Each person will have a different answer to the question of what range their jet needs to have. By and large, the temptation is for buyers to look at the longest range trip they might do at some point in the future and buy their jet around that. However, that trip often doesn’t happen or happens only once a year. As a result, you pay a lot of money for a jet with a capability you are not using. For example, the Gulfstream G550 has a 14 hour range but the average flight leg is only 2 and a half hours – a very capable ultra-long range jet doing only short legs the majority of the time.
If you are approaching jet ownership from a perspective of making it as cost effective as possible, we recommend buying your jet for the 80 – 90% of flights you take, not the 10-20%. Look at what you’re going to do the most often and buy around satisfying that requirement. You can always charter for those really long journeys the few times you need to take them.
However, this discussion has to have a caveat with the note that buying a jet is incredibly personal and emotional. Sometimes you want the jet with the long range aircraft because you really like it for the cabin or amenities or another such reason, and you absolutely should buy it for that reason if you are able. But if you are looking for the most cost effective solution, buy the aircraft that will do the majority of your trips. Hopefully you will feel you are getting the most value out of your jet and using it to its greatest capabilities
Articles are written from real world experience by Colibri Aircraft’s individuals. If you have any questions or comments about the topic of this blog, please feel free to contact our team at enquiries@colibriaircraft.com
