Beechcraft Hawker 800XP

The Beechcraft Hawker 800XP is a twin-engine midsize jet from the long British 125 line, developed by Hawker Siddeley and British Aerospace and later built in the United States by Raytheon. More than 400 were delivered, the largest number of any Hawker version, and many still fly with charter operators, a good share of them in Europe.

The cabin of the Hawker 800XP is 6.50 m long, 1.83 m wide and about 1.75 m high, with eight seats and a toilet behind a door. On legs of one to four hours, such as Paris to Athens or Geneva to Lisbon, six passengers travel with room to spare. The weak point is baggage: about 1.40 m³, less than in younger jets of this class.

Cabin: four club seats, a divan and an enclosed toilet

From the cockpit wall to the rear bulkhead the cabin runs 6.50 m. A passenger up to about 1.75 m tall walks upright along the lowered aisle, a taller one stoops a little. The galley sits by the entrance, followed by four club seats facing in pairs across fold-out tables. Further back there is usually a single forward-facing seat, with a three-seat divan along the opposite wall. Six people sit with room for cabin bags; with eight the divan is full, and baggage becomes the first limit.

There is no bed: one person can lie on the divan, the others recline their seats. The galley usually has a coffee maker, an ice drawer and cupboards, in some aircraft a small microwave, so catering is mostly cold dishes. A flight attendant is not standard and the co-pilot often serves drinks; Wi-Fi also depends on the aircraft. Cabin pressure stays at sea level until the jet climbs above about 6,750 m.

Baggage: 1.40 m³ behind the toilet

The hold of the Hawker 800XP lies inside the fuselage behind the toilet, so a bag with medicine or a change of clothes can stay in the suitcase and still be reached in the air. A wardrobe by the door and stowage under the seats take coats and small items.

• Six passengers: one suitcase and one soft bag each.
• Golf bags and large suitcases for the whole group at once will not fit.
• Skis: give the number of pairs and the length of the bags.

On the longest legs with a full cabin the operator may ask for lighter bags or plan a fuel stop.

Engines, runways and noise

Two Honeywell TFE731-5BR engines of 20.7 kN each and an extra fuel tank under the fuselage give the Hawker 800XP 4,704 km of range with four passengers. With a full cabin and baggage we plan non-stop legs up to about 4,000 km, keeping a reserve for headwind and an alternate airport. The last aircraft built have Collins Pro Line 21 avionics; in older ones the cockpit depends on the owner's upgrades.

Flying an older midsize jet in Europe

Hawker 800XP flights from European hubs

Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance at 780 km/h plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: meetings, Alpine valleys and the islands

Two to four hours: Iberia, the Aegean and North Africa

Over four hours: from the Canaries to the Red Sea

• Every row is flown non-stop. London to Larnaca (4:43 h) and Milan to Jeddah (5:21 h) are close to our 4,000 km planning limit: with eight passengers, a full hold and a winter headwind the operator checks weight and wind first.
• Geneva to Madeira needs a captain qualified for that airport, which narrows the choice of aircraft.
• Mykonos gives private aircraft only about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet waits elsewhere.
• Tel Aviv, Jeddah and Larnaca lie outside Schengen: passports are checked on departure and arrival.

The calculator gives an indicative price for the Hawker 800XP or another midsize jet on your route.

What a Hawker 800XP charter costs

The rate starts at EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, with two pilots and fuel. A short leg costs much more than rate times flight time: Paris Le Bourget to Geneva takes 1:01 h and starts at EUR 9,500, as the price also carries the operator's minimum charge and the flights to and from base.

The longer the leg, the less these fixed costs weigh. In the table London Farnborough to Ibiza (2:17 h) starts at EUR 15,000, Paris Le Bourget to Athens (3:13 h) at EUR 19,500 and London Farnborough to Larnaca (4:43 h) at EUR 26,000.

The price covers the aircraft, not the seat, so on London Farnborough - Ibiza the share per person falls with each passenger:

How to fly cheaper

• Allow the 850XP and 900XP in the request: the cabin is the same and the choice of free aircraft grows.
• Fly out and back on the same day when the crew's duty time allows, which saves the hotel and a second positioning.
• Give a window of departure times, so the operator can join your trip to another flight.
• For a stay of three days or more, compare two one-way quotes with a quote where the aircraft waits.
• With up to four passengers on a leg under 90 minutes, ask for a light jet as well.

Empty Legs on the Hawker 800XP

As the Hawker 800XP and its successors, the 850XP and 900XP, are common in Europe, their Empty Legs come up fairly often, most of all in summer between London, the Riviera, northern Italy and Sardinia. Such a leg can be 30-60% cheaper than a full charter, but its date and route are fixed, and the operator may cancel it when the aircraft gets a paying trip.

Send your route and a window of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page; we watch all three versions for you.

Hawker 800XP or a similar midsize jet

How to request the aircraft

For a quote we need:

• route, date and departure time;
• number of passengers and a description of the baggage, with skis and golf bags listed apart;
• pets on board, with breed and weight;
• whether an 850XP or 900XP based nearer is acceptable.

We look for a free Hawker 800XP with operators holding an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and add alternatives of the same class. We always try to offer more than one aircraft, but each case depends on the operator's schedule and contract. Within Schengen there is no passport control, yet the operator needs passport or ID details of every passenger; EU citizens flying to the UK need an ETA.

Questions about the Hawker 800XP

• • How much does a Hawker 800XP flight cost?

  • From EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. In the table Geneva to Rome starts at EUR 11,500, Geneva to Lisbon at EUR 16,000 and Milan Linate to Marrakesh at EUR 19,500 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What makes up the price?

  • Flight time, the operator's minimum charge and positioning, which is why Zurich to Nice (1:03 h) starts at EUR 9,500. Airport fees, passenger taxes, catering, de-icing and crew hotels come on top.

• • How can I fly cheaper?

  • Accept an 850XP or 900XP based closer to you, return the same day if duty time allows and give a window of departure times.

• • Are there Empty Legs on this type?

  • Fairly often, as the 800XP and its successors are common in Europe. A matching leg can be 30-60% cheaper, but the date is fixed and the operator may cancel it.

• • How many passengers fit in a Hawker 800XP?

  • Usually eight: four club seats, a single seat and a three-seat divan. Six travel most comfortably, and children need their own seat.

• • Is there a toilet in the Hawker 800XP?

  • Yes, at the rear, in a separate room with a door, which also leads to the baggage hold.

• • How far can the jet fly without a stop?

  • We plan up to about 4,000 km with passengers: Paris to Tenerife takes 4:08 h and London to Larnaca 4:43 h. From western Europe, Dubai and Doha need a fuel stop.

• • Will skis or golf bags fit?

  • For a small group, yes: the 1.40 m³ hold takes 3-5 golf bags or several pairs of skis with a few soft bags. For six or eight people with equipment, the Hawker 750 has more room.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, in the cabin next to you once the operator knows the breed, weight and carrier. The EU requires 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 Cannes?

  • Not at London City: the jet uses Farnborough, Luton or Biggin Hill. Cannes-Mandelieu only with a reduced load, otherwise Nice.