IAI 1124A Westwind II

The IAI 1124A Westwind II is the last version of a family that began with the American Jet Commander and was then developed and built by Israel Aircraft Industries. This version received a new centre section of the wing and winglets on top of the tip tanks. Two Honeywell TFE731-3 turbofans, formerly Garrett, are mounted high on the rear fuselage, and the wing sits mid-way up the fuselage rather than below it.

Cabin: seven seats in a narrow fuselage

The Westwind II cabin is 4.72 m long, 1.47 m wide and 1.50 m high. You sit comfortably but walk with your head bent, and in width the cabin is closer to a light jet than to a newer midsize one. The usual layout has four club seats facing in pairs and a three-seat divan along the side, with a cabinet for drinks and snacks opposite.

Interiors have been refurbished many times over the years, so seats, cabinet and toilet differ between aircraft. Before booking we ask the operator for photos of the cabin and a list of the equipment.

Baggage and payload

In the Westwind II most baggage goes in the hold in the rear fuselage, which cannot be reached in flight. The cabin locker is for the bags you need during the trip.

What fits:

• Seven passengers: a medium suitcase and a small bag each
• Skis and golf bags: give the number and length in your request
• Legs near the range limit, such as Frankfurt to Tenerife: with full tanks only about 417 kg remains, so the operator may reduce the number of people or bags

Speed, runway and age

According to Business Jet Traveler, the Westwind II covers about 3,460 km with every seat taken, at economy cruise and with NBAA IFR reserves including an alternate 370 km away. The maximum range of 4,741 km applies only with a light load.

Runway length is the main limit. At its maximum take-off weight of 10,659 kg the jet needs 1,905 m:

Points to check for a European trip

• London to Edinburgh is a UK domestic leg, which an EU operator cannot fly, while a UK operator cannot normally fly a leg within one EU country, such as Paris to Nice.
• Istanbul, Marrakesh and Tel Aviv are outside Schengen: bring passports, and ask us about the papers for a pet.
• Nice and Geneva are slot-coordinated: for summer weekends and winter Saturdays, book early.

Westwind II 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 760 km/h plus half an hour for taxi, climb and approach.

Up to 2 hours: more jet than the leg needs

Two to four hours: the type's natural range

Over 4 hours: close to the range limit

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

What a Westwind II flight costs

The rate is from EUR 3,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. A short leg costs more than that rate times the flight time: Paris Le Bourget to Geneva (1:02 h) starts at EUR 9,000, because the quote also covers the operator's minimum charge and the flights to and from the jet's base.

Over longer legs the hourly rate carries more of the price. London Farnborough to Geneva (1:29 h) starts at EUR 10,500, Paris to Lisbon (2:25 h) at EUR 14,000 and London to Athens (3:42 h) at EUR 18,000.

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

Ways to pay less

Empty Legs on the type

With so few aircraft in Europe, an Empty Leg on a Westwind II is a matter of luck. Other midsize and light jets have them more often, usually on returns from the Riviera, the Balearics or the Alps, at 30-60% below a full charter. The date and route are fixed, and the leg can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a regular booking.

Send your route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we watch the legs of similar jets for you.

Newer jets of the same size

A client asking for a Westwind II usually needs a jet for six or seven people with the range to reach Spain or Greece. These are easy to find in Europe.

How to request the jet

Send the route, date, number of passengers and baggage, including skis, golf bags and pets. Tell us if a newer jet of the same size is acceptable when no Westwind II is free.

IAI 1124A Westwind II: questions and answers

• • How much does a Westwind II flight cost?

  • From EUR 3,300 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Paris Le Bourget to Geneva starts at EUR 9,000, London Farnborough to Geneva at EUR 10,500 and Paris to Lisbon at EUR 14,000 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What does the price include?

  • The aircraft, two pilots and fuel. Positioning, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel on an overnight trip are shown separately in the quote.

• • How can the trip cost less?

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

• • Are there Empty Legs on this jet?

  • Rarely, as few aircraft fly in Europe. Empty Legs on similar jets can be 30-60% cheaper, on the operator's date and route.

• • Can I charter a Westwind II in Europe?

  • Seldom. The type is no longer built and few aircraft fly here, so we usually also offer a Hawker 800XP, Citation XLS or Learjet 60.

• • How many passengers fit in the Westwind II, and is there a toilet?

  • Usually seven. Layouts for up to ten exist, but the cabin is then tight. The typical layout has a full-width toilet at the rear, depending on the aircraft.

• • How far does it fly non-stop?

  • About 3,460 km with every seat taken: London to Athens, London to Tenerife or Geneva to Tel Aviv. From Frankfurt, Tenerife is near the limit with a full cabin.

• • How much baggage fits?

  • About 1.39 m³ in all, 1.13 m³ in the tail hold and a small cabin locker. With seven on board, a medium suitcase and a small bag each.

• • Can my dog fly with us?

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

• • Can it use small airports?

  • Hardly. At maximum weight it needs about 1,905 m of runway, so Cannes-Mandelieu works only at a lower weight and mountain airports are out. For such trips, the Citation XLS is the better choice.