Learjet 31

The Learjet 31 joins the fuselage and the two Honeywell TFE731 turbofans of the Learjet 35 to a newer wing with winglets. Two small fins under the tail, called Delta Fins, keep the jet steady at low speed. The tip tanks of older Learjets are gone, which costs range but gives a short take-off run and a fast climb.

Learjet 31 cabin: the cross-section of the Learjet 35

The cabin is 3.94 m long, 1.32 m high and 1.50 m wide. A typical layout has four single seats, a three-seat divan at the rear and a side seat facing the door. The seats are comfortable, but you walk bent down the aisle, and with eight on board the divan has little legroom.

Three versions fly under the name:

• The original 31, of which only 38 were built.
• The 31A, almost every aircraft in service: higher cruise speed, digital avionics and a heated windscreen, with a higher take-off weight and thrust reversers as standard on later aircraft.
• The 31A ER, with extra fuel for about 324 km more range.

Catering is usually cold dishes and drinks, Wi-Fi is rare and two pilots always fly the jet.

Baggage: little space, good payload

In the Learjet 31 volume, not weight, sets the limit. Four passengers fit a cabin-size case and a bag each, six travel with soft bags. Many owners have fitted a Raisbeck locker in the rear fuselage, and the operator confirms in the quote whether the offered aircraft has one. For skis and golf bags, give the length of the covers.

Speed, runways and range

With every seat taken, economy cruise and NBAA IFR reserves, the Learjet 31 flies about 1,949 km. The Learjet 35 goes further on its tip tanks, while this wing trades fuel for runway performance.

Airports where the short take-off matters:

• Cannes-Mandelieu, 1,539 m and a 35 t limit that sends heavy jets to Nice.
• Sion, 2,000 m in the Valais with a mountain approach, close to Verbier and Crans-Montana.
• Samedan, only with a crew trained for the airport and a lower weight on warm days.
• Not Courchevel: the sloped altiport is only 537 m long and needs a special qualification, so the jet lands at Chambéry or Geneva.

Points to check in Europe

• Zurich puts the Learjet 31 and the rest of the 30 series in its quietest noise class.
• The free aircraft may come from an operator outside the EU, including the UK, which cannot normally fly a passenger leg inside one EU country, such as Madrid to Ibiza.
• Nice and Geneva are slot-coordinated: for summer weekends and winter Saturdays, book early.

Learjet 31 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 790 km/h plus half an hour for taxi, climb and approach.

Short hops up to 2 hours

Two hours and more, close to the range limit

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

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

What a Learjet 31 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. Short legs cost more than the rate times the flight time: a Learjet 31 from Paris Le Bourget to Geneva (1:01 h) starts at EUR 8,500, as the quote also covers the operator's minimum charge and the flights to and from the aircraft's base.

On longer legs this share shrinks. London Farnborough to Nice (1:49 h) starts at EUR 11,000 and Geneva to Athens (2:41 h) at EUR 14,000.

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

Paying less for the trip

Empty Legs on this type

With few aircraft in Europe, Empty Legs on the Learjet 31 are rare. When one appears, usually on a return to base from the Riviera, the islands or the Alps, it can cost 30-60% less than a full charter. The date and route are fixed, and the leg is 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 also watch the legs of other light jets at a similar hourly rate.

Similar jets to compare

Clients usually weigh the Learjet 31 against the Learjet 35 with the same cabin and against newer jets with an enclosed toilet.

How to request the jet

Send the route, date and time, the number of passengers and details of the baggage, especially skis and golf bags. Tell us if you accept another aircraft instead of a Learjet 31 and if a pet travels with you.

Learjet 31: questions and answers

• • How much does a Learjet 31 flight cost?

  • From EUR 3,200 per flight hour for the whole aircraft. Zurich to Cannes costs from EUR 8,500, London Farnborough to Nice from EUR 11,000 and Hamburg to Palma from EUR 13,500 one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What is included in the price?

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

• • How can the trip cost less?

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

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

  • Seldom, as few aircraft fly in Europe. If one fits, it can be 30-60% cheaper than a full charter, but on the operator's date and route.

• • How many passengers fit in a Learjet 31?

  • Usually six to eight, counting the divan and the side seat. Four to six travel in comfort, as the cabin is only 1.32 m high.

• • Is there a proper toilet?

  • No, only a toilet in the side seat opposite the door, behind a curtain. For an enclosed one, choose the Citation CJ3 or the Phenom 300.

• • How far does it fly without a stop?

  • About 2,389 km with IFR reserves and about 1,949 km with every seat taken: Geneva to Athens or Hamburg to Palma, but not to the Canary Islands.

• • 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 Sion or Samedan?

  • Sion yes, with 2,000 m of runway. Samedan only with a crew trained for the airport and a weight limit on warm days. The Courchevel altiport is too short.