Heavy Jets

What makes a heavy jet

The class is defined by the cabin, not by the engines or the range. Everyone stands upright, two people pass in the aisle, and the seats are wide enough to sleep in on a night leg. Most types carry the baggage in a hold that can be reached in flight, and a flight attendant is common, though it depends on the aircraft and the operator.

Compared with a super midsize jet, a heavy jet adds width, a second seating zone and usually two or three more seats. Compared with an ultra long range jet it is shorter, slower to the far side of the world and cheaper per hour: Geneva - Dubai is a normal non-stop leg, New York works from London with a moderate load, and Los Angeles or Tokyo are out of reach.

Families in the catalogue

Ranges are manufacturer figures, usually with four to six passengers. With a full cabin, winter headwind or a long alternate the operator plans less, and our route tables already keep that margin.

Which type for which trip

Heavy jet prices

The hourly rate in the catalogue runs from EUR 8,300 for most types to EUR 10,300 for the Falcon 900LX. It covers the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. The tables give one-way prices from European hubs; the final offer depends on the aircraft, the date and where it is based.

Within Europe

Canaries, North Africa, the Middle East and New York

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

Where the price comes from

• Flight time at the hourly rate of the aircraft
• Positioning to your departure airport and back to base, when the aircraft is not already there
• The operator's minimum charge per flight or per day, which sets the floor on short legs
• Landing, parking and handling, which grow with weight; a 16-34 t heavy jet pays clearly more than a light jet
• Passenger taxes: France about EUR 420 per passenger on European routes, Italy EUR 100 up to 1,500 km and EUR 200 beyond, plus taxes in Germany, the UK, Austria and the Netherlands
• Crew overnight costs on multi-day trips, catering, a flight attendant where not included, winter de-icing

Short legs show the fixed part clearly. Paris - Geneva on a Falcon 2000LX costs EUR 18,500 for one hour, and Vienna - Split on a Challenger 850 costs EUR 17,500 for 1:08 h, well above rate times time. On a leg of three or four hours the fixed part spreads out: London - Tenerife on a Challenger 605 comes to EUR 43,000 for 3:57 h.

How to pay less

• For a return after two or three days, compare the jet waiting with its crew against two empty positioning legs; we quote both
• Accept an older version of the same family: a Challenger 604 instead of a 650, a Falcon 2000 instead of a 2000LX, a Falcon 900EX instead of a 900LX, a GIV-SP instead of a G450
• Give a flexible date or a second departure airport in the same region, so an aircraft finishing another trip nearby can take you
• For four or five people on legs under three hours, a super midsize jet such as the Challenger 350 from the midsize jets page is usually cheaper
• Choose an original cabin over a fresh refit when the interior matters less than the price

Empty Legs

Heavy jets are common in Europe, so empty sectors appear regularly, mostly after trips to Nice, Geneva, the Balearics, the Gulf and Tel Aviv. Such a leg can be 40-65 % below a normal charter, as an example and not a promise. The operator sets the route and time, the leg can be cancelled if the aircraft sells as a full charter, and no return is included. Send a route and a date window through the Empty Legs page.

The cabin of a heavy jet

A usual layout has a club group of four at the front, a second group or a conference table for four in the middle and a three-seat sofa at the back. On a night flight the sofa opens into a bed and facing seats fold flat, so three to six people can lie down, depending on the type. The galley prepares hot meals, and the washroom has a door and a washbasin.

Satellite internet, a flight attendant and the number of beds vary from aircraft to aircraft, even within one type. If any of them matters, write it in the request, and we check the specific aircraft and state it in the quote.

Airports, runways and rules in Europe

Seasons and demand

In summer a heavy jet earns its keep on the Riviera, Sardinia, the Balearics and the Greek islands, where groups of eight to twelve travel with a lot of baggage. In winter the flow shifts to the Alps and to Dubai, Doha and the Canaries, where the range of a Challenger 650 or Legacy 650 lets the group fly without a stop. Spring and autumn are business months: board meetings, investor tours and conferences in London, Geneva, Milan or Munich.

How to book

• Send the route, dates, number of passengers and baggage, including skis, golf bags or pets
• We return several offers from different operators within a few hours, with the type, the year of build and of the last cabin refit, and the full price
• You choose an aircraft, sign the charter contract and pay; the operator confirms the crew, slots and permits
• Before departure you get the flight details, the FBO address and the crew's contacts

Requests are accepted 24/7 at +357 96407410 or private@jets.flights, and the office answers from 08:00 to 23:30. A heavy jet within Europe can often be arranged within a day, but in July, August and at New Year two or three days of notice give a much wider choice.

Why book a heavy jet through European Private Jets

Two heavy jets of the same type can differ by ten years of age, a whole cabin refit and the presence of a flight attendant or internet. We list these points side by side for every offer, so the price can be compared like for like, and we say when a super midsize jet would serve the trip for less.

We have worked with operators across Europe for 14 years and have access to about 6,500 aircraft, with offices in Nice, Hamburg, Geneva and Cyprus.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Questions about heavy jets

• • What is a heavy jet?

  • A business jet with a stand-up cabin about 1.85 m high and at least 2.1 m wide, two or three zones, a galley and an enclosed washroom, usually for 8 to 14 passengers.

• • How much does a heavy jet cost per hour?

  • From EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew in our catalogue, up to EUR 10,300 for the Falcon 900LX. Short legs cost more than rate times time because of positioning and fees.

• • How much is London - Nice on a heavy jet?

  • From EUR 26,000 one way on a Challenger 650, with a flight time of 1:43 h.

• • Can a heavy jet fly to Dubai without a stop?

  • Yes. Geneva - Dubai on a Challenger 650 takes 6:18 h and Vienna - Dubai on a Legacy 650 5:36 h. Older types with shorter range may need a stop with a full cabin.

• • Can a heavy jet fly from London to New York?

  • The Falcon 900EX and 900LX and the G450 plan it non-stop, and a GIV-SP does it with a moderate load, 7:00 h from Farnborough. With a full cabin or winter headwinds the operator may add a fuel stop in Ireland or Iceland, so for a fixed date an ultra long range jet is the safer choice.

• • Which heavy jet carries the most baggage?

  • The Legacy 600 and 650, with an 8.1 m³ hold that can be reached in flight. The Challenger 800 and 850 follow with 5.72 m³.

• • Can a heavy jet land at London City or Lugano?

  • London City is open to the Challenger 604 and 605, the Falcon 2000LX and retrofitted 2000EX and the Falcon 900 versions with the EASy cockpit, each with a trained crew. Lugano is realistic for the Falcon 2000LX at reduced weight.

• • Is there a flight attendant on board?

  • Often, but it depends on the aircraft and the operator. The quote states whether one is included.

• • Are there Empty Legs on heavy jets?

  • Yes, fairly regularly, as many heavy jets fly in Europe. The price can be 40-65 % below a normal charter, with the route and time set by the operator.

• • How early should I book?

  • Within Europe a free jet can often be found within a day. For July, August and New Year, two or three days of notice give a much wider choice.