Gulfstream G550

The Gulfstream G550 grew out of the Gulfstream V: the same fuselage, an improved version of the Rolls-Royce BR710 engine and the PlaneView cockpit. The cabin is 13.39 m long without the baggage hold, 1.88 m high and 2.24 m wide. Gulfstream certifies up to 19 passengers, while charter aircraft usually have 12 to 16 seats in three zones.

With 12,501 km of range the jet links Western Europe with New York, Miami, the Maldives, Los Angeles and Cape Town without a fuel stop. A night sector suits about six sleepers. On a one-hour hop inside Europe the client pays for a large aircraft and uses none of that range, so a smaller jet is the better buy there.

Gulfstream G550 cabin: three zones and room to sleep

Compared with the Gulfstream V the entry door moved forward, and the space gained went to the cabin. Large oval windows bring daylight into the middle zone as well. At maximum altitude the cabin pressure equals about 1,800 m above sea level, which passengers notice as less fatigue after a night flight.

A typical layout from front to rear:

• The galley at the entrance heats and plates meals; many aircraft also have a crew rest seat and a small toilet there
• The main washroom with a door and a basin closes the cabin at the rear, with the way into the baggage hold behind it
• Connectivity varies: some aircraft have satellite internet good enough for video calls, others only a link for email and messaging
• A cabin attendant depends on the operator, though on long sectors most operators provide one

Baggage: 6.4 m³ in a heated hold

Operators count about a dozen large suitcases in the hold. Skis, snowboards, golf bags and a pushchair go in with them, while coats and hand luggage stay in the wardrobes by the door and next to the seats.

Range, speed and airports

Gulfstream quotes the G550 range at Mach 0.80 with four crew. On shorter sectors crews fly faster, and with a full cabin, a strong headwind or a distant alternate airport the operator recalculates the longest legs for the actual day. The route table uses a planning limit of about 10,600 km for non-stop legs. In the PlaneView cockpit a head-up display with an infrared camera is standard and helps on approaches in poor visibility.

Runways in practice:

Flying the type in Europe

Non-stop G550 routes from European hubs

Thirty routes from all thirteen hubs, from Paris - London (0:54 h) to Paris - Cape Town (11:16 h), each without a fuel stop. Prices are one way for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight times follow the great circle plus taxi, climb and approach; for Delhi, Mumbai and Hong Kong the distance already includes a detour around closed airspace.

Short European legs: what the jet costs at the low end

Two to four hours: southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East

Over four hours: where the range of the type pays

• To New York (6:51 h from London) a lot of fuel reserve remains, so a full cabin and winter headwinds rarely change the plan
• Paris - Cape Town (9,360 km, 11:16 h) and Hamburg - Los Angeles (9,064 km, 10:55 h) come close to the planning limit; with a full cabin and heavy bags the operator recalculates them for the day
• Routes to the Gulf, India and Hong Kong depend on which airspace is open, and the exact flight time comes with the quote
• Tokyo, Singapore and Australia usually need a fuel stop, which we plan from the start

The European legs show the price floor of the type. For four or six passengers on such trips a midsize or super midsize jet costs far less, and we offer one alongside.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the G550 on any route you enter, including departures from regional airports across Europe.

How much does it cost to charter a G550

The flight-hour rate starts at EUR 12,500 for the whole aircraft with crew and fuel. On short legs the total is higher than the rate multiplied by flight time, because positioning, the operator's minimum charge and handling form a fixed part: Paris - London costs EUR 19,000 for 0:54 h and Nice - Mykonos EUR 38,000.

Long sectors bring other costs: an augmented crew on very long days, crew hotels and several days away from base. London - New York costs EUR 87,000, London - Miami EUR 105,000 and Paris - Cape Town EUR 140,000. Rates of individual aircraft spread widely, since the type was built over many years and cabins differ in age.

The price covers the whole aircraft, so the cost per person on London - New York depends only on how many fly:

How to pay less for this jet

• For a return after a few days, ask us to compare the jet waiting with its crew against two separate trips; we always try to quote both
• Give a flexible date, so we can use an aircraft that ends another charter near your departure airport
• Choose an earlier aircraft with an older cabin if the interior matters less than the price
• Up to about eight hours, ask for a quote on a Gulfstream G450 as well: same cabin cross-section, lower hourly rate
• For a small group in Europe, take a smaller jet and keep the G550 for the long sectors

Seats on a shared G550 flight are rare, since groups charter the whole aircraft. We offer single seats only when an operator publishes them.

Empty Legs on this Gulfstream

Empty sectors on the G550 appear mostly across the Atlantic, between Europe and the Gulf, and on returns to London or Geneva after a long charter. Because many aircraft fly in Europe, such offers come up more often than for newer ultra-long-range jets. The price can be 30-60% below a normal charter, as an example and not a promise.

• The operator sets the date and route; the departure time moves only within narrow limits
• If the aircraft gets a full charter, the leg can be withdrawn
• The return is not part of the offer and is booked separately

Send the route and a date window to empty-legs@jets.flights or through the Empty Legs page, and we write when a suitable aircraft appears.

G550, G650, Global 6000, Falcon 7X or G450

For a transatlantic trip the G550 usually shares a quote with the newer G650, the Global 6000 and the three-engine Falcon 7X. If the trip stays under about eight hours, the G450 is the lower-cost option.

How to book

For a quote we need:

• route and dates for both directions
• number of passengers and how many want to sleep on a night sector
• a baggage list with skis, golf bags and large cases
• any dog or cat on board
• whether internet on board is a must

We check free aircraft with operators holding an AOC and send a quote with the operator, the aircraft and its age, the cabin plan, positioning and taxes. If an operator cancels, we always try to find another aircraft or protect your payment, but each case depends on the operator's contract.

Questions about the Gulfstream G550

• • How much does a G550 from London to New York cost?

  • From EUR 87,000 one way for the whole aircraft, about 6:51 h from Farnborough to New York. With eight passengers that is about EUR 10,900 each. Airport fees and UK Air Passenger Duty come on top, and for a return after a few days we price both a waiting crew and two separate trips.

• • What makes up the final price?

  • Flight time at the hourly rate, positioning of the aircraft, crew hotel and allowances if it waits, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes of the departure country, catering and, in winter, de-icing. Each item appears on its own line in the quote.

• • How can I fly cheaper on this type?

  • Keep the date flexible, accept an older cabin, and for trips up to about eight hours compare with a G450. On a return after a few days we check whether waiting or two empty positioning legs costs less.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the G550?

  • Yes, mostly across the Atlantic and between Europe and the Gulf, when an aircraft flies home after a charter. They can be 30-60% below a normal price in some cases. Date and route are fixed, and the leg can be cancelled.

• • How many people fit, and how many can sleep?

  • Charter aircraft usually have 12 to 16 seats, and Gulfstream certifies 19. By day everyone sits comfortably; on a night sector about six can lie flat, depending on the layout.

• • How many toilets are there?

  • The main washroom with a door and a basin is at the rear. Many aircraft have a second, smaller toilet by the entrance, used mostly by the crew. The cabin plan of the specific aircraft comes with the offer.

• • Can the G550 fly non-stop to Los Angeles or Cape Town?

  • Yes. London - Los Angeles is 8,737 km and takes about 10:33 h, Paris - Cape Town 11:16 h. On the longest legs with a full cabin and headwind the operator checks whether a fuel stop is needed.

• • Will skis and golf bags fit?

  • Yes. The 6.4 m³ hold takes skis and golf bags along with the suitcases. On long sectors with a full cabin the operator asks for the total weight.

• • Can I take my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin, if the operator agrees. Within the EU the dog needs a microchip, rabies vaccination and a pet passport; the USA and the UK have extra rules, which we check before booking.

• • Can the G550 land in Cannes or Courchevel?

  • No. It is too heavy for Cannes-Mandelieu and lands in Nice. For Courchevel the jet flies to Geneva or Chambéry, and the transfer continues by car or helicopter.