Are Private Jets Faster than Commercial Aircraft?

It’s a topic that’s been discussed many times before, with many people asking, “Are private jets faster than commercial airliners?” And the answer is simple. Private jets aren’t necessarily faster in the skies, but the trip in its entirety is much speedier when you travel privately as opposed to booking with a commercial airline.

So what’s the difference between charter flights and commercial flights?

First, let’s compare a private jet vs. a commercial flight. 

When you book a commercial flight with your preferred airline, your itinerary becomes incredibly limited. You’re forced into choosing a departure time that’s already been scheduled. If you’ve booked an international flight, you’re expected at the airport at least three hours prior to departure. You spend time waiting in line-up after line-up on your way through the airport before reaching the departure gate.

And when you land? After you make your way through the crowds milling off the airliner, you must spend some time waiting for your baggage to arrive at the carousel. Then once you’ve picked up your luggage, it can be time-consuming to work your way through the vehicle traffic that typically surrounds an international airport.

When you fly on a pre-booked charter flight, you avoid all the hassles previously mentioned. You simply arrive at the FBO minutes before your flight, which is far less busy than the larger airport. Check-in is brief, and then you can walk over to your waiting aircraft and board. Once you’re safely tucked inside, the jet takes off and you’re on your way. Instead of spending three hours, you’re on your way in less than 30 minutes.

And when you arrive? Simply walk off the jet, grab your bag and stroll over to the waiting vehicle. There shouldn’t even be traffic to contend with if you landed at a smaller airport right near your ultimate destination. It’s stress-free, straight-forward flying.

How fast do private jets travel?

Now that we’ve answered your ‘are private jets faster than commercial’ question, let’s look at how fast chartered private jets soar in the sky.

The speed of a private jet depends on their size. Since they all fall into a standard set of categories, we can break down the speed by category type.

Some of the most popular jets in these categories include:

The Cessna Citation X

One of the world’s fastest private jets is the Cessna Citation X. This fan favorite reaches a range of more than 3,000 nautical miles, seats up to 12 people and cruises at speeds up to 600 miles per hour.

The Gulfstream GIV-SP

With best in-class cabin size, the Gulfstream GIV-SP provides business execs with ample seating and storage space. This aircraft comfortable seats 13 passengers, speeds at 534 miles per hour and boasts a maximum range of 4,728 nautical miles.

The Global 7500

Stealing the coveted title of world’s largest and longest-range business jet, the Global 7500 can comfortably accommodate 19 passengers while speeding along at 704 miles per hour, reaching a range of 7,700 nautical miles.

And how fast do commercial airliners travel?

 Most commercial airliners travel at a speed of 460 to 575 miles per hour, which is around the same speed as the mid-size and heavy private jets.

 As you can see, if you’re still wondering are private jets faster than commercial jets, the answer is yes, they are when you consider the entire trip.

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Are private jets safer than commercial flights?

We get asked this question from time to time, and the answers is: Yes, private jets are extremely safe. In some cases, they may even be safer than commercial flights.

If we look at the number of incidents (provided by the ICAO Accident Statistics page) that occurred in the last year for both private and commercial flights, we can see that in recent years, there have been very few incidents, and even fewer that have resulted in a fatality. All in all, flying is one of the safest methods of transportation.

However, it’s important to note that safety can vary from charter to charter. It’s incredibly important to work with a reputable charter broker. Before an aircraft can charter passengers, it must receive FAA approval. Making sure the jet you’re chartering has met this minimum is crucial. However, if you can find a charter broker that goes even further and has its own in-house safety measures in addition to the requirements laid out by the FAA, you’ll be in excellent hands.

Are charter flights cheaper than commercial flights?

In a perfect world, flying privately would be comparative in price to flying commercially. Unfortunately, it’s much more costly to charter a private jet than it is to book a seat on a commercial airliner. This is for a few reasons.

When you fly commercially, the aircraft is typically packed to capacity, leaving little room to stretch out or walk around. This is done to keep the cost of flying relatively low and affordable for all travelers.

When you fly privately, you get the entire aircraft to yourself. Besides offering hygienic benefits, this type of travel is quite luxurious. In addition to enjoying a peaceful, uncrowded cabin, you’re afforded the options to choose your itinerary, right down to which airports you depart from and arrive at. For this flexibility and freedom, there is a significant cost involved. It’s up to the traveler to determine if the cost is justified.

However, in terms of time savings, it’s also one of the most economical ways to travel. If you’re a busy executive, flying privately is likely the most economical choice when time is money.

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Ready to experience the luxurious convenience private travel affords? Reach out to a private flight advisor today! We’d love to show you the benefits of private aviation.