8 aircraft12 to 14 seatsup to 6,750 nm
Heavy Jet Charter
Large cabin, cabin crew, and transatlantic capability.
The class
What a heavy jet is for
Heavy jets carry ten to sixteen passengers in separated cabin zones with a dedicated flight attendant. Most of the class crosses the North Atlantic nonstop, and the larger members reach South America and the Middle East from the US East Coast.
Across the 8 aircraft we track in this class, published range runs from 3,900 to 6,750 nautical miles and typical seating from 12 to 14. That spread matters. Two aircraft sold as the same class can differ by a thousand miles of range, which is the difference between a nonstop and a fuel stop on a transcontinental leg.
The aircraft in this class are Bombardier Challenger 650, Bombardier Challenger 605, Gulfstream G450, Gulfstream G550, Dassault Falcon 900LX, Dassault Falcon 7X, Dassault Falcon 8X and Embraer Legacy 650E.
Charter pricing does not follow the class boundary cleanly either. An older airframe in a larger class sometimes prices below a new one in the class beneath it, and the only way to find out on your date is to make operators bid.
| Aircraft | Seats | Range | Cruise | Cabin H | Runway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bombardier Challenger 650 | 12 | 4,000 nm | 470 kt | 6.1 ft | 5,640 ft |
| Bombardier Challenger 605 | 12 | 4,000 nm | 470 kt | 6.1 ft | 5,840 ft |
| Gulfstream G450 | 13 | 4,350 nm | 476 kt | 6.2 ft | 5,600 ft |
| Gulfstream G550 | 14 | 6,750 nm | 488 kt | 6.2 ft | 5,910 ft |
| Dassault Falcon 900LX | 12 | 4,750 nm | 482 kt | 6.2 ft | 5,215 ft |
| Dassault Falcon 7X | 14 | 5,950 nm | 488 kt | 6.2 ft | 5,710 ft |
| Dassault Falcon 8X | 14 | 6,450 nm | 488 kt | 6.2 ft | 5,880 ft |
| Embraer Legacy 650E | 13 | 3,900 nm | 458 kt | 6 ft | 5,614 ft |
Aircraft
Every heavy jet we quote
Bombardier Challenger 650
The widest cabin in its price class. A genuine three zone layout with a full galley and crew rest.
Bombardier Challenger 605
The previous generation of the same airframe and a very common charter heavy across North America and Europe.
Gulfstream G450
Long cabin with three living areas and baggage accessible in flight. Crosses the Atlantic from most of the eastern half of the United States.
Gulfstream G550
For two decades the reference intercontinental business jet. Sixteen panoramic windows and range that reaches most of the world in one or two legs.
Dassault Falcon 900LX
Three engines, which some operators prefer for long overwater sectors, and short field numbers unusual for the cabin size.
Dassault Falcon 7X
Digital fly by wire trijet with three cabin zones. Certified into airports many aircraft of this size cannot use, including London City.
Dassault Falcon 8X
The longest Falcon cabin, with more than thirty published interior layouts and a very low cabin sound level.
Embraer Legacy 650E
Three distinct cabin zones and by a wide margin the largest baggage hold in the class, fully accessible in flight.
Questions
Heavy Jets explained
How many passengers fit in a heavy jet?
Typical charter seating across the heavy jet class runs from 12 to 14 passengers. Maximum certificated seating is often higher, but the practical number is lower once baggage and sector length are accounted for, because seats and fuel compete for the same weight allowance.
How far can a heavy jet fly without stopping?
Manufacturer published range across this class runs from about 3,900 to 6,750 nautical miles. Treat those as the ceiling. Real range falls with a full cabin, hot conditions, high elevation departure fields and headwinds, so a book figure of 2,000 nm is a comfortable 1,600 nm mission.
Does a heavy jet have a lavatory?
4 of the 8 aircraft we list in this class have a fully enclosed lavatory. The rest use a curtained arrangement. It is worth specifying on the brief, because it is one of the few cabin details that reliably surprises people on the day.
Photography on this site is representative. It does not depict a specific aircraft, operator or tail number offered for charter.