Cabin Class
Cabin class is the industry segmentation of private jets by interior size, range, and operating cost. SkyAccess uses six classes: turboprop, light jet, midsize, super midsize, heavy jet, and ultra-long-range. Empty-leg pricing varies sharply between classes.
Also known as: aircraft class, jet class, cabin category
Cabin class is the practical taxonomy charter buyers use to compare aircraft. The classes are commercial conventions, not FAA categories — different operators and brokers may draw slightly different lines, but the six-class system used on SkyAccess (and most major US brokers and marketplaces) is the most common.
Turboprop class: King Air 350, Pilatus PC-12, TBM 940, Daher TBM 960. Best for short hops under ~600 NM, smaller airports, and the lowest per-hour cost in private aviation. 4-6 passengers typical.
Light jet class: Citation CJ3+, Phenom 300, Embraer Phenom 100, Learjet 75. The workhorse of US empty-leg supply. 4-6 passengers, ~3-4 hour range, ~$2,000-$3,500/hr retail.
Midsize class: Citation XLS+, Hawker 800XP, Praetor 500, Learjet 60. Stand-up cabin starts here; 6-8 passengers, ~4-6 hour range.
Super midsize class: Citation Sovereign+, Challenger 350, Praetor 600, Citation X. Coast-to-coast non-stop with full payload, 7-9 passengers, ~5-7 hour range.
Heavy jet class: Gulfstream G450 / G550, Challenger 605, Falcon 7X. Transcontinental and most transatlantic, full crew including flight attendant, 10-14 passengers, ~7-12 hour range.
Ultra-long-range class: Gulfstream G650 / G700, Bombardier Global 7500, Falcon 8X. Transpacific, any-route-on-earth capability, ~14-19 hour range.
Frequently asked questions
- How are private jets classified by size?
- Industry standard is six classes: turboprop, light jet, midsize, super midsize, heavy jet, and ultra-long-range. Each class is a convention, not an FAA category. Classes are defined by cabin volume, range, and per-hour cost rather than a single regulatory threshold.
Related terms
- Empty Leg Flight
An empty leg flight is a one-way private jet flight sold at a discount because the aircraft has to fly without passengers to its next paid booking. Empty legs are typically priced 25–80% below retail charter, with the discount widening as the departure window narrows.
- MTOW (Maximum Takeoff Weight)
MTOW (Maximum Takeoff Weight) is the FAA-certified weight at which an aircraft can safely take off, including aircraft, fuel, crew, passengers, and baggage. It's the hard ceiling that drives passenger and baggage limits on every empty leg booking.
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