If you are planning on flying by private jet, just how many passengers can you carry on one aircraft?
In terms of purpose jet private jets, up to 19 passengers can be accommodated on one aircraft. Of course, the exception to this rule are converted airliners, such as the Airbus Corporate Jets and Boeing Business Jets.
However, we will only be focussing on the seating capacity of the purpose built business aircraft.
Keep reading to see how many passengers each aircraft can carry.
Private Jet Passenger Capacity Overview
The official passenger capacity figures for private jets can cause confusion for new customers.
When flying by private jet, it is highly unlikely that they ever fly at “capacity”. That is, with every available seat filled.
This is down to the fact that, if every seat were to be filled, the aircraft would be extremely cramped.
Moreover, Very Light Jets (VLJs) and Light Jets are typically single pilot certified. This means that manufacturers can add an additional passenger seat to the aircraft. This seat is the first officers (co-pilots) seat.
Therefore, whether you own the aircraft yourself or are chartering it, it is very rare that a passenger will be upfront. In fact, any reputable charter operator will always insist on having two pilots upfront.
Additionally, it is unlikely that larger aircraft will ever fly with every seat filled due to sleeping capacity. Long range jets are typically used for long distance flights.
As a result most passengers will want to get some sleep on the flight in order to arrive at the destination feeling refreshed. However, while these aircraft can fit up to 19 passengers, they can’t sleep 19 passengers in a lie flat configuration.
Therefore, fewer passengers will be flying so that each one can have a lie flat bed.
And finally, each and every private jet is personalized and customized to the owners need and desires. Therefore, while an aircraft may be able to accommodate up to a certain number of seats, many owners will opt for different configurations and possibly fewer seats.
Despite this, for the purpose of this overview, we will be using each manufacturers official seating capacity number. This allows for an equal comparison and provides a best case scenario.
Four Seater Private Jets
When it comes to four seater private jets, options are rather limited. Given the size of the Learjet 36A four passengers is the best it can do.
Five Seater Private Jets
The below aircraft are able to accommodate up to five passengers. However, as previously mentioned, one of these passenger seats is upfront.
Therefore, when chartering these aircraft the cockpit passenger seat will be unavailable.
- Cessna Citation CJ1
- Cessna Citation CJ1+
- Cessna Citation Mustang
- Cirrus Vision Jet SF50
- Eclipse 500
- Eclipse 550
Six Seater Private Jets
Much like the five seater private jets, these six seater aircraft all count the first officers seat as being a “passenger seat”.
Therefore, when chartering these aircraft, one fewer seat will actually be available. Additionally, some of these aircraft include a seat that is the belted lavatory.
Therefore, each option should be investigated carefully to make sure that all passengers can comfortably fit onboard.
- Beechcraft Premier I
- Beechcraft Premier IA
- Bombardier Learjet 31A
- Bombardier Learjet 40
- Bombardier Learjet 40XR
- Cessna Citation I
- Cessna Citation M2
- Dassault Falcon 10
- Dassault Falcon 100
- Embraer Phenom 100
- Embraer Phenom 100E
- Embraer Phenom 100EV
- HondaJet HA-420
Seven Seater Private Jets
The following aircraft are all, officially, able to accommodate up to seven passengers. It is at this point that some aircraft will start to introduce a side facing sofa seat.
- Beechcraft King Air 260
- Bombardier Learjet 60
- Bombardier Learjet 70
- Cessna Citation Bravo
- Cessna Citation CJ2
- Cessna Citation CJ2+
- Cessna Citation SII
- IAI Westwind 2
- Mitsubishi Diamond 1A
Eight Seater Private Jets
The following eight seater private jets now start to introduce the classic amenities as standard.
Features such as club seating, tables, a galley, toilet and side facing sofa are all expected on the below aircraft.
- Bombardier Learjet 31
- Bombardier Learjet 31AER
- Bombardier Learjet 35A
- Bombardier Learjet 45
- Bombardier Learjet 45XR
- Bombardier Learjet 60XR
- Cessna Citation II
- Gulfstream G100
- Gulfstream G150
- Hawker 4000
- Hawker 400XP
- Hawker 700
- Hawker 750
- Hawker 800SP
- Hawker 800XP
- Hawker 800XPi
- Hawker 850XP
- Nextant 400XT
- Nextant 400XTi
Nine Seater Private Jets
Nine seater private jets are those that are at the top end of the Light jets category, along with the majority of midsize aircraft.
These are all aircraft that can comfortably cruise around continents.
- Beechcraft King Air 360
- Bombardier Learjet 75
- Bombardier Learjet 75 Liberty
- Cessna Citation CJ3
- Cessna Citation CJ3+
- Cessna Citation Encore
- Cessna Citation Encore+
- Cessna Citation Excel
- Cessna Citation III
- Cessna Citation Latitude
- Cessna Citation V
- Cessna Citation V Ultra
- Cessna Citation VI
- Cessna Citation VII
- Cessna Citation X
- Cessna Citation X+
- Cessna Citation XLS
- Cessna Citation XLS+
- Dassault Falcon 200
- Dassault Falcon 20F-5BR
- Dassault Falcon 50-40
- Embraer Legacy 450
- Embraer Praetor 500
- Gulfstream G200
- Hawker 1000
- Pilatus PC-24
Ten Seater Private Jets
Along with more seats, these ten seater aircraft now start to introduce the ability to cross oceans.
However, note that the Phenom 300 and 300E are notable exceptions. These are the two most popular light jets.
Additionally, note that the Pilatus PC-12 NGX is a highly popular single engine turboprop aircraft.
- Bombardier Challenger 300
- Bombardier Challenger 350
- Bombardier Learjet 55
- Bombardier Learjet 55C
- Cessna Citation CJ4
- Dassault Falcon 2000
- Dassault Falcon 2000DX
- Dassault Falcon 2000EX
- Dassault Falcon 2000EX EASy
- Dassault Falcon 2000LX
- Dassault Falcon 2000LXS
- Dassault Falcon 2000S
- Dassault Falcon 50
- Dassault Falcon 50EX
- Embraer Phenom 300
- Embraer Phenom 300E
- Gulfstream G280
- Hawker 800A
- IAI Westwind 1
- Pilatus PC-12 NGX
Twelve Seater Private Jets
The following aircraft are all able to accommodate twelve passengers.
By this point the single pilot certifications are far behind. Therefore, twelve seats results in space for twelve passengers. No-one needs to be in the cockpit.
- Bombardier Challenger 601-1A
- Bombardier Challenger 601-3A
- Bombardier Challenger 601-3AER
- Bombardier Challenger 601-3R
- Bombardier Challenger 604
- Bombardier Challenger 605
- Bombardier Challenger 650
- Cessna Citation Longitude
- Cessna Citation Sovereign
- Cessna Citation Sovereign+
- Embraer Legacy 500
- Embraer Praetor 600
Thirteen Seater Private Jets
The Embraer Legacy 600 is a bit of an anomaly, being the only business jet to have, officially, thirteen passenger seats onboard.
Fourteen Seater Private Jets
The Falcon 900LX, Legacy 650E and Gulfstream GII are all able to accommodate up to fourteen passengers.
Additionally, from this point on, all aircraft are able to provide lie flat bedding for a select group of passengers.
Sixteen Seater Private Jets
These sixteen seat private jets represent the top end of the in-production Dassault aircraft.
Additionally, within the sixteen passenger category we have the start of the Bombardier Global range of aircraft, along with the older Gulfstream’s.
- Bombardier Global 5000
- Bombardier Global Express XRS
- Dassault Falcon 6X
- Dassault Falcon 7X
- Dassault Falcon 8X
- Dassault Falcon 900B
- Dassault Falcon 900C
- Dassault Falcon 900EX
- Dassault Falcon 900EX EASy
- Gulfstream G300
- Gulfstream G350
- Gulfstream G400
- Gulfstream G450
- Gulfstream GIV
- Gulfstream GIVSP
- Gulfstream GV
Seventeen Seater Private Jets
Capable of carrying up to seventeen passengers, we have two Bombardier aircraft, the Challenger 600 and Global 6000.
Eighteen Seater Private Jets
Once again we have an anomaly aircraft, the Bombardier Global Express, officially capable of accommodating up to eighteen passengers.
Nineteen Seater Private Jets
And finally, the serious long range aircraft. The crème de la crème of business jets – the ones capable of carrying up to nineteen passengers.
Note at this point that you have the three newest and flagship aircraft – the Bombardier Global 7500, the Dassault Falcon 10X and the Gulfstream G700. With the exception of the Global 7500, these aircraft aren’t even in-production yet.
These nineteen seat private jets are all capable of significant range numbers. However, we also have the Embraer Lineage 1000 and 1000E. These are, technically, converted airliners. However, not quite in the same league as the Airbus Corporate Jets or Boeing Business Jets.
