Piaggio Avanti P180 II

The Piaggio Avanti P180 II is an Italian twin turboprop with an unusual shape: a small foreplane in the nose, the main wing behind the cabin and two Pratt & Whitney Canada engines driving pusher propellers. Piaggio quotes up to 745 km/h, so on legs of up to three hours it loses little time to a light jet. In charter it usually has six seats.

Milan Linate - Rome takes 1:14 h and Paris - Cannes 1:33 h. The strongest point of the Avanti is a cabin 1.75 m high, taller and wider than in light jets; the weak point is baggage, with a 1 m³ hold that takes only a few suitcases for six people.

A cabin you can almost stand in

According to Piaggio the cabin is 4.55 m long, 1.75 m high and 1.85 m wide, figures closer to a midsize jet than to a turboprop: a PC-12 or a light jet offers about 1.45-1.50 m of height. A person of average height walks the aisle nearly upright.

The engines sit behind the cabin, so the propeller sound comes from the rear. Internet depends on the aircraft and many have none.

Baggage: the limit of this aircraft

The hold is behind the cabin and loaded through an outside door, so anything needed in flight goes into the cabin. Skis and golf bags fit, but leave less room for suitcases.

Practical guide:

• six passengers: one soft bag and a small cabin item each
• four passengers: medium suitcases, and some items can travel on free seats
• skis for six people: a King Air 350 or a midsize jet is the better choice

A dog or cat travels in the cabin once the operator agrees; give breed, weight and carrier size. In the EU it needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport; the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry.

Speed, altitude and airports

The Avanti cruises at up to 745 km/h at about 9,450 m and can climb to 12,497 m, higher than the King Air, PC-12 or TBM. The pressurised cabin keeps it above most weather, as in a jet. Piaggio quotes a range of 2,722 km for the P180 II with NBAA IFR reserves; with a full cabin and bags it is shorter, which is why the table stops at about 1,500 km.

The Avanti EVO differs in several points, while the cabin dimensions stay the same:

• five-blade scimitar propellers, winglets and revised engine nacelles
• brakes with anti-skid protection
• according to Piaggio, 5 dB(A) less noise outside and 1 dB(A) less in the cabin
• 2,759 km range, or 3,278 km with the optional extra fuel, both with NBAA IFR reserves

At maximum weight and sea level the take-off to 15 m height needs 972 m and the landing 1,000 m, according to Piaggio:

European rules that matter here

• Two engines: the SET-IMC rule for single-engine aircraft does not apply, so night flights and flights in cloud are open to any operator with the type
• London City: if the operator lacks the approval, we plan Farnborough or another London airport and allow for a longer drive
• Domestic legs: Milan - Rome or Madrid - Malaga need an EU operator, London - Edinburgh a UK one
• Peak days: Nice and Geneva are slot-coordinated, so summer weekends and winter Saturdays need early booking

Avanti routes from European hubs

Thirty one-way legs from all thirteen hubs, all non-stop, from Geneva - Lugano at 217 km to Geneva - Lisbon at 1,496 km. Prices are for the whole aircraft with crew, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is based on the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: business cities and islands at near-jet speed

Two to four hours: non-stop with a moderate load

On legs such as Munich - Split (1:28 h) or Vienna - Rome (1:40 h) a light jet arrives only 10 to 20 minutes earlier. Madrid - Rome (2:34 h), Amsterdam - Palma (2:40 h) and Geneva - Lisbon (2:46 h) are at the upper end: with six people and full bags the operator may plan a fuel stop.

The calculator gives an indicative price for the Avanti or another class of aircraft on your own route.

Piaggio Avanti charter price

The rate starts at EUR 2,500 per flight hour for the aircraft with crew and fuel. Short legs cost more than this rate times the flight time, because taxi, climb and approach take the same time on any leg and the operator adds positioning and a minimum charge. Geneva - Lugano takes 0:50 h and costs from EUR 7,000.

With distance the gap narrows: Milan Linate - Rome (1:14 h) from EUR 8,000, Paris - Olbia (2:06 h) from EUR 10,000 and Geneva - Lisbon (2:46 h) from EUR 11,500. The price is for the whole aircraft, so with six people on board the cost per person is lowest.

For Milan Linate - Rome the cost per person depends on the group:

How to pay less

Empty Legs: mostly around Italy

Empty Avanti legs appear now and then, more often around Italy, where many of the aircraft are based, and on summer legs to Sardinia, Sicily and the Riviera. Discounts of 30-60% are examples, not guaranteed.

Avanti, King Air 350, PC-12 or Citation M2

Clients considering this aircraft usually compare it with another turboprop or a very light jet.

How to book

For a quote we need the route, date and departure time, the number of people and a description of the baggage, especially skis and golf bags. If London City or Lugano matters, say so at once, as it decides the operator.

We always try to find an Avanti close to your departure, but each case depends on the operator's availability and contract.

Questions about the Piaggio Avanti P180 II

• • How much does an Avanti flight cost?

  • From EUR 2,500 per flight hour. In the table London - Edinburgh costs from EUR 8,000, Nice - Palma from EUR 8,500 and London - Ibiza from EUR 11,500 for the whole aircraft one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What does the price include?

  • The aircraft, crew and fuel. Positioning, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the crew's hotel on a multi-day trip are added in the quote.

• • How can I make it cheaper?

  • Fly towards the operator's base, return the same day and stay flexible on the airport. Empty Legs help if your dates are open, mostly around Italy.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the Avanti?

  • Now and then, more often around Italy and on summer legs to the islands. Discounts of 30-60% are examples; the date and route are fixed, and the leg can be cancelled.

• • How many people fly comfortably?

  • Four to six. Six seats are standard, and the high cabin keeps it from feeling cramped even when full; with six people the hold rather than the cabin sets the limit.

• • Is there a toilet?

  • Yes, at the rear of the cabin. Some aircraft close it with a door, others with a curtain; if it matters, we choose one with an enclosed toilet.

• • Is it a jet?

  • No. It is a turboprop with two turbine engines and pusher propellers, but it flies at similar altitudes and only slightly slower than light jets, with a larger cabin than many of them.

• • How far can it fly, and how much baggage fits?

  • Piaggio quotes 2,722 km for the P180 II; the longest leg in the table is Geneva - Lisbon (2:46 h). The 1 m³ hold takes about four standard suitcases and is not reachable in flight.

• • Can it land at Lugano or London City?

  • The type is certified for the steep approach both airports require, but the operator and crew need their own approval, so we look for an operator that holds it. Courchevel is too short for the type.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin next to you once the operator has agreed. Bring the EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination, and give the dog's size in the request.