Propeller aircraft that beat jets on short legs and small fields: lower hourly cost, and they get into runways a jet simply cannot use.
Compare the class
Published type figures, sorted by range. Tap a name for the full page on that aircraft.
| Aircraft | Pax | Range | Cruise | Cabin | Baggage | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft 1900D Beechcraft · 1991 | 19 max 19 | 382 nm | 280 kt | — | — | on request |
| Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia Embraer · 1985 | 30 max 36 | 940 nm | 298 kt | — | — | on request |
| Dornier 328 Dornier · 1993 | 30 max 33 | 1,000 nm | 330 kt | — | — | on request |
| Cessna 208 Caravan Cessna · 1984 | 9 max 13 | 1,070 nm | 186 kt | 4.5 ft | — | on request |
| Beechcraft King Air C90 Beechcraft · 2007 | 6 max 7 | 1,321 nm | 226 kt | — | — | on request |
| Beechcraft King Air 100 Beechcraft · 1969 | 8 max 13 | 1,325 nm | 237 kt | — | — | on request |
| Piaggio P.180 Avanti Piaggio · 1990 | 7 max 9 | 1,510 nm | 318 kt | 5.8 ft 17.5 ft long | — | on request |
| Beechcraft King Air 250 Textron · 2011 | 7 max 9 | 1,720 nm | 310 kt | 4.8 ft 16.7 ft long | 55 cu ft | $2,000 to $2,700 |
| Pilatus PC-12 NGX Pilatus · 1994 | 8 max 9 | 1,803 nm | 290 kt | 4.8 ft 16.9 ft long | 40 cu ft | $1,800 to $2,500 |
| Beechcraft King Air 350i / 360 Textron · 2009 | 8 max 11 | 1,806 nm | 312 kt | 4.8 ft 19.5 ft long | 71 cu ft | $2,300 to $3,100 |
| Cessna 441 Conquest II Cessna · 1977 | 8 max 10 | 2,194 nm | 259 kt | — | — | on request |
Hourly figures are US charter-market estimates for comparison, not quotes. Actual pricing depends on operator, date, positioning and airport fees.
Where they can go
This class typically needs about 3,500 ft of runway at mid weights. Against the 135 airports we hold real runway data for: 135 can take it, 0 cannot. That is the constraint most fleet guides leave out.
Runway requirement is typical for the class, not a manufacturer limit — temperature, elevation and payload move it, and dispatch checks the actual field for your date.
Other classes
Dispatch will tell you honestly if a smaller cabin does the job for less.
Good to know
Across the 3 aircraft in this class we hold rate data for, typical US charter rates run $1,800–$3,100 per flight hour. The Pilatus PC-12 NGX is the entry point at about $1,800/hr. These are market estimates for comparison, not quotes — the fixed all-in number depends on your route, dates and positioning, and dispatch sends it within about 30 minutes.
382–2,194 nautical miles depending on the type. The longest-legged here is the Cessna 441 Conquest II at 2,194 nm. Real range drops with headwind, a full cabin and hot or high airports, so we plan the fuel stop rather than discover it.
6–30 in normal charter layouts. Baggage is usually the real constraint before seats. Across the types we hold baggage figures for, this class carries 40–71 cubic feet. The roomiest cabin here is the Beechcraft King Air 350i / 360 at 19.5 ft.
This class typically needs around 3,500 ft of runway at mid weights. Measured against the 135 airports we hold real runway data for, 135 can take it and 0 cannot. Temperature, field elevation and payload all move that figure, so dispatch checks the actual airport against your date before confirming.
Cabin volume and range, mostly — and the hourly rate that comes with them. A bigger cabin buys you stand-up height, a proper lavatory and longer legs without a fuel stop. If your route is short and the group is small, paying for the bigger cabin buys comfort rather than capability, and dispatch will say so.
Tell dispatch where and when. Real availability and one fixed all-in number, usually within half an hour.