How many passengers does a private jet carry?
A light jet carries 6 to 8 passengers, a midsize 8 to 9, a heavy jet 12 to 16, and a VIP airliner up to around fifty. The practical limit is almost never the seat count, though: it is baggage volume. Eight passengers with ski bags do not fit in a light jet that nominally seats eight.
Advertised seats and usable seats
Configurations sometimes count a divan seat or a side bench that is uncomfortable on a long flight. On a sector over three hours, plan for one seat fewer than advertised if you want everyone to arrive rested. Our aircraft pages give maximum capacity, not comfortable capacity.
The price does not change with passenger count
You charter the aircraft, not seats: flying two or eight on a light jet costs the same. The per-person cost therefore collapses as the group grows, which makes private aviation competitive with business class from four or five travellers on some routes.
The numbers, route by route
| Route | Category | Passengers | Flight | Estimate (one-way) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris → Nice690 km | Light jet | up to 7 | 1h 12 | €3,000–4,000* |
| 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 | €10,500–12,500 |
| 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 | €6,000–7,000* |
| 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.