Bombardier Challenger 605

The Bombardier Challenger 605 is a heavy business jet with a cabin 2.49 m wide at the centreline and 1.85 m high. Most aircraft have 9 or 10 seats, 12 at most; the width leaves a comfortable aisle and room for a three-place divan that becomes a bed at night. A full toilet sits at the rear, and the 3.3 m³ hold behind it can be reached in flight.

Typical legs from the table:

• Paris Le Bourget to Nice in 1:20 h and London Farnborough to Ibiza in 2:09 h;
• Paris to Tel Aviv in 4:25 h and Milan Linate to Tenerife in 4:03 h;
• London Farnborough to Dubai in 7:05 h with a small group.

Bombardier gives 7,408 km with six passengers. On the longest legs weight, not the number of seats, sets the limit, so such flights are planned for a smaller group.

Cabin: layouts, beds and toilet

The Challenger 605 cabin runs 8.61 m from the cockpit to the end of the pressurised section and holds 32.6 m³. It is 2.49 m wide at the centreline and 2.19 m at floor level. Against the 604, the windows are about 30 % larger in area and set higher, so the cabin is brighter and there is a little more headroom when seated.

Layouts vary by aircraft:

The seats swivel and recline, and facing pairs and the divan usually give three or four beds. The galley at the front has space for tableware, drinks and hot meals; the toilet with washbasin at the rear is closed by a door.

Baggage: 3.3 m³ and the weight limit on long legs

The hold of the Challenger 605 lies at the end of the cabin inside the pressurised section, so bags can be reached in the air. Six people bring large suitcases, and four can add skis and golf bags. With ten on board, a medium case and a cabin bag each is the sensible plan.

On the longest legs such as London to Dubai, full tanks leave 522 kg for passengers and luggage, so the operator may ask for fewer bags or plan a fuel stop. To Palma, Ibiza or Nice a Challenger 605 carries far less fuel and baggage weight stops being an issue. List sports equipment with the number of items, so the operator can check sizes.

Engines, speed and airports

Two General Electric CF34-3B engines give 38.8 kN each. On long legs the crew slows to Mach 0.74 to save fuel, and at full weight the jet first climbs to 11,278 m. Bombardier's 7,408 km assumes six passengers, two pilots and NBAA IFR reserves; we plan non-stop legs up to about 6,150 km, as headwinds, heavy bags and a distant alternate cut the real figure. At the maximum take-off weight of 21,863 kg the Challenger 605 needs 1,780 m of runway at sea level.

Europe: what helps and what to plan for

Challenger 605 routes from European hubs

One-way prices for the whole aircraft with crew, without airport fees or passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance at 840 km/h plus half an hour for taxi, climb and approach.

Under 2 hours: Riviera, Alps and Balearics

2 to 4 hours: the Mediterranean end to end

Over 4 hours: Israel, the Gulf and the Atlantic

• Madrid to New York (7:22 h, Teterboro) and London to Dubai (7:05 h) are at the far end of the planning range: a small group and a normal wind make them non-stop, while a full cabin or a winter headwind adds a fuel stop.
• Larnaca to the Seychelles (6:24 h) and Geneva to Doha (6:01 h) are long days; the crew rests before any return flight.
• Mykonos gives private aircraft about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet waits elsewhere.
• Los Angeles, Singapore or Tokyo need a Global or a Falcon 7X.

On legs up to two hours, such as Paris Le Bourget to Nice (1:20 h), a Challenger 605 pays off for six or more passengers; four people fly cheaper in a super-midsize jet.

The calculator shows an indicative price for a heavy jet on your route, and for smaller jets as well.

What a Challenger 605 charter costs

A Challenger 605 starts at EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with two pilots and fuel. Short legs are dearer than the rate times the flight time: Zurich to Chambéry takes 0:51 h and starts at EUR 17,000, because the price includes the operator's minimum charge and the empty flights to and from the aircraft's base.

On London Farnborough to Ibiza (2:09 h) the price starts at EUR 28,000, on Vienna to Lisbon (3:15 h) at EUR 37,000 and on Paris to Tel Aviv (4:25 h) at EUR 46,000. Nine people pay the same as two.

Because you hire the whole aircraft, the cost per person on London Farnborough - Ibiza falls with each passenger:

Ways to pay less

• Choose a Challenger 605 parked at or near your departure airport, even if another aircraft has a lower hourly rate.
• Return the same day when crew duty time allows; no hotel and no second positioning.
• Give a window of a few hours, so the operator can fit your flight around other trips.
• For a stay of several days, compare two one-way quotes with a quote where the jet waits.
• Include the 604 and 650 in the request: same cabin width, more aircraft to choose from.
• For four passengers on a short leg, a Challenger 350 costs less.

Empty Legs: frequent on this type

The Challenger 605 is common in Europe, so Empty Legs come up regularly: returns from the Riviera, Sardinia and the Balearics in summer, from Geneva and Chambéry on winter Saturdays, and positioning flights to and from the Gulf. Such a leg can cost 30-60% less than a normal charter, as an example, not a rule.

Send your route and a window of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or via the Empty Legs page, and we match it against every Challenger 604, Challenger 605 and 650 on offer.

Challenger 605, 604, 650 or another heavy jet

The Challenger 605 is most often weighed against its predecessor and successor on the same fuselage, the smaller Challenger 350 and the longer-cabin Legacy 600.

How to book

For a quote, tell us:

• route, date and time, for both directions;
• number of passengers and how many need a bed on a night leg;
• baggage, skis, golf bags and pets;
• Wi-Fi and a flight attendant, if needed.

Each offer names the AOC operator, the year of manufacture and the last refit of that Challenger 605, with cabin photos. We always try to give two or three options; each case depends on the operator's schedule and contract.

Questions about the Challenger 605

• • How much does a Challenger 605 flight cost?

  • From EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris Le Bourget to Nice starts at EUR 21,000, Hamburg to Malaga at EUR 36,000 and Paris to Tel Aviv at EUR 46,000, one way, plus airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What does the price include?

  • Aircraft, two pilots, fuel and positioning. Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, de-icing, catering and crew costs on overnight trips are listed as separate items in the quote.

• • How can I fly a Challenger 605 for less?

  • Pick an aircraft based near you, return the same day if crew duty allows, keep the time flexible and open the request to the 604 and 650.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Challenger 605?

  • Regularly, as many aircraft fly in Europe: summer returns from the Riviera and the islands, winter Saturdays from the ski airports, positioning to and from the Gulf. Some are 30-60% cheaper, with a fixed date and the risk of cancellation.

• • How many people fly comfortably in a Challenger 605?

  • Most aircraft have 9 or 10 seats, 12 at most. Nine people sit comfortably on legs up to three hours; if everyone wants to lie flat on a night leg, plan for four, as there are usually three or four beds.

• • What is the toilet like?

  • A full-size enclosed washroom with a washbasin at the rear of the cabin. Some aircraft have an enlarged version with a wardrobe.

• • How far does it fly non-stop?

  • Bombardier gives 7,408 km with six passengers, and we plan up to about 6,150 km. That covers Israel, Egypt and the Gulf from most hubs; New York and Dubai from London or Madrid are possible with a small group, otherwise with a fuel stop.

• • How does it differ from the 604 and the 650?

  • The 605 has larger windows and a newer cockpit than the 604; the 650 adds stronger engines, a shorter take-off and a new interior. In charter you fly the version the operator has, so the offer names the exact type and age.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin next to you, once the operator knows the breed, weight and carrier. EU travel needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and a pet passport; the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.

• • Can it land at London City or Courchevel?

  • London City yes, with a trained crew and reduced take-off weight, though not every operator holds the approval. The Courchevel altiport is far too short; the jet lands at Chambéry or Geneva.