Bombardier Challenger 650

The Bombardier Challenger 650 is the youngest version of the Challenger 600 family, which began with the Challenger 600 and continued through the 601, 604 and 605. The fuselage and cabin cross-section stayed the same, while almost everything a passenger sees and uses was redesigned: seats, galley, screens, cockpit and connectivity. Bombardier allows up to 12 seats; in charter most aircraft have 9 or 10, with a three-seat sofa along one wall.

Cabin of the Challenger 650: seats, screens and internet

From the cockpit bulkhead to the end of the passenger area the cabin measures 7.80 m, without the baggage hold. Bombardier gives 1.83 m of height and 2.41 m of width. For the older 604 a width of 2.49 m is often quoted, measured at the widest point, but the fuselage of the Challenger 650 is the same, so the aisle and the space beside the seats do not differ between the two.

Entertainment and connectivity on board:

• large HD screens on the cabin walls, HDMI sockets and a Blu-ray player
• a phone links to the cabin audio by Bluetooth
• the cabin Wi-Fi serves the entertainment system and does not give internet access by itself
• Ka-band satellite internet is an option that only some aircraft have, so mention it in the request if you need to work online

Two pilots fly the jet. A flight attendant is common in this class but depends on the aircraft and the operator, and the quote states it for each trip.

Baggage: 3.3 m³ inside the pressurised cabin

The Challenger 650 hold lies inside the pressurised part of the fuselage, behind the toilet. A bag with papers or a change of clothes can be fetched during the flight, and nothing in it freezes.

• Six passengers: large suitcases for everyone
• Four passengers: skis in covers and golf bags as well
• Ten passengers: one medium suitcase and one cabin bag each
• A large group with a lot of sports equipment: the Embraer Legacy 650 has a hold of 8.1 m³

Engines, range and runways

Two General Electric CF34-3B engines of the Challenger 650 give 9,220 lb (41 kN) of take-off thrust each, about 5 % more than in the 605. The range stays the same, but the Challenger 650 needs a shorter runway (1,720 m against 1,780 m) and lifts more from hot or high airports. Normal cruise is Mach 0.80, the maximum Mach 0.85. Bombardier's 7,408 km assume six passengers, two pilots and economy speed; wind, temperature, extra baggage and the choice of alternate airport change the figure on every flight.

The cockpit, called Bombardier Vision, is based on Collins Pro Line 21 with four large displays and a synthetic view of the terrain. A head-up display and an infrared camera (EVS) are options that help the crew on approaches in poor visibility.

The runway figures apply at maximum weight at sea level. In practice:

• Cannes-Mandelieu (1,539 m runway, 35 t weight limit) takes the Challenger 650 at reduced weight, which is enough for a short leg from Paris or Geneva
• Sion (2,000 m) needs a crew trained for the mountain approach, and Samedan (1,799 m at about 1,700 m elevation) works only at lower weight
• Lugano (1,414 m) is possible only with a clearly lighter aircraft, so Milan Linate is the usual choice for the Ticino
• London City: EASA approved the steep approach for the 604 and 605; whether a given Challenger 650 and its operator may land there, we check with the request
• Courchevel altiport (537 m, sloped) is too short for this type and needs a special qualification; the jet lands at Chambéry or Geneva instead

Flying the type in Europe

Sample flights from European hubs

The table runs from one-hour hops such as Munich - Sion to the longest legs: the Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the Atlantic crossing from London and Madrid. Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to 2 hours: capitals, the Alps, the Riviera and the Balearics

2 to 4 hours: islands, Iberia and North Africa

Over 4 hours: the longest legs, Gulf and New York included

Enter departure, destination and the number of passengers, and the calculator shows an indicative price for the Challenger 650 and for other classes that suit the distance.

How much does it cost to charter a Challenger 650

The indicative Challenger 650 rate is from EUR 8,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, whether two seats are filled or ten. On short legs the total is clearly above rate times flight time: London - Geneva takes 1:23 h and costs from EUR 23,000, Munich - Sion (0:59 h) from EUR 19,500. Positioning, the operator's minimum charge and the fixed costs of each departure weigh heavily on a one-hour flight.

Between two and four hours the fixed costs weigh less per hour: Amsterdam - Palma (2:11 h) is from EUR 30,000 and Hamburg - Malaga (3:05 h) from EUR 37,000. On the longest legs operators also count a long duty day and a return that may be flown empty, so Geneva - Doha (5:57 h) costs from EUR 58,000 and London - New York (7:00 h) from EUR 65,000.

The price covers the whole aircraft, so the share per person falls as more seats are filled, here on London - Geneva:

How to pay less for the same trip

• Same-day return: on a trip such as Frankfurt - Nice the crew waits and flies you back, with no hotel and no second positioning
• Several days away: compare a crew overnight with two empty legs, as the cheaper option changes with the route
• Flexible departure time: we can then pick an aircraft that ends another trip close to your airport
• The same cabin in an older version: a Challenger 604 or 605 has the same fuselage, is often cheaper per hour and more often free nearby
• A smaller jet: for three or four people on a leg under two hours, a super midsize jet saves a clear share of the price

Empty Legs on this type

Empty Legs on the Challenger 650 come up regularly with European operators, and more often if you also accept a 604 or 605 with the same cabin cross-section. Typical directions are returns to London, Geneva or Munich after summer weekends on the islands, flights back from the ski airports after winter Saturdays, and repositioning between Europe and the Gulf. Such a leg can be 30-60% below the normal price, as examples, not a promise.

Send your route and date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or check the Empty Legs page, and we tell you when a suitable leg appears.

Challenger 650 or a similar jet

Clients usually compare the Challenger 650 with its two predecessors on the same fuselage, with the smaller Challenger 350 and with the longer Embraer Legacy 650.

Booking a flight

For a quote we need:

• route, date and preferred departure time
• number of passengers and baggage, especially skis and golf bags
• any dog or cat, with breed, weight and carrier
• if you need satellite internet, a flight attendant or beds for a night flight, as these vary by aircraft

We check free Challenger 650 aircraft with AOC holders and quote the price with positioning included. Within Schengen there is no passport control, but the operator still needs each passenger's passport or ID, and EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA. If an operator cancels, we always try to find another aircraft or protect your payment, but each case depends on the operator's contract.

Questions before booking

• • How much does a Challenger 650 flight cost?

  • The rate starts at EUR 8,500 per flight hour. Paris Le Bourget - Nice costs from EUR 22,000, Zurich - Palma from EUR 25,000 and Zurich - Tenerife from EUR 46,000, for the whole aircraft one way. Airport fees and passenger taxes are added.

• • What is in the price, and what is charged on top?

  • The table price covers the aircraft, two pilots, fuel and positioning. Airport and handling fees, passenger taxes of the departure country, catering, a flight attendant where not included, de-icing in winter and crew costs for a multi-day trip appear in the quote item by item.

• • How can the trip cost less?

  • Fly out and back on the same day, keep the departure time flexible, ask about Empty Legs and allow a Challenger 604 or 605 with the same cabin. For three or four people on a short leg, a smaller jet is the cheaper choice.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Challenger 650?

  • Yes, regularly, and more of them if a 604 or 605 is acceptable. They follow the operators' schedules, for example from the islands back to the big hubs after summer weekends, and can be 30-60% cheaper. Date and route are fixed, and the leg can be withdrawn if the aircraft is sold for a full charter.

• • How many passengers fit in practice?

  • Bombardier allows up to 12 seats in the Challenger 650, and charter aircraft usually have 9 or 10. On legs of up to four hours nine people have enough room. On a night flight three or four can sleep flat, depending on the layout.

• • Is there internet on board?

  • It depends on the aircraft. The cabin Wi-Fi usually serves only the entertainment system, while Ka-band satellite internet is an option that some aircraft have. Mention it in the request and we look for an aircraft with a suitable system.

• • How far does it fly without a stop?

  • Bombardier quotes 7,408 km with six passengers. From European hubs this covers the Canaries, Tel Aviv, Riyadh and the Gulf. London - New York is within range on paper, but with a full cabin and winter headwinds the operator often plans a fuel stop.

• • How does the 650 differ from the 605?

  • The Challenger 650 engines give more take-off thrust, so it needs a shorter runway. The cockpit is newer and the interior was redesigned with large HD screens, wider seats and a bigger galley. Fuselage and range are the same, so both fly to the same destinations.

• • Can my dog fly in the cabin?

  • Yes, a dog or cat travels in the cabin next to its owner if the operator agrees in advance, so give the breed, weight and carrier in the request. Within the EU it needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment for dogs 1-5 days before entry, and the UK accepts animals only on approved routes and at airports that handle them.

• • Can the Challenger 650 land at Cannes, Sion or Courchevel?

  • Cannes-Mandelieu, yes, at reduced weight: the runway is 1,539 m and the jet needs 1,720 m at full weight. Sion, with a crew trained for the mountain approach. Courchevel, no: the sloped altiport runway is only 537 m long, so the nearest choices are Chambéry and Geneva.