Beechcraft Premier I

The Beechcraft Premier I is a twin-engine light jet with a fuselage made of carbon fibre. The thin composite shell leaves more room inside for the same weight, so the cabin is 1.65 m high and 1.68 m wide, more than in most jets of its class. There are six seats and an enclosed toilet at the rear, and the type is certified for a single pilot.

Premier I cabin: taller than most light jets

The four front seats face each other in a club and slide, swivel and recline almost flat, with two more seats behind them. With 1.65 m to the ceiling and a flat floor, a person of average height walks to the toilet only slightly bent, while the Citation CJ2 and CJ3 have a cabin 1.45 m high.

Baggage: three compartments, about 2.1 m³

Together that is about 2.1 m³, more than many jets of this size carry. Four passengers fit a medium suitcase each in the Premier I, and the rear hold also takes golf bags or skis if you give their length in advance.

Speed, airports and crew

Two Williams FJ44-2A engines give about 10 kN of thrust each. The 2,500 km range is the manufacturer's maximum with a light load. With six passengers and NBAA IFR reserves it falls to about 1,370 km, and with four on board and moderate bags legs of about 1,800 km work without a stop.

What the runway figures mean for airports:

Rules that matter for this jet in Europe

• At 5,670 kg maximum take-off weight the Premier I stays under the 5.7 t line, so a departure from the UK is exempt from Air Passenger Duty.
• The type is certified for one pilot, but the operator decides on the crew. A second pilot does not take a passenger seat, though it leaves less weight for fuel and bags.
• Nice and Geneva are slot-coordinated, and on winter Saturdays slots and parking at ski airports are limited: book early for those days.

Premier I routes and prices

One-way prices for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is the great-circle distance at 740 km/h plus half an hour for taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: the jet's home ground

Over two hours: watch the load

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

What a Premier I flight costs

The rate is from EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, whatever the number of passengers. A short leg costs more than rate times flight time: Paris Le Bourget to Geneva (1:03 h) starts at EUR 8,000, as the price also covers the operator's minimum charge and the flights to and from the aircraft's base.

On longer legs that share is smaller. London Farnborough to Geneva (1:31 h) starts at EUR 9,500, London to Cannes (1:54 h) at EUR 11,000 and Hamburg to Palma (2:44 h) at EUR 13,500.

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

How to fly for less

Empty Legs on this jet

With few aircraft in Europe, Empty Legs on a Premier I come up only occasionally, mostly on returns from the Riviera, the Balearics or the Alps, at 30-60% below a full charter. The route and date are fixed, and the leg can be cancelled if the aircraft gets a full booking.

Send your route and date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we also check legs on other light jets.

Light jets to compare

On similar routes clients weigh the Premier I against the Citation CJ2, the smaller Phenom 100, the Hawker 400XP with its longer cabin and the newer Phenom 300.

How to book

Send the route, date and time, the number of passengers and the baggage, with the length of skis or golf bags. On legs over about 1,300 km, add the approximate weight of the bags.

Beechcraft Premier I: questions and answers

• • How much does a Premier I cost per hour?

  • From EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, whatever the number of passengers. Paris Le Bourget to Geneva starts at EUR 8,000 and London Farnborough to Cannes at EUR 11,000 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What is not included in the hourly rate?

  • Positioning, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel on an overnight trip, all listed in the quote.

• • How can the flight cost less?

  • Return the same day, keep the departure time flexible and let us compare light jets based near you.

• • Can I find an Empty Leg on this type?

  • Sometimes, but not often, as few aircraft fly in Europe. If one fits your dates, it can be 30-60% cheaper, on the operator's route and date.

• • How many passengers fit in the Premier I?

  • Six in seats. Three or four travel most comfortably, as there is weight left for bags and fuel. With six on board the range is about 1,370 km: Paris to Geneva or London to Zurich, while London to Palma is at the limit.

• • Is there a toilet on board?

  • Yes, at the rear in an enclosed compartment, next to a baggage locker you can reach in flight.

• • How far does the Premier I fly non-stop?

  • Up to about 2,500 km, but not with a full cabin. With four people London to Ibiza works, while Hamburg to Palma depends on the weight of the bags and the wind.

• • Can we bring skis or golf bags?

  • Usually yes, in the rear external hold of about 1.25 m³ and up to 181 kg. Give the number and length of the covers, and the operator confirms they fit with the suitcases.

• • Can my dog fly with us?

  • Yes, a small dog travels in the cabin once the operator has agreed. 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 land at Cannes or Samedan?

  • Cannes-Mandelieu, yes. Samedan only with a trained crew and a lower weight on warm days, and the Courchevel altiport is too short.