Bombardier Challenger 850

The Bombardier Challenger 850 is the business version of the CRJ200 regional jet. It keeps the airliner's fuselage, wing and engines, but instead of 50 airline seats it has a three-zone cabin for 14 to 16 people, 14.78 m long, 1.86 m high and 2.50 m wide. A large galley and a toilet are at the front, and a second toilet at the rear leads to the baggage hold.

Bombardier first sold the design as the Challenger SE and the Challenger 800, later as the 850 with newer interiors. Only a small number were built, but several fly with European operators. The jet makes sense for a group that wants to travel together, with separate areas to work, eat and rest; for four or five people a smaller jet is the better buy.

Challenger 850 cabin: three zones and two toilets

Bombardier offered several layouts. A typical one:

In the CRJ airliner four seats stand in each row, so the Challenger 850 has a wide aisle, and at 1.86 m most people walk upright. Operators quote up to six sleeping places, depending on the layout. Two pilots fly the aircraft, and with a large group operators usually add a cabin attendant. Interiors vary in age and condition, and Wi-Fi depends on the aircraft.

Baggage: 5.72 m³ for the whole group

The 5.72 m³ hold of the Challenger 850, behind the rear toilet, can be reached in flight. Operators estimate it at about 25 standard suitcases, so fourteen people each bring a large case and there is still room for some skis or golf bags; with ten passengers the whole group's sports equipment usually fits. Tell us the number of skis, golf bags or bike cases with the request.

Dogs and cats fly in the cabin with the owner once the operator agrees. In the EU they need a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an EU pet passport. Dogs entering the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway also need a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival, and the UK accepts animals only via approved routes and airports.

Performance and airports

Two General Electric CF34-3 engines power the Challenger 850. Market data give 5,530 km with four passengers and IFR reserves, thanks to extra tanks in the rear fuselage and the slower economy cruise. With a full cabin, headwind and a distant alternate airport the real distance is shorter, so the route table plans with about 4,500 km per leg. The Collins Pro Line 4 cockpit is older than in new jets, but airframe parts are easy to find, as many CRJs still fly with airlines.

The long take-off run decides which airports work:

• At a warmer or higher airport in summer the required runway grows clearly beyond the sea-level figure, so for a full-cabin return the operator checks the departure airport first
• Use Nice instead of Cannes-Mandelieu, Milan instead of Lugano, Geneva or Zurich instead of Sion and Samedan
• The Courchevel altiport, 537 m long and sloped, is far too short and needs a special qualification; skiers land in Geneva or Chambéry

Challenger 850 routes from European hubs

The table lists 30 one-way routes from all thirteen hubs: business cities, Ibiza and Majorca, Greece and Andalusia, Morocco, Israel, Egypt, the Canaries and the Gulf from Larnaca. Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time follows the great circle with taxi, climb and approach added.

Up to 2 hours: city hops and the islands

2 to 4 hours, the usual trip for a large group

Over 4 hours, close to the range with a full cabin

• All rows are non-stop; the longest is Milan Linate - Jeddah, 3,786 km in 5:14 h
• On the Canaries, Madrid - Tel Aviv and Jeddah rows a full cabin with heavy baggage may need a fuel stop, which the operator confirms in the quote
• From the western hubs Dubai is beyond safe range with a full group; for the Gulf we quote an Embraer Legacy 650 or a Challenger 605

Zurich - Paris (1:06 h) and Geneva - Olbia (1:19 h) show the price of a large cabin on a short hop; for four people a light jet does it for a fraction.

The calculator gives an indicative price for the Challenger 850 on your route, including departures from regional airports with long enough runways.

How much does it cost to charter a Challenger 850

The Challenger 850 rate starts at EUR 8,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. On short trips the total is above the rate times flight time, because positioning, the minimum charge and handling form a fixed part: Zurich - Paris costs EUR 17,000 for 1:06 h and London - Nice EUR 23,000 for 1:48 h.

Munich - Palma costs EUR 25,000 and Paris - Tenerife EUR 41,000, one way. The price is the same for four passengers as for sixteen, so with a full cabin the cost per person is low for a private jet, and one Challenger 850 often costs less than two midsize jets for the same group.

Divided between the passengers, Paris - Ibiza works out like this:

How to fly for less

• Fill the cabin: a Challenger 850 pays off for twelve to sixteen people, not for six
• Ask for the Challenger 800 and the Legacy 600 as well, since the aircraft parked nearest usually sets the price
• For a return after a few days we compare the crew's stay with two empty positioning flights and quote the cheaper option
• Keep the date flexible enough to use an aircraft already heading your way

Empty Legs on this type

With such a small fleet, empty legs on this exact type are less frequent than on common heavy jets. When one appears, it offers a very large cabin at a price that can be 30-60% below a normal charter, as an example rather than a promise; date and route are fixed, and the flight can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a full charter. Send the route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or check the Empty Legs page.

Challenger 850, Legacy 600, Legacy 650 or Challenger 605

Large groups also fly in other business versions of regional jets; for a smaller group the Challenger 605 is the usual alternative.

How to book

Send the route, date, number of passengers and baggage, especially sports equipment. For a group of twelve or more we check available Challenger 850, Challenger 800 and Legacy aircraft and quote the price including positioning. Within Schengen there is no passport control, but the operator needs passport or ID details for every passenger; EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Questions about the Challenger 850

• • How much does a Challenger 850 cost from Paris to Ibiza?

  • From EUR 24,000 one way for the whole aircraft, about 1:54 h. With twelve passengers that is about EUR 2,000 each; the French TSBA of about EUR 420 per passenger and airport fees come on top.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight hours at the rate, positioning, crew costs on stays, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, and extras such as a cabin attendant for a large group, catering or de-icing, all listed in the quote.

• • How can I fly cheaper?

  • Fill the cabin, open the request to the Challenger 800 and Legacy 600, keep the date flexible and look out for empty legs, which can be 30-60% below a normal charter in some cases.

• • Are there empty legs on this type?

  • Sometimes, but less often than on common heavy jets, as few aircraft fly. A date window and some flexibility on the departure airport raise the chances.

• • How many passengers fit in a Challenger 850?

  • 14 to 16 in executive layout, and up to 19 are allowed. Up to three hours a full cabin travels comfortably; for a night flight when everyone wants to sleep, plan up to six.

• • How many toilets are there?

  • Two, at the front and at the rear. The rear one leads to the baggage hold, so a suitcase can be reached in flight.

• • Can it fly non-stop to the Canaries or Dubai?

  • Paris - Tenerife (4:03 h) is within range with a moderate load; with a full cabin and heavy baggage the operator may plan a stop in Spain. Larnaca - Dubai is easy, but from most hubs further west the Gulf is a job for a Legacy 650 or a Challenger 605.

• • Will the whole group's skis fit?

  • Usually yes. With fourteen people each has a suitcase and part of the group can bring equipment; with ten, all of it as a rule. Tell us the number of skis and bags, and the operator confirms space and weight.

• • Can it land at small airports such as Cannes or Lugano?

  • No. With about 1,920 m needed at maximum weight the jet uses Nice, Milan, Geneva or Zurich, and Courchevel is reached by road or helicopter from Geneva or Chambéry.

• • Can I take my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin, once the operator agrees. In the EU the dog needs a microchip, a pet passport and a rabies vaccination; the UK has stricter rules.