Dassault Falcon 20

The Dassault Falcon 20 opened the Falcon family and was the manufacturer's first business jet. In charter it counts as a midsize jet. The cabin is 7.32 m long, 1.70 m high and 1.85 m wide, and the usual layout has eight or nine seats including a divan. Dassault later built the three-engine Falcon 50 on the same fuselage, so the two share almost the same cross-section.

Falcon 20 cabin: wide, but showing its age

The cabin is 1.85 m wide, against 1.68 m in a Citation XLS, while 1.70 m of height means an adult of average height walks slightly stooped. A typical layout combines four club seats with a three-seat divan and one or two single seats. The toilet sits at the rear of the cabin.

Two pilots fly the Falcon 20. The quote states the year of build, the engine version, the date of the last cabin refit and photos of the cabin, so you can compare it with a newer aircraft.

Baggage: about 1.16 m³

The Falcon 20 hold is smaller than in newer jets of this size, such as the Citation XLS with 2.55 m³:

• Four people: large suitcases, with skis or golf bags alongside
• Six people: a medium suitcase and a cabin bag each
• Nine people: soft bags only

Whether the bags can be reached in flight depends on the aircraft. On legs of up to three hours weight rarely limits the group; volume does first.

Engines, noise and airports

Under the Falcon 20 name fly the C, D, E and F versions with General Electric CF700 engines, and converted aircraft with Garrett TFE731-5 engines, marked -5 (for example 20F-5). The parameter table gives the CF700 figures.

Before you book in Europe

• With few aircraft, the nearest one may belong to an operator from outside the EU, the UK included, which cannot normally fly a passenger leg within one EU country, such as Paris to Nice
• Nice and Geneva are slot-coordinated: on summer weekends on the Riviera and winter Saturdays at the ski airports, book early

Routes from European hubs

One-way prices for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance at the jet's economy speed plus taxi, climb and approach, without wind.

Up to 2 hours: the short legs that suit the type

2 hours and more: check the engine version

Mykonos allows private aircraft about 40 minutes of parking in summer, so the jet leaves after landing and comes back for you.

The calculator gives an indicative price for this model or a similar midsize jet on the route you choose.

What a Falcon 20 flight costs

The rate starts at EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, whatever the number of passengers. Short legs cost more than rate times flight time: London Farnborough to Geneva (1:28 h) starts at EUR 11,000, as the quote also covers the minimum charge and the flights to and from the jet's base.

On longer Falcon 20 legs this share shrinks: Paris to Lisbon (2:22 h) starts at EUR 15,000 and London to Athens (3:37 h) at EUR 21,000. With so few aircraft, positioning often decides the final price more than the leg itself.

Split between passengers, London Farnborough - Geneva works out as follows:

How to fly for less

Empty Legs on this type

Few aircraft fly passengers in Europe, so Empty Legs on a Falcon 20 are rare. When one turns up, it can cost 30-60% less than a full charter, on the operator's fixed date and route, and it can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a regular booking. For a cheap one-way flight, other midsize jets give far more chances.

Send your route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we watch legs on every jet of this size.

Falcon 20 or another midsize jet

Clients asking for the Falcon 20 usually want a wide cabin for legs of up to three or four hours, so we compare it with its successor and two common midsize jets.

How to request the jet

Send the route, date and time, the number of passengers and the baggage, including skis, golf bags and pets. Tell us whether a newer midsize jet is acceptable if no Falcon 20 is free nearby, and mention any late departure, so we can check the noise rules.

Dassault Falcon 20: questions and answers

• • How much does a Falcon 20 flight cost?

  • From EUR 4,500 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris Le Bourget to Nice starts at EUR 11,000, Zurich to Palma at EUR 12,500 and Geneva to Malaga at EUR 14,500 one way, before airport fees, passenger taxes and, often, positioning.

• • What makes up the price?

  • The aircraft, two pilots and fuel, plus positioning, airport and handling fees, noise charges at some airports, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel on an overnight trip. Each item is listed in the quote.

• • How can the trip cost less?

  • Fly back the same day, keep the time flexible and let us compare a newer midsize jet based closer to you, which saves the positioning.

• • Are there Empty Legs on this jet?

  • Rarely, as few aircraft fly passengers in Europe. When one fits your dates it can be 30-60% cheaper, on the operator's date and route.

• • How many passengers fit?

  • Most Falcon 20 aircraft have eight or nine seats, some ten. On a leg over two hours six people travel best, as the hold is small.

• • Is there a toilet on board?

  • Yes, at the rear of the cabin. Its fittings depend on the aircraft and on when the cabin was last refurbished.

• • What is the difference between CF700 and -5 aircraft?

  • CF700 aircraft fly about 3,350 km and are louder. Converted aircraft with TFE731-5 engines burn less fuel, are quieter and reach about 4,167 km with a full cabin. The quote names the version.

• • Can we bring skis or golf bags?

  • With four people, skis or golf bags usually fit beside the suitcases; with a full cabin they do not. Give their number and size in the request.

• • Can my dog fly with us?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin, once the operator agrees. The EU requires a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and a pet passport, and Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and the UK also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.