What are the smallest private jets capable of flying across the Atlantic or covering the longest distances in Europe without a stopover?
The answer does not depend solely on the distance between the airports. The stated range, number of passengers, baggage, takeoff weight, wind conditions, the route assigned by air traffic control, and fuel reserves are the variables that determine whether the mission is actually feasible.
To explore the limits of the most compact private jets, we’ll start with one of the most challenging missions in business aviation: crossing the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll then gradually reduce the distances to see which of the smallest jets are capable of handling the longest routes within Europe.
The smallest private jet to cross the Atlantic
One of the most iconic transatlantic flight routes is London–New York. The distance as the crow flies between the two airports is about 3,000 nautical miles, or approximately 5,550 km. This figure may vary slightly depending on the airports used: between London Heathrow and New York LaGuardia, for example, the distance is about 2,997 nm (5,551 km). In short, we’re talking about a distance that rules out light jets.
An Embraer Phenom 300E, for example, has a stated range of 2,010 nm (3,724 km) with five occupants and NBAA IFR reserves. The Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2, one of the light jets with the longest range, also reaches 2,165 nm (4,010 km) on a ferry flight with NBAA IFR reserves.
These are impressive performance figures for relatively compact aircraft, but they are not sufficient to make the London-New York route a feasible nonstop transatlantic flight. For this distance, you need to move up a class.
Embraer Praetor 600: The Super-Midsize Jet for Transatlantic Flights
Among the smallest midsize jets capable of flying long intercontinental distances is Embraer’s Praetor 500.
The model has a claimed range of 3,340 nautical miles—approximately 6,186 km—with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves. Embraer markets it as a midsize jet capable of operating nonstop transcontinental flights, including some very long routes within the United States.
For a long-haul route such as London to New York, however, the Embraer Praetor 600 is among the smaller private jet models worth considering. Its range is 4,018 nm, or 7,441 km, with four passengers and NBAA IFR reserves, and Embraer explicitly lists London to New York among the routes this model can fly nonstop.
This does not mean that the Embraer Praetor 600 is the only super-midsize jet capable of making the crossing, nor that it can do so in any configuration or under any weather conditions. Rather, it means that it is a concrete example of a relatively compact aircraft with sufficient range for a transatlantic flight such as London to New York.
The Cessna Citation Longitude, with a claimed range of 3,500 nm, also falls into the category of the smallest super-midsize jets capable of flying longer distances, such as across the Atlantic.
The Bombardier Challenger 3500, on the other hand, has a range of 3,400 nm (6,297 km) with four passengers, two crew members, and NBAA IFR reserves under the manufacturer’s stated conditions. Bombardier notes that actual range may vary depending on speed, weather conditions, and configuration.
The transatlantic flight thus illustrates a fundamental principle: flying very long distances does not necessarily require a large, ultra-long-range aircraft. There are super-midsize jets capable of making nonstop intercontinental flights.
Why does Atlantic need a super-midsize jet?
Geographic distance is only the first factor to consider. A real flight is not planned simply by verifying that the distance between two airports is less than the maximum range published by the manufacturer. Range data are calculated based on specific conditions.
An aircraft’s payload is one of the most important factors. Four passengers with luggage do not weigh the same as eight or ten passengers. The fuel required to meet operational reserves also affects the amount of payload that can be carried.
Then there’s the wind. On a transatlantic flight, the wind can have a significant effect on ground speed and, consequently, on fuel consumption and the amount of fuel required. Even the route actually cleared by air traffic control may be longer than the straight-line distance between the departure point and the destination.
That is why manufacturers always specify the conditions used to determine range figures. The Citation CJ4 Gen2, for example, lists its range of 2,165 nm as a performance figure calculated under standard conditions, with zero wind and NBAA IFR reserves.
Pilatus similarly notes that the range figures for the PC-24 are indicative and should not be used directly for flight planning; the figures are calculated based on predetermined conditions, including NBAA IFR reserves, an alternate of 100 nm, and no wind.
Light jets with greater range for longer routes in Europe
While midsize and super-midsize jets are necessary for transatlantic flights, the situation is different within Europe. The distances are shorter, making it possible to fly even in much smaller jets. This is where light jets with longer range come into play.
The Embraer Phenom 300E, with its stated range of 3,722 km, is one of the smaller private jets capable of flying longer distances. The Citation CJ4 Gen2 has an even longer range, at 2,165 nm.
The Pilatus PC-24 also falls into this category: the latest version has a range of 2,000 nm (3,704 km) with six passengers, according to data published by Pilatus.
These private jets are smaller than large intercontinental aircraft, but they have enough capacity to fly the longest distances in Europe nonstop.
Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2: Smaller private jets for flying from London to Istanbul
A particularly interesting example is the London-Istanbul route. Taking London Biggin Hills and Istanbul Airport as the starting and ending points, the distance as the crow flies is approximately 1,347 nautical miles, or about 2,476 km. It is a significant distance, but very different from a transatlantic crossing.
In this case, a long-range light jet may be more than sufficient. The Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2, with a stated range of 2,165 nm, has a considerable margin on paper compared to the geometric distance of the route. The Embraer Phenom 300E also offers a range greater than the direct distance, while the Pilatus PC-24 has a similar range.
This doesn’t mean that any configuration is automatically suitable for any day. The available margin must be evaluated considering passengers, baggage, wind, weather conditions, routing, and reserves.
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Longest distances in Europe for Light Jets with the longest range
In addition to London–Istanbul, the longest routes in Europe that can be flown nonstop by a light jet under favorable conditions are:
- London – Tenerife: approximately 1,580 nm / 2,930 km
- Dublin – Tenerife: approximately 1,590 nm / 2,940 km
- Madrid – Reykjavik: approximately 1,560 nm / 2,890 km
- Helsinki – Lisbon: approximately 1,820 nm / 3,370 km
- Vienna – Tenerife: approximately 1,950 nm / 3,620 km
How small can private jets be for longer distances?
The debate over which of the smallest private jets are capable of covering the longest distances nonstop—such as across the Atlantic or within Europe—is purely theoretical. As we have seen, the range figures declared by aircraft manufacturers can be misleading if one does not take into account all the variables that determine the feasibility of a flight. The principle, therefore, is simple: the greater the distance, the more important the operational margin becomes—not just the maximum range stated by the manufacturer.
For long-haul routes such as London-New York, aircraft like the Praetor 600, the Citation Longitude, and the Challenger 3500 are the smallest private jets in the Super Midsize category that can be used. In Europe, however, for a route such as London to Istanbul, a light jet with a range of approximately 2,000–2,200 nm may be sufficient under certain conditions.
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