Private jets guide: categories, costs and how to choose

Very light, light and midsize jets are the entry point to jet-powered business aviation and account for most charter flights within Brazil. They combine a lower hourly cost, access to shorter runways and jet speed, which makes them ideal for legs of up to three or four hours.

Very light jets: Phenom 100EV and HondaJet Elite II

The very light jet is the smallest business jet on the market. The cabin usually seats four to six passengers, without standing headroom, and the focus is efficiency on short and medium legs. According to Aviation Week, the HondaJet Elite II has a range of 1,547 nautical miles (about 2,865 km) with four occupants and NBAA IFR reserves, a maximum cruise speed of 422 ktas at 30,000 feet and a takeoff distance of 3,699 feet (about 1,130 m) at maximum weight. The HondaJet accommodates one or two pilots and has its engines mounted over the wings, a solution that frees up interior space. The HondaJet and the Embraer Phenom 100EV are well suited to routes such as São Paulo–Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo–Florianópolis and São Paulo–Belo Horizonte.

Light jets: Phenom 300E, Citation CJ3 and CJ4, Pilatus PC-24

The light jet is one of the best-selling segments in business aviation. The Embraer Phenom 300E, built in Brazil, is the leading example: according to Embraer's 2025 brochure, it carries 6 to 10 passengers depending on configuration, flies 2,010 nautical miles (3,723 km) with five occupants, reaches 464 knots (859 km/h) in high-speed cruise and needs 3,209 feet (978 m) of runway at maximum takeoff weight. Its ceiling is 45,000 feet, maximum cabin altitude is 6,600 feet and the aircraft can be flown by a single pilot, with Garmin G3000 Prodigy Touch avionics. The Embraer Phenom 300E offers a lavatory with an optional belted seat in some configurations.

In the same bracket are Textron Aviation's Cessna Citation CJ3 and CJ4, very common in air taxi fleets, and the Pilatus PC-24, a Swiss jet that, according to Pilatus, flies up to 2,000 nautical miles, cruises at 440 ktas, takes off in 3,090 feet, operates from unpaved grass, gravel or dirt strips and has a standard cargo door.

Midsize: Citation Ascend, Citation Latitude and Praetor 500

The midsize jet is the first step up to a taller cabin and continental range. The Cessna Citation Ascend, the newest member of the 560XL family, the same family as the Citation XLS, received FAA certification in November 2025 and was first delivered on December 30, 2025, according to AvWeb: it offers a maximum speed of 441 ktas, a range of 1,940 nautical miles with four passengers, Garmin G5000 avionics with autothrottle and Gogo Avance L3 Max Wi-Fi as standard.

The Embraer Praetor 500 is the longest-range midsize on the list: 3,340 nautical miles (6,186 km) with four passengers, 466 ktas in high-speed cruise, a takeoff distance of 4,222 feet (1,287 m) at maximum weight and a cabin 1.83 m tall, with a galley with an oven and Ka-band connectivity, according to Embraer. That range puts the Praetor 500 on routes that once required larger jets, such as São Paulo–Lima or São Paulo–Bogotá in favorable conditions.

When to choose each one

• Very light: up to four passengers, legs of up to about 2 hours, focus on cost.
• Light: up to six or seven passengers with baggage, legs of 2 to 3 hours, the best balance between comfort and price.
• Midsize: groups that want a taller cabin, an enclosed lavatory and legs of 3 to 5 hours.

Long range and ultra long range jets exist for one specific mission: linking continents nonstop, with a cabin divided into zones and real rest on board. Departing from Brazil, this is the category that connects São Paulo to Western Europe, the US West Coast and the Middle East.

Long range: Global 5500 and 6500, Gulfstream G600, Falcon 8X

A long range jet flies somewhere between 5,900 and 6,600 nautical miles. The Gulfstream G600, for example, is advertised with 6,600 nautical miles (12,223 km) at Mach 0.85 and high-speed cruise at Mach 0.90. At Bombardier, the family includes the Global 5500 and the Global 6500, and at Dassault, the Falcon 8X trijet. With that endurance, routes such as São Paulo–Lisbon, about 7,935 km in a straight line, and São Paulo–Paris, about 9,400 km, are within nonstop reach in most conditions.

Ultra long range: Global 7500 and 8000, G700 and G800, Falcon 10X

Ultra long range is the top of business aviation. The Bombardier Global 7500 carries up to 19 passengers, flies 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km) at Mach 0.85 with eight passengers, has a maximum speed of Mach 0.925 and takes off in 5,760 feet (1,756 m). The cabin is 16.59 m long, 2.44 m wide and 1.88 m tall, with up to four living spaces, including a primary suite with a bed, a crew rest area and a kitchen, according to Bombardier.

The Bombardier Global 8000 entered service in December 2025 as the fastest business jet in production: a range of 8,000 nautical miles, a maximum speed of Mach 0.95 and a cabin altitude of 2,691 feet when flying at 41,000 feet, the lowest in current production, according to Bombardier.

At Gulfstream, the G700 flies 7,750 nautical miles (14,353 km) and the Gulfstream G800 reaches 8,200 nautical miles (15,186 km), both at Mach 0.85, with high-speed cruise at Mach 0.90. On June 19, 2026, Dassault flew the Falcon 10X for the first time; it has a projected range of 7,500 nautical miles, a cabin about 2.77 m wide and 2.03 m tall and entry into service planned for late 2027.

Bizliners: commercial aircraft with VIP cabins

A bizliner is a commercial airliner converted for executive use, such as the Airbus ACJ family, which includes the A220-based ACJ TwoTwenty, and Boeing Business Jets, derived from the 737 and from widebody models. A bizliner offers a much larger cabin area, with a bedroom, office, meeting room and, in some projects, a bathroom with a shower, and serves heads of state, large delegations and families traveling with staff. On the other hand, it requires runways and aprons compatible with commercial aircraft and has much higher operating costs. For these missions, Embarque Oficial arranges intercontinental flights with operators approved for the aircraft type and the route.

Speed vs range: the ultra long range dilemma

On ultra long range jets, flying faster reduces range. Gulfstream publishes maximum range at Mach 0.85 and high-speed cruise at Mach 0.90; the speed difference shortens the trip by minutes but burns more fuel per mile. On very long routes, the crew chooses the speed based on the forecast winds, the reserves and the desired arrival time.

Lavatory

In light jets, the lavatory may be a belted seat with a curtain or partition, sometimes optional, as in some Phenom 300E configurations. In midsize and larger jets, the lavatory is enclosed, with a door; long range and ultra long range jets may have more than one bathroom, and bizliners can even have a shower. For trips longer than two hours, confirm with the operator the lavatory type of the specific aircraft.

Galley and onboard service

The galley is the kitchen area of a business jet. On light jets, it is usually an area for chilled items and drinks. On the Praetor 500, Embraer describes a wet galley with a microwave, conventional oven, refrigerator and coffee maker. On ultra long range jets such as the Global 7500, there is a full kitchen and, on many missions, a flight attendant. Catering is booked separately and can be customized.

Bed and rest

Real sleep requires fully reclining seats or divans. On the Praetor 600, eight seats convert into four beds. On the Global 7500, the primary suite with a double bed and the crew rest area allow overnight flights of more than 12 hours.

Wi-Fi and connectivity

Connectivity has evolved quickly. ATG (air-to-ground) systems, which use ground-based antennas, work over land in regions with coverage, such as the United States; Ka-band satellite systems work over oceans and in most of the world. The Praetor 500 offers Ka-band and Gogo AVANCE L5, the Challenger 3500 has Ka-band and 4G ATG available and the Citation Ascend comes with Gogo Avance L3 Max as standard. Before the flight, confirm that the chartered aircraft has Wi-Fi installed, that the plan covers the region being overflown and that the speed is enough for video calls.

Cabin altitude: the detail that reduces fatigue

Cabin altitude is the altitude equivalent to the pressure maintained inside the aircraft. The lower it is, the less the body feels fatigue, dryness and headaches on long flights.

To compare the cabins of specific models, check each aircraft's technical sheet before requesting a quote, such as the one for the Bombardier Global 6500, listed among the long range jets in this guide.

In Brazil, jet charter is normally quoted per trip, in Brazilian reais (R$), and the final price takes into account moving the aircraft from its base to the origin, the empty return when there are no passengers on the way back, crew overnight stays, airport and navigation fees and taxes. That is why two trips with the same flight time can have very different prices. The exchange rate also matters, because a significant share of jet maintenance and parts costs is priced in US dollars.

How to reduce charter costs

• Choose the smallest category that fulfills the mission: paying for range that will not be used is the most expensive mistake.
• Take advantage of empty legs: empty legs are repositioning flights sold at a discount, with little date flexibility.
• Buy hours in advance: a Jet Card locks in terms for frequent flyers; Forbes Brasil cites minimum purchases of around 25 hours per year in market programs.
• Use a nearby base: aircraft based near the origin reduce repositioning.

Ownership: acquisition price and annual cost

Buying a business jet involves an acquisition price and a fixed annual cost that exists even when the aircraft is on the ground. According to Aviation Week's 2025 Purchase Planning Handbook, list prices for new aircraft were US$12.9 million for the Embraer Phenom 300E, US$20.6 million for the Praetor 500, US$24 million for the Praetor 600 and US$82 million for the Gulfstream G700.

For the cost of keeping a jet in Brazil, Canaltech published these estimates in April 2026 (US dollar figures in parentheses are approximate conversions):

These figures vary with hours flown, aircraft age, engine maintenance program, operating base and exchange rate. Owners can reduce the cost per hour with professional management and by making the aircraft available for charter, the topic of the Aircraft Management Guide. For those who want the benefits of frequent flying without buying an aircraft, the Clube Infinity is another alternative.

Launches and delivery timelines

For those considering a new or pre-owned aircraft, production backlogs weigh as much as price. The Aircraft Acquisition Guide explains valuation, pre-purchase inspection and registration, and Embarque Oficial's aircraft sales and acquisition team helps compare the available options.