Not all private jets are the same. The right aircraft for a one-hour hop is completely different from what you'd want for a transatlantic crossing. Here's how to choose.
One of the most common questions from first-time private flyers is: which aircraft category should I choose? The answer depends on three things: the length of your route, the number of passengers, and your tolerance for cabin size. Here's a breakdown of the main categories you'll encounter on Premiere Flight.
Light jets are the workhorses of the European empty leg market. Aircraft like the Citation CJ2, Phenom 300, and Pilatus PC-12 seat four to six passengers and are optimised for routes under two hours. They're fast to board, easy to park at smaller FBOs, and because they're the most common aircraft type in Europe, they generate the highest volume of empty leg availability. If you're flying London to Paris or Geneva to Nice, a light jet is almost always the right answer.
Midsize jets step up the cabin significantly. Aircraft like the Citation XLS, Learjet 75, and Hawker 800 offer stand-up or near-stand-up cabins, more luggage capacity, and a range of three to four hours. They're ideal for routes like London to Ibiza, Paris to Dubrovnik, or Amsterdam to Malaga. The per-seat cost is higher, but for groups of five to eight people the value proposition is strong.
Super midsize and heavy jets - the Challenger 350, Falcon 2000, and Global 5000 - start to make sense for longer European routes (London to Dubai, Geneva to Riyadh) or for groups that genuinely need the cabin space. These aircraft have full galleys, separate seating zones, and ranges exceeding 5,000 nautical miles. As empty legs they appear less frequently, but when they do they represent extraordinary value given the standard charter cost.
Corporate turboprops like the Pilatus PC-12 deserve a special mention. Technically not jets, they offer excellent short-field performance, access to smaller airstrips, and competitive pricing. For routes into destinations with limited runway infrastructure - coastal strips in Croatia, mountain airfields in Switzerland - they're often the only practical option.
On Premiere Flight you can filter by aircraft category directly from the browse page. If you're new to private aviation and uncertain which category fits your route, the default view sorts by departure date, and the aircraft type is always listed on each card alongside the seat count.
