceland or Ireland on the longest crossings.

Flying a bizliner in Europe

Routes from European hubs

Thirty Lineage 1000 routes from all thirteen hubs, from Geneva - London (1:24 h) to Geneva - Toronto (8:13 h), all without a fuel stop. Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, without airport fees and passenger taxes. For Delhi the distance already includes a detour around closed airspace; legs to the Gulf and the Indian Ocean depend on which airspace is open, and the operator confirms the exact time in the quote.

European hops up to 2 hours: the price floor of a bizliner

Islands, Morocco and the Levant: 2 to 4 hours

Gulf, India and the Atlantic: over 4 hours

• New York (7:09 h from London) and Toronto (8:13 h from Geneva) are in range of the 1000E; with every seat taken and strong headwinds the operator confirms the plan for the day
• From Larnaca the jet reaches the Seychelles (6:28 h) and Malé (6:56 h) non-stop; from Milan or Munich Malé needs a stop in the Gulf
• Miami, the US West Coast and South Africa always need a fuel stop
• On hops under two hours, such as Munich - Olbia (1:31 h), the bedroom and the range stay unused; up to about 14 passengers the Embraer Legacy 650 costs about a third less on such a hop, and the gap grows on longer legs

The calculator shows an indicative price for the Lineage 1000 on any route you choose, including departures from regional airports with a runway long enough for an airliner.

How much does a Lineage 1000 charter cost

The flight-hour rate starts at EUR 18,000 for the whole aircraft, with crew and fuel. On short legs the total is higher than the rate multiplied by flight time, because positioning, the minimum charge and handling form a fixed part: Geneva - London takes 1:24 h and costs EUR 34,000, London - Nice 1:45 h and EUR 40,000.

The price is for the whole aircraft, so the cost per person on London - New York depends only on how many fly:

Ways to lower the price

Empty Legs on the Lineage 1000

Empty sectors on the Lineage 1000 are rare: there are few aircraft, and most charters are long one-off missions. When one appears, it is usually between Europe and the Gulf or on a return from a transatlantic trip, and it can cost 30-60% less than a normal charter, as an example, not a promise.

• Date, route and time are fixed by the operator
• The leg can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a full charter
• The return flight is booked separately

To be told when one turns up, send the route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page. Asking for any bizliner rather than this type alone gives more chances.

ACJ319, BBJ, Legacy 650 or Global 6000

Clients usually compare the Lineage 1000 with the two larger bizliners, with Embraer's heavy jet from the same family and with an ultra-long-range jet for a smaller group.

How to book

For an accurate quote we need:

• route and dates for both directions, with preferred times
• the number of passengers and how many want to sleep on a night leg
• a baggage list, especially skis, golf bags and oversized items
• any dog or cat on board, with breed, weight and carrier size
• whether a bedroom or a shower is a must, as layouts differ

We check free Lineage 1000 aircraft and other bizliners with operators holding an AOC and send a quote that names the operator, the aircraft, its version and the positioning cost.

Questions about the Lineage 1000

• • How much does a Lineage 1000 from London to New York cost?

  • From EUR 135,000 one way for the whole aircraft, about 7:09 h to JFK without a stop. With 19 passengers that is about EUR 7,100 each. Airport fees, UK Air Passenger Duty and, as a rule, positioning come on top.

• • Why is a short flight so expensive?

  • Every trip carries a fixed part for positioning, the minimum charge and handling of an airliner-sized aircraft. Munich - Olbia takes 1:31 h and costs EUR 36,000, while Zurich - Tenerife (4:11 h) costs EUR 84,000, so the fixed part weighs less on the longer leg.

• • What is not included in the table price?

  • Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel if the aircraft waits for you. Positioning is usually a separate line, as the nearest free aircraft can be far away.

• • How can I fly the Lineage 1000 for less?

  • Ask for an ACJ319 or a BBJ in the same request, keep the dates flexible and compare a waiting crew with two empty legs. For a group of up to 14, a Legacy 650 costs far less on the same route.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Lineage 1000?

  • Rarely, as few aircraft fly. When one appears, usually between Europe and the Gulf, it can be 30-60% below a normal charter in some cases. Date and route are fixed and the leg can be cancelled.

• • How many people fit on a Lineage 1000?

  • Up to 19, depending on the layout, and many aircraft have 13 or 14 seats. For a night crossing up to 12 people is more comfortable, as there are up to seven places to lie flat.

• • Is there a shower?

  • In some aircraft, in the washroom by the bedroom. Embraer offered it as an option, so we check the equipment of the specific aircraft before booking.

• • What is the difference between the 1000 and the 1000E?

  • The 1000E reaches about 370 km further, has electrically operated doors between the zones and newer cabin and cockpit systems. Cabin dimensions are the same, and the quote names the version.

• • Can it land in Cannes or at Teterboro?

  • Cannes-Mandelieu takes aircraft up to 35 t, so for Cannes the Lineage 1000 lands in Nice. Teterboro needs prior permission for aircraft over about 45 t, so in New York the operator usually lands at JFK or Newark.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin, if the operator agrees. Within the EU a microchip, rabies vaccination and pet passport are required, and for the USA we check the entry rules before booking.