Key takeaways
- Range runs from ~2,000 km (VLJ) to over 14,000 km (ultra-long-range).
- A private flight mainly saves time on the ground, not in the air.
- Passengers, baggage and wind reduce real range.
- Beyond range, a short fuel stop remains possible.
Range by category
Range depends on aircraft category. A VLJ covers about two thousand kilometres, a light jet three to four thousand, a midsize five to six thousand, a heavy jet seven to nine thousand, and an ultra-long-range jet up to over fourteen thousand kilometres non-stop. Each page in our fleet gives the model's precise range.
The real time saved is on the ground
In the air, a private jet is not much faster than an airliner. The time saved is on the ground: no check-in, no connection, boarding fifteen minutes before take-off from a business airport near the centre. On a Paris–Nice, the flight is about one hour twenty, but the day saved comes mainly from the absence of waiting.
Why range varies
The published range reflects a typical load. In practice, more passengers, more baggage and a headwind reduce a flight's real range. On very long distances, this can require a brief fuel stop. Our advisors check non-stop feasibility for your load before confirming the aircraft. See also how much a flight costs.
The real time saved is on the ground
Most of the time saved is not in the air but on the ground. No check-in queue, no endless security, no baggage wait: you arrive fifteen minutes before take-off and leave the moment you land. On a same-day round trip, that is easily two to three hours recovered versus commercial, not counting access to airports closer to the final destination.
Example durations by route
Some orders of magnitude by jet: Paris–Nice takes about 1h20, Paris–Geneva 1 hour, Paris–London 1 hour, Paris–Marrakech 3 hours. Exact times depend on the aircraft and winds, but the gap with commercial comes mostly from no stopover, connection or waiting. See our detailed routes for per-route estimates.
Planning a same-day round trip
Private flying makes possible what commercial complicates: leave in the morning, handle your business and return in the evening. To pull off a same-day round trip, keep the aircraft and crew on site rather than sending them back empty — often cheaper than a double leg. Allow a margin on the return time if your meeting might run long: schedule flexibility is exactly what private offers, provided you plan it into the quote.
What can lengthen the time
A few factors affect real duration: high-altitude winds, traffic at busy airports, a possible fuel stop if the aircraft is undersized for the distance, and night slots at curfew-bound fields. Right-sizing the aircraft and choosing a suitable airport avoid most of these. On most European routes, a direct flight is the norm and the quoted time holds.
How much does a private jet flight cost, route by route?
| Route | Category | Passengers | Flight | Estimate (one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris → Nice690 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 1h 12 | 3,000 – 3,500 €* |
| Paris → Geneva410 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 48 min | 2,000 – 2,500 €* |
| Paris → London370 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 48 min | 2,000 – 2,500 €* |
| Paris → Courchevel490 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 1h 00 | 2,500 – 3,000 €* |
| Paris → Marrakech2,050 km | Midsize jet | up to 9 | 2h 54 | 10,000 – 12,000 € |
| Geneva → Courchevel150 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 24 min | 1,000 – 1,500 €* |
| London → Nice1,030 km | Midsize jet | up to 9 | 1h 36 | 5,500 – 6,500 €* |
| Paris → Ibiza1,000 km | Midsize jet | up to 9 | 1h 42 | 6,000 – 7,000 €* |
Computed estimates: great-circle distance × 1.05, time at manufacturer cruise + 0.3 h taxi, published broker hourly rates (Paramount Business Jets), converted at the ECB rate. The firm price depends on aircraft positioning, fees and date.
* Flight under two hours: most operators bill a two-hour minimum per day of use, so the real price is above the computed estimate.