Aircraft class
Light Jet Charter: Cost, Range & Best Aircraft
Light jets are the workhorses of private aviation, the most cost-efficient way to fly private on short domestic legs of one to three hours. They seat six or seven, reach small runways big jets can't, and price well below their midsize cousins.
Seats
6–7
Range
~1,500 nm
Per hour
$2,600–3,800
Examples
Citation CJ3
Strengths
- Lowest hourly rate of any pure jet, the entry point to flying private.
- Access to shorter runways. Aspen still publishes a 95-foot wingspan limit and high density altitude, so a light cabin is not permission to land.
- Ideal for 1–3 hour legs: LA–Las Vegas, New York–DC, Miami–Nassau.
Trade-offs
- Standing headroom is limited, most light cabins are sit-only (about 4'9"–4'11").
- The class summary uses about 1,500 nm. Check the type page before treating a longer leg as nonstop.
- Baggage and full-fuel-with-full-seats payload are tighter than a midsize.
Light Jets aircraft
Routes this class suits
Light Jet charter FAQ
How is a light jet priced on the routes this page links?
The hourly band is $2,600–3,800 in 2026. Every route linked here is short enough that the rate model bills the two-hour daily minimum: Los Angeles to Las Vegas, New York to Washington, Miami to Nassau, and San Francisco to Las Vegas. Miami to Nassau is international in the rate model: no 7.5 percent domestic excise tax, plus the $1,200 handling allowance, which is not a customs invoice. Los Angeles to Las Vegas, New York to Washington, and San Francisco to Las Vegas are domestic, and the 7.5 percent federal excise tax is already inside those ranges.
How many passengers does a light jet seat?
The class summary seats 6–7, with a class range of ~1,500 nm. Short domestic hops for up to 6–7 passengers. A type page can publish a different seat count or a longer range than that summary.
Which light jet types are priced on this site?
The type pages in this class are Embraer Phenom 300 (1,971 nm), Bombardier Learjet 75 (2,040 nm). Each one uses this hourly band and its own published range.
Charter a light jet
Tell us your route and party, an advisor prices the right aircraft after the request is saved for review.