Charter toolkit
Private jet flight time calculator
How long your trip takes in any aircraft, with winds and fuel stops, plus a side-by-side comparison of every class.
What determines private jet flight time
Distance and cruise speed set the baseline: a light jet cruising at 440 knots covers about 500 statute miles an hour. Winds aloft, the climb and descent, routing set by air traffic control and any fuel stops add or subtract from there.
Range matters as much as speed. A faster aircraft that needs a fuel stop is often slower door to door than a larger jet flying nonstop. See where each aircraft can reach on the range explorer.
How long are popular private jet flights?
Estimated block times in calm air for popular routes, using each class's typical cruise speed and the planning range of its longest-range model. Westbound flights into winter jet streams can take 10 to 20% longer; eastbound flights are correspondingly faster.
| Route | Light | Midsize | Super midsize | Heavy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys) → Las Vegas199 nm | 47m | 46m | 45m | 45m |
| Miami (Opa-locka) → Nassau161 nm | 41m | 41m | 40m | 40m |
| New York (Teterboro) → Miami (Opa-locka)949 nm | 2h 34m | 2h 33m | 2h 27m | 2h 26m |
| Chicago (Midway) → Aspen884 nm | 2h 25m | 2h 23m | 2h 18m | 2h 17m |
| Dallas (Love Field) → Los Cabos895 nm | 2h 27m | 2h 25m | 2h 20m | 2h 18m |
| New York (Teterboro) → Los Angeles (Van Nuys)2,129 nm | 6h 00m (1 stop) | 5h 20m | 5h 07m | 5h 04m |
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys) → Honolulu2,217 nm | Out of range | 5h 33m | 5h 19m | 5h 16m |
| New York (Teterboro) → London (Luton)2,989 nm | 8h 03m (1 stop) | 7h 58m (1 stop) | 7h 04m | 7h 00m |
| New York (Teterboro) → Paris (Le Bourget)3,150 nm | 8h 26m (1 stop) | 8h 21m (1 stop) | 7h 26m | 7h 21m |
| New York (Teterboro) → Dubai5,941 nm | 16h 19m (3 stops) | 15h 33m (2 stops) | 14h 21m (1 stop) | 14h 12m (1 stop) |
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys) → Tokyo (Haneda)4,746 nm | 12h 51m (2 stops) | 12h 08m (1 stop) | 11h 39m (1 stop) | 10h 56m |
How to plan around flight time
Add the ground time to the flight time. At a private terminal you typically arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure for a domestic flight and a little more for an international one, and the car can often meet you at the aircraft on arrival. Choosing an airport closer to your final destination, even a smaller one, often saves more time than a faster aircraft. If a leg is close to an aircraft's range, ask about a one-stop option in a smaller jet against a nonstop in a larger one; the price difference is sometimes smaller than you expect. When you are ready, our cost calculator prices the same trip.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are private jets faster than commercial flights?
In the air, a midsize or larger business jet cruises at roughly airliner speed. The real savings are on the ground: arriving 15 to 30 minutes before departure, no connections, and landing at an airport closer to your destination. Door to door, a 2-hour private flight often saves 3 hours or more.
Why is my westbound flight longer than eastbound?
Jet streams blow from west to east at cruising altitude, often at 100 knots or more in winter. Flying west means a headwind and a longer flight; flying east, a tailwind and a shorter one. Use the wind slider to see the effect.
How is the flight time calculated?
Great-circle distance divided by a ground speed based on the aircraft's typical cruise, adjusted for your wind setting, plus about 18 minutes for taxi, climb and descent, and about 36 minutes for each fuel stop when the distance exceeds the aircraft's planning range.
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Where do you need to be next?
Tell us the trip. A charter advisor will come back with vetted aircraft options and all-in pricing, usually within the hour.