Very Light Jets: Models, Range and Charter Prices

Very light jets at a glance

Three aircraft make up the European offer, and one of them stands out for an absence that changes everything.

The lavatory, the real deciding factor

This is the detail comparison sites leave out and passengers notice immediately: the Citation Mustang has no separate lavatory, unlike the Citation M2 and the Phenom 100.

On a one-hour Paris to or from Lyon sector the absence goes unnoticed. On a two-hour Geneva to or from Madrid with four passengers on board, it becomes a subject. It is the first point we check with you before proposing a Mustang, ahead of price.

Cabin height follows the same logic. At 1.37 to 1.50 m depending on the model, you never stand up in a very light jet. The thirteen centimetres between the Mustang and the Phenom 100 are nonetheless clearly felt when moving to your seat.

These aircraft are certified for a single pilot

A technical fact rarely explained: most very light jets, including the Citation Mustang, the Citation M2 and the Phenom 100, are certified for single-pilot operation. That is what made the category successful with private owners.

In commercial charter the reality is different. Operators fly two pilots on virtually all their flights, as a matter of safety policy and because insurers require it. A chartered very light jet is therefore not a reduced-crew aircraft, whatever the certification might suggest.

The Mustang was not killed by rivals, but by Cessna

The story is instructive and it explains the current shape of the market. Cessna ended Citation Mustang production in May 2017, after 479 aircraft built. The culprit was not a competitor, it was the same manufacturer's Citation M2.

The figures are stark: Cessna sold an average of 40 Mustangs a year until the M2 arrived in 2013. Over the following three years, Mustang sales fell to 24 aircraft in total. The M2, faster, better equipped and fitted with a lavatory, absorbed the demand.

What that means for you today: the Mustang fleet is no longer renewed and it is ageing, while the M2 has become its natural successor. On a short-notice request the M2 now comes up more often than the Mustang, and the price gap between them is narrowing.

What the light weight makes possible

The reduced weight of these aircraft opens airfields closed to larger categories. Short runways, regional aerodromes, airports where landing charges follow tonnage: a very light jet reaches them and costs less on the ground.

On a one-hour sector that access matters more than speed. Landing twenty minutes from your destination rather than an hour away changes door-to-door time far more reliably than ten knots of cruise speed.

Very light jet price: from 3,500 euros per hour

Rates start at around 3,500 euros per hour, including aircraft, crew, fuel, ground handling and charges. It is the lowest entry point in business aviation.

On a one-hour flight, positioning often weighs as much as the sector itself. Finding a very light jet already based at your departure airport is the main saving lever in this category. The full grid is on our private jet rental cost page.

When to move up a category

Three signals should push you towards a light jet: a flight over two hours, more than four passengers, or bulky baggage the 1.6 to 1.9 m3 hold cannot absorb.

From around 4,000 euros per hour, a Phenom 300 offers 6 to 8 seats, a markedly larger hold and four hours of range. The price gap is justified as soon as any one of those three thresholds is crossed. Our guide on range by aircraft category covers the switch points.

Chartering a very light jet with IBC Aviation

In this category availability decides more than the model. As an independent broker we compare the aircraft actually positioned in the right place on the right date across several operators, and verify compatibility with the intended airport. Every model is listed on our very light jets page.

Private jet charter with IBC Aviation:

Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and requirements, and organise your trip to or from your destination. Available 24/7:

• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• Dubai: +971 55 303 5161
• Bangkok: +66 81 808 2866
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Frequently asked questions

How much does a very light jet cost per hour?

From around 3,500 euros per flying hour, including aircraft, crew, fuel, ground handling and charges. It is the lowest entry point in business aviation. Aircraft positioning weighs heavily on the total.

Is there a lavatory in a very light jet?

It depends on the model. The Citation M2 and the Phenom 100 have one, the Citation Mustang does not. It is the criterion that most often separates these aircraft, more than speed or range.

How many passengers fit in a very light jet?

Four in club configuration, five on the Citation M2 and Phenom 100 depending on the operator's layout. Beyond that, or with bulky baggage, the light jet category becomes more suitable.

Is one pilot enough?

These aircraft are certified for single-pilot operation, but in commercial charter operators fly two pilots on virtually every flight, as a matter of safety policy and because insurers require it.