Midsize Jets Overview
Midsize jets offer stand-up cabins, enclosed lavatories, and ranges of 2,500–3,500 NM. They handle coast-to-coast domestic flights with fuel stops and reach Caribbean and Central American destinations nonstop from the Eastern seaboard.
The Jet Finder's aircraft directory currently tracks 19 mid jet models with a combined 819 registered aircraft in the FAA Aircraft Registry. Cruise speeds across this category range from 426 to 481 knots, with ranges spanning 1,858 to 3,340 nautical miles.
Typical charter rates for mid jet aircraft range from $4,500–$7,000/hr per flight hour. Cross-country business travel, family vacations to the Caribbean, corporate shuttle with 6–8 passengers, transcontinental flights with one fuel stop.
Typical Missions
New York to Miami, Chicago to Los Angeles, Dallas to Caribbean, corporate team shuttles. Whether you are evaluating a charter flight or considering an acquisition, understanding the performance envelope of the mid jet category is essential for matching the right aircraft to your mission profile.
Who Flies Midsize Jets and Why
The Corporate Team
Groups of 6–8 flying coast-to-coast for client meetings, board sessions, or site visits. Midsize cabins offer flat floors, facing seats, and enough room to work in flight. The most common corporate charter configuration.
The International Leisure Traveler
Families flying New York to Caribbean, Chicago to Cabo, or Miami to Central America. Midsize jets reach these destinations nonstop with real cabin comfort, enclosed lavatory, and enough baggage for a week.
The Fractional Owner
The most popular category in fractional programs. Midsize jets balance acquisition cost, operating economics, and mission flexibility. NetJets, Flexjet, and PlaneSense all anchor their programs around this category.
Need more range or passengers? See the next category.
Performance and Mission Profile
Midsize Jets cruise at 426–481 knots with ranges of 1,858–3,340 nm. Service ceilings typically reach FL410–FL450. The table below shows how these numbers translate to real missions.
| Mission | Example City Pair | Feasibility |
|---|---|---|
| Coast-to-coast | New York → Los Angeles | Nonstop on most models |
| Caribbean | Miami → St. Barts | Comfortable nonstop |
| Mountain resort | Chicago → Aspen | Nonstop with full pax |
| Transatlantic | New York → London | Not feasible without fuel stop |
Cost to Operate and to Charter
Operating cost is what an owner pays per flight hour to fly the aircraft: fuel, maintenance reserves, crew prorate. Charter rate is what a charter client pays for the aircraft on a specific trip, including the operator's overhead, profit, and positioning.
| Cost Line | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly operating cost | $3,200 | $4,200 | $5,500 |
| Hourly charter rate | $4,500 | $5,800 | $7,000 |
| Annual fixed cost (owner) | $700K | $1M | $1.4M |
Charter rates exceed operating costs because they include positioning flights, crew scheduling, insurance, and the 7.5% Federal Excise Tax (FET) on domestic charters. Prospective aircraft buyers should budget annual fixed costs separately from per-hour operating costs.
Browse 19 Midsize Jets Models
Each model page includes detailed specifications, performance data, and a complete fleet registry linking to individual tail number pages with FAA registration data.
Cessna Citation XLS
The most popular midsize jet in the charter market. Over 900 delivered, available everywhere.
Hawker 800XP
Wide oval fuselage with more shoulder room than any competitor. A cabin-comfort benchmark.
Cessna Citation Excel
Learjet 60
Fast, efficient, and plentiful on the pre-owned market. A proven corporate workhorse.
Cessna Citation V
Cessna Citation Ultra
Cessna Citation Encore
Cessna Citation III
Hawker 900XP
Gulfstream G100
Gulfstream G150
Hawker 850XP
Showing top 12 of 19 models. See the full comparison table below.
Routes Commonly Flown on Midsize Jets
A mid jet route typically stays under 3,000 nm, connecting major metros to business or leisure destinations. These routes are drawn from our route directory.
Sample Aircraft from the Registry
819 mid jet aircraft in the FAA registry. Below is a sample. Each links to the full tail-number page with specs, ownership, and history.
How Midsize Jets Compare
Midsize Jets sit between Light Jets and Super Midsize Jets. Most buyers in this zone are deciding based on mission profile, not preference.
| Spec | Light Jet | Midsize Jet | Super Midsize Jet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical pax | 6–8 | 7–9 | 8–10 |
| Range (nm) | 1,500–2,000 | 2,500–3,500 | 3,500–4,500 |
| Cruise (kt) | 420–460 | 430–475 | 460–500 |
| Hourly charter | $3,800–$5,500 | $4,500–$7,000 | $5,500–$8,500 |
| Best for | Regional, stand-up cabin | Coast-to-coast, Caribbean | Nonstop transcontinental, Hawaii |
A light jet saves $1,000–$2,000/hr on shorter domestic legs under 1,500 nm. If the mission is regional and the group is 6 or fewer, a light jet covers it at lower cost.
A super midsize jet delivers nonstop coast-to-coast range without compromise, wider cabins, and can reach Hawaii from the West Coast. Worth the premium when range or cabin width drive the decision.
All 19 Models — Specs Comparison
Click any model for full specs, fleet registry, and FAQ.
| Model | Speed | Range | Pax | Registered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna Citation XLS | 441 kts | 2,100 NM | 9 | 273 |
| Hawker 800XP | 448 kts | 2,540 NM | 9 | 131 |
| Cessna Citation Excel | 430 kts | 1,858 NM | 9 | 128 |
| Learjet 60 | 457 kts | 2,405 NM | 8 | 91 |
| Cessna Citation V | 426 kts | 1,920 NM | 8 | 54 |
| Cessna Citation Ultra | 430 kts | 2,030 NM | 8 | 26 |
| Cessna Citation Encore | 430 kts | 2,030 NM | 8 | 24 |
| Cessna Citation III | 480 kts | 2,000 NM | 9 | 21 |
| Hawker 900XP | 448 kts | 2,800 NM | 9 | 19 |
| Gulfstream G100 | 470 kts | 2,950 NM | 9 | 11 |
| Gulfstream G150 | 475 kts | 3,000 NM | 9 | 8 |
| Hawker 850XP | 448 kts | 2,642 NM | 9 | 7 |
| Embraer Legacy 500 | 466 kts | 3,125 NM | 12 | 5 |
| Bombardier Learjet 55 | 465 kts | 2,240 NM | 8 | 5 |
| Cessna Citation VII | 481 kts | 2,100 NM | 9 | 4 |
| Rockwell Sabreliner | 478 kts | 2,000 NM | 9 | 4 |
| Westwind | 460 kts | 2,570 NM | 8 | 4 |
| Embraer Praetor 500 | 466 kts | 3,340 NM | 9 | 3 |
| Cessna Citation VI | 470 kts | 1,900 NM | 9 | 1 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Midsize Jets
12 questions answered about mid jet aircraft
Midsize jets offer stand-up cabins, enclosed lavatories, and ranges of 2,500–3,500 NM. They handle coast-to-coast domestic flights with fuel stops and reach Caribbean and Central American destinations nonstop from the Eastern seaboard.
Most mid jet aircraft seat 8–12 passengers, depending on the specific model and cabin configuration.
Range spans 1,858 to 3,340 nautical miles across the 19 models in this category.
Charter rates range from $4,500 to $7,000 per flight hour. The rate includes crew, fuel, positioning, and operator overhead. Request a charter quote.
Annual fixed costs range from $700K to $1.4M, covering hangar, insurance, crew, and maintenance reserves. Hourly operating cost adds $3,200–$5,500 per flight hour. Explore acquisitions.
The Cessna Citation VII at 481 knots cruise. View specs.
The Embraer Praetor 500 at 3,340 nm. View specs.
The Cessna Citation XLS has the most FAA-registered aircraft in this category with 273 active registrations. View the fleet.
Single-pilot certification varies by model. In this category, several models hold single-pilot type certificates, reducing crew costs for owner-operators.
Most mid jet aircraft require 4,000–5,500 feet for takeoff at typical weights.
Full stand-up cabins. Flat-floor configurations available. Competitive operating costs vs. performance. Strong resale values.
One fuel stop on longest coast-to-coast routes. Cannot reach Europe nonstop. Smaller than super-mid cabins for longer flights Request a charter quote.
Find the Right Mid Jet for Your Mission
Whether you are looking to charter, acquire, or sell a mid jet — our aviation advisors can match you with the right aircraft. Access to more than 15,000 aircraft worldwide.