Private jet route calculator
Estimate flight time and great-circle distance between any two airports. Pick a category or a specific aircraft type — we'll use real performance data to compute the trip.
How we calculate these estimates
Distance is calculated with the haversine formula— the great-circle path between airport coordinates, the shortest route over the Earth's surface.
Cruise speeds are averaged from verified specs across all aircraft types in each category in our database. When you select a specific aircraft, we use that type's published maximum cruise speed (KTAS). Flight time = distance ÷ cruise speed.
Each estimate adds a climb and descent buffer that varies by category: 15 minutes for turboprops, 18 for very light jets, 20 for light jets, 22 for midsize and super-midsize, and 25 for heavy and ultra-long-range. These cover the slower speeds during climb-out and approach.
If the route distance exceeds an aircraft's average range, we flag it as a fuel stop and add 45 minutes for descent, refueling, and climb-out.
What's not included: winds aloft (headwinds can add 10–20% on westbound US routes), taxi time, ATC routing deviations, or payload-driven range reductions. Actual flight times will vary. For precise planning, contact the operator.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this flight time estimate?
It's a cruise-only model: great-circle distance divided by cruise speed, plus a climb/descent buffer per category. It doesn't include winds aloft (headwinds add 10–20% on westbound US routes), taxi time, ATC routing, or payload-driven range reductions. Use it for planning, not flight-plan filing.
What if I don't know the aircraft type?
Pick a category — Light, Midsize, Heavy, etc. We average cruise speed and range across the types in that category. Selecting a specific aircraft uses its published maximum cruise (KTAS) and max range instead.
Why does the calculator say a fuel stop is required?
If the great-circle distance exceeds the aircraft's published max range, the flight won't make it non-stop. We add 45 minutes to model the descent, refueling, and climb-out. A longer-range aircraft type in the same category will often fly the route non-stop.
How are cruise speeds calculated?
When you pick a specific aircraft, we use the manufacturer's published maximum cruise speed in knots true airspeed (KTAS). When you pick a category only, we average cruise speed and range across all aircraft types in that category in our database.