There’s no single best private jet; the right aircraft depends on where you’re going, how many people are travelling with you, and which airports you need to access. Australia’s vast geography and diverse network of regional airfields make aircraft selection more important here than almost anywhere else in the world.
This guide walks through each category of private jet aircraft types available for charter in Australia, with practical route examples and the information you need to choose well.
Which Jet for Which Trip?
| Aircraft Category | Passengers | Private Jet Range | Best For |
| Turboprop | 5–12 | Up to 1,200 nm | Short regional hops, short runways |
| Small private jet (light jet) | 4–8 | 800-1,200 nm | Short domestic routes, 1–3 hrs |
| Midsize jet | 7–9 | 2,000–3,000 nm | Longer domestic legs, corporate travel |
| Super-midsize jet | 8–10 | 3,000–3,700 nm | Transcontinental domestic, short international |
| Heavy / ultra-long-range jet | 10–14+ | 4,000–7,700 nm | International, large groups, long haul |
Light Jets: Best for Short Domestic Trips
If your trip is under three hours and your group is four to eight people, a small private jet is almost always the right call. Light jets are efficient, fast to board, and, critically for Australian travel, able to operate from shorter regional runways that larger aircraft can’t access.
The Embraer Phenom 300E is the benchmark. The world’s best-selling light jet for over a decade, it carries up to eight passengers with a private jet range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 444 knots. On Australian routes, that’s Sydney to Cairns non-stop, Melbourne to Adelaide with room to spare, or Brisbane to Uluru without a fuel stop. Its short-field performance, requiring as little as 978 metres of runway on takeoff, opens up regional strips well beyond the capital-city network.
For executives running tight schedules, a small private jet like the Phenom 300E also means no commercial check-in, no lounges to navigate, and direct access to general aviation terminals.
You’re airborne within minutes of arriving at the airport.
Midsize & Super-Midsize Jets: The Transcontinental Workhorses
When your route stretches across the continent, or your team needs space to work, hold a meeting, or rest en route, a midsize or super-midsize jet is the natural fit. These are the most popular types of private jets among Australian corporate travellers.
Midsize jets typically carry seven to nine passengers with stand-up cabins, enclosed lavatories, and full in-flight connectivity. The Bombardier Challenger 350 is a standout example in the super-midsize bracket: a private jet range of around 3,200 nautical miles, cabin height that lets most passengers stand comfortably, and a quiet, refined interior that makes four- to five-hour legs feel manageable. On Australian routes, that covers Sydney to Perth non-stop with ease, and gets you into Singapore or Bali without a fuel stop.
These types of private jet are particularly well-suited to corporate roadshows, where a team needs to cover Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth across two or three days. Rather than dealing with commercial schedules and the dead time that comes with them, the aircraft moves around the team’s itinerary. Midsize jets also perform well for leisure groups heading to the Whitsundays, Byron Bay, or regional wine country; all destinations where commercial connections are often inconvenient or non-existent.
Heavy & Ultra-Long-Range Jets: International and Large Groups
For international travel, large party sizes, or both, heavy and ultra-long-range jets represent the top tier of private aviation. These are the private jet types built to connect Australia with Asia, Europe, and the Americas, often non-stop.
The Bombardier Global 7500 is the defining aircraft in this category. With a private jet range of 7,700 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 0.925, it can fly Sydney to London or Melbourne to New York without refuelling. A real-world demonstration flight covered 8,225 nautical miles from Sydney to Detroit, which is the longest ever recorded by a business jet at the time. The four-zone cabin accommodates up to 14 passengers across separate living, dining, and sleeping areas, including a permanent stateroom with a full shower. For executive teams, government delegations, or families travelling in complete privacy across time zones, the Global 7500 is in a category of its own.
For groups that don’t need that kind of range but do need space (e.g. 10 to 16 passengers flying Sydney to Singapore or Melbourne to Tokyo), large-cabin heavy jets like the Bombardier Challenger 605 or Gulfstream G550 cover most Asia-Pacific routes non-stop while offering genuinely hotel-like interiors.
If you’re travelling as a large group within Australia, there’s often a more cost-effective path than splitting across multiple jets. Our group charter service is designed around exactly this need.
Why Aircraft Choice Matters More in Australia
Australia has more than 300 registered public-use aerodromes and airfields beyond its major capitals, a network that opens up extraordinary access to remote and regional destinations, but only if you’re in the right aircraft.
Light jets and turboprops can land at regional strips serving places like Broken Hill, Longreach, Kununurra, and Coober Pedy. Midsize jets handle the bulk of the capital-city network and many regional centres. Heavy jets, by contrast, are generally limited to full-service jet-capable airports, which matters when you’re trying to reach a Kimberley cattle station or a Whitsundays resort with a restricted runway.
Private jet range is also a more pressing consideration here than in most other countries. Sydney to Perth is roughly 1,700 nautical miles; Melbourne to Darwin is over 1,800 nm. A small private jet with a range of around 2,000 nm handles these routes, but with limited margin. Move to midsize or super-midsize, and those legs become routine. For international travel, Melbourne to Singapore is around 3,200 nm, Sydney to Dubai over 7,000 nm; the range of your chosen private jet determines whether you travel non-stop or add a fuel stop that can cost two or three hours on an already long day.
Understanding the different private jet aircraft types available is step one. Matching them to Australia’s unique geography is step two.
How to Choose (and How We Match the Aircraft for You)
The most common mistake in private jet charter is starting with an aircraft preference rather than a mission. A client might request a heavy jet for a two-hour domestic hop, not realising a small private jet would deliver the same experience at a fraction of the cost. Conversely, booking a light jet for a five-hour intercontinental leg compromises comfort in ways that become obvious around hour three.
At Charter One Aviation, the aircraft selection process starts with your itinerary, not our inventory.
Our charter team matches each flight to the best available aircraft across turboprops, light jets, midsize, heavy, and group charter options, factoring in private jet range, passenger count, runway access at your destination, and the experience you want on board. With 25 years of Australian aviation experience and access to a wide global fleet, we’re not constrained by what happens to be available on a given day.
The rest of the experience is coordinated around the flight: chauffeured transfers, luxury accommodation, onboard catering, and VIP event access are all handled by our concierge team as part of a single, seamless service.
If you’d like to explore what the right aircraft looks like for your next trip, our private jet charters page is a good starting point, or speak directly with our charter team for a personalised recommendation. And if you’re open to flexible travel dates, our empty leg deals offer significant savings on repositioning flights across Australia.
Ready to Find the Right Aircraft?
The best private jet the one that fits your route, your group, and the experience you’re after. Our charter team handles the matching process, so you don’t have to.
Request a Quote or reach out directly to speak with a Charter One aviation specialist. We’ll handle everything from aircraft selection to concierge services, so all you need to do is arrive.
FAQs
What is the best private jet?
There’s no single answer, because “best” depends entirely on the mission. For short domestic hops with a small group, a light jet like the Embraer Phenom 300E is hard to beat. For long international routes or large parties, an ultra-long-range aircraft like the Bombardier Global 7500 sets the standard. A good charter specialist will identify the best private jet for your specific route, group size, and travel preferences, which is exactly what Charter One does.
What private jets are available to charter in Australia?
Australia has access to a wide range of private jet aircraft types, from turboprops for short regional trips, through light jets and midsize jets for domestic travel, to heavy and ultra-long-range jets for international routes.
Charter operators like Charter One Aviation can source aircraft across all these categories for on-demand charter, with access to both Australian-based and globally positioned fleets.
Which private jet has the longest range?
Among purpose-built business jets in production, the Bombardier Global 7500 holds the record with a certified private jet range of 7,700 nautical miles, enough to connect Sydney with almost any city in the world non-stop. In real-world conditions, a Global 7500 once flew from Sydney to Detroit, covering over 8,200 nautical miles. For most Australian international routes, ultra-long-range jets in this class can eliminate fuel stops entirely.
What jets do business travellers use most?
Midsize and super-midsize private jet types are the most commonly chartered by Australian business travellers. They offer the right balance of range, cabin comfort, and operating cost for routes like Sydney–Melbourne, Sydney–Perth, and short international legs to Asia.
For senior executives or time-critical trips, light jets are popular on shorter domestic routes, while heavy jets are reserved for international travel, larger teams, or where maximum onboard comfort is the priority.
