Categories of Charter Aircraft: A Practical Guide
Choosing the right aircraft starts with the category. Each class balances cabin size, range and cost differently. These are the main categories you will meet when arranging a charter, with typical capacity, range and examples of types commonly found in charter fleets today.
1. Turboprops
Typical capacity: 4–9 seats. Typical range: up to about 1,500 nm.
Best for short regional trips and smaller runways that jets cannot always use.
Examples: Beechcraft King Air 350/360, Pilatus PC-12, Piaggio P.180 Avanti.
2. Light jets
Typical capacity: 4–8 seats. Typical range: about 1,200–2,000 nm.
Efficient and quick for trips of one to three hours.
Examples: Embraer Phenom 300E, Cessna Citation CJ4, Pilatus PC-24.
3. Midsize jets
Typical capacity: 7–9 seats. Typical range: about 2,000–2,900 nm.
A comfortable cabin for longer trips within Europe or on domestic routes.
Examples: Cessna Citation Latitude, Embraer Praetor 500, Learjet 75.
4. Super-midsize jets
Typical capacity: 8–10 seats. Typical range: about 3,200–4,000 nm.
A wide cabin with the range for long sectors without a fuel stop.
Examples: Bombardier Challenger 350/3500, Cessna Citation Longitude, Embraer Praetor 600.
5. Large jets
Typical capacity: 10–16 seats. Typical range: about 4,000–4,750 nm.
A full stand-up cabin, galley and room to rest on longer flights.
Examples: Bombardier Challenger 650, Dassault Falcon 2000 and Falcon 900 series.
6. Ultra-long-range jets
Typical capacity: 12–19 seats. Typical range: about 6,000–8,000 nm.
Non-stop intercontinental flights, such as Europe to Asia.
Examples: Gulfstream G650/G700, Bombardier Global 6000/7500.
7. VIP airliners
Typical capacity: 19–50+ seats in VIP layouts. Typical range: about 5,000–6,500 nm.
Bedrooms, dining and meeting areas, suited to delegations, sports teams travelling in comfort and heads of state.
Examples: Boeing Business Jet, Airbus ACJ319/ACJ320, ACJ TwoTwenty.
8. Seaplanes and amphibians
Typical capacity: 6–19 seats. Typical range: short regional sectors.
Islands, lakes and coastal resorts where there is no runway.
Examples: DHC-3 Otter, DHC-6 Twin Otter on floats, Cessna Caravan Amphibian.
9. Airliners for group charter and ACMI
Typical capacity: 70 to 400+ seats.
Sports teams, tour groups, events and pilgrimage programmes. Airlines that need extra capacity can also take these aircraft on an ACMI (wet lease) basis, with aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance provided.
Examples: ATR 72, Embraer E-Jets, Airbus A320 family, Boeing 737, Airbus A330, Boeing 777.
10. Cargo freighters
Typical payload: from about 8 to over 100 tonnes.
One-off and programme cargo, perishables, outsize loads, livestock and humanitarian flights.
Examples: ATR 72F, Boeing 737-800BCF, Boeing 767-300F, Airbus A330P2F, Boeing 777F, Boeing 747-400F.
Not sure which category fits?
Send us your route, passenger numbers or cargo, and dates, and we will propose the right aircraft. Read more about Air Charter or contact us with your requirement.
