Quick answer
Transatlantic private jet cost from London to New York runs at roughly £60,000–£95,000 one way for a full charter on a heavy or ultra-long-range jet, and roughly £18,000–£45,000 when one of the empty legs crossing the Atlantic lines up with your dates. Miami prices higher. Only certain super-midsize, heavy and ultra-long-range jets cross non-stop. All figures are indicative; the live figure is confirmed on enquiry.
Key takeaways
- A full London to New York charter typically costs £60,000–£95,000 one way; an empty leg roughly £18,000–£45,000.
- The lightest jets that cross non-stop are super-midsize types such as the Praetor 600; heavy jets are the usual choice.
- Miami is about 3,830 nm from Farnborough, so it needs a long-range jet or a fuel stop.
- Air Passenger Duty for band B can reach £1,097 per passenger on jets that pay the higher rate.
- Transatlantic empty legs are rare, but they carry the largest absolute savings in private aviation.
What does a transatlantic private jet cost?
The honest headline: transatlantic private jet cost from London to New York sits at roughly £60,000–£95,000 one way for a full charter on a heavy or ultra-long-range jet. Seven to eight hours in the air at the house heavy-jet rate of £6,200–£9,000 an hour is roughly £43,000–£72,000 of that; positioning, crew costs and fees make up the rest. The same crossing as an empty leg typically lists at roughly £18,000–£45,000, in line with the general rule that empty legs run up to 75% below the full charter. These are indicative ranges for private jet hire New York, and the live figure is confirmed on enquiry. London to Miami (see private jet hire Miami) is a longer crossing of nine to ten hours and prices higher again, at roughly £65,000–£100,000 one way for a full charter and £20,000–£48,000 when an empty leg appears.
That gap between the two numbers is the whole story of this page. A full charter pays for an aircraft built around your dates, plus whatever it costs the operator to get that aircraft to you and home again. An empty leg is a crossing the jet was going to make anyway, sold at a discount because the alternative is flying the Atlantic with nobody aboard. We don't sell jets, and we have no reason to push either option; the right answer depends on how fixed your dates are.
Indicative one-way ranges for the whole aircraft, including positioning, before Air Passenger Duty. Flight hours are the great-circle estimates for Farnborough to Teterboro (2,994 nm) and Farnborough to Opa-locka (3,830 nm); real block times move with the winds. The live figure is confirmed on enquiry.
For context, those transatlantic numbers sit at the top of the hourly benchmarks in our private jet charter cost guide: heavy jets at roughly £6,200–£9,000 an hour and ultra-long-range jets at roughly £9,000–£14,000 an hour. Seven or eight hours in the air at those rates explains most of the price before a single fee is added.
Which jets can fly London to New York non-stop?
London to New York is roughly 3,000 nautical miles in a straight line. On paper, plenty of business jets can cover that. In practice the westbound crossing usually runs into headwinds, operators keep fuel reserves for a diversion, and a full cabin with luggage eats into range. The result is a short list of aircraft that make the crossing non-stop with a sensible margin, and a longer list that need a fuel stop in Iceland, Greenland or Canada when conditions are against them.
The table below uses the manufacturers' published ranges. Those figures are calculated under standard conditions with a light passenger load and reserves, so treat any aircraft within a few hundred miles of the route distance as "sometimes", not "always".
Ranges and seating as published by the manufacturers: Challenger 3500, Praetor 600, Challenger 650, Falcon 2000LXS, Falcon 900LX, Falcon 8X, G600, G800. Published ranges assume standard conditions and reserves; the operator decides on the day.
Two practical points come out of that table. First, the cheapest aircraft that can do the job is a super-midsize, and Embraer is explicit that its Praetor 600 is built to fly London to New York without stopping. Second, the route to Miami is about 3,830 nautical miles, which pushes most super-midsize and some heavy jets past a comfortable margin. If Florida is the destination, expect to be quoted a Falcon 900LX, a Falcon 8X or a Gulfstream, or a fuel stop on a smaller aircraft.
Heavy jet transatlantic or ultra-long-range: what changes?
Most London to New York charters are flown on a heavy jet, and for good reason. A heavy jet transatlantic crossing gives a group of eight to twelve a stand-up cabin, a proper galley, a lavatory you can actually use and the range to fly non-stop on most days. It is the class most operators position for the route, which also makes it the class most likely to turn up as an empty leg.
Ultra-long-range aircraft, the Gulfstream G600 and G800 and the Falcon 8X class, cost more per hour and are, strictly speaking, more aircraft than London to New York needs. They earn their premium in three situations:
- Winter westbound crossings. When strong headwinds are forecast, the extra range removes any question of a fuel stop.
- Onward legs. If New York is the first stop on a longer trip, the bigger aircraft keeps options open.
- Sleeping. On an overnight eastbound flight, a cabin with flat beds for everyone changes how you arrive.
At the other end, a super-midsize is the value play for four to six passengers. It is the lightest aircraft that can make the crossing non-stop, and it costs less per hour than a heavy jet. The trade is cabin space and margin: on a bad-weather day the operator may plan a fuel stop, which adds an hour or more. For a deeper look at the heavy class on its own terms, see heavy jet charter cost.
Worked example: transatlantic private jet cost for a group of eight
Numbers are easier to judge side by side. Take a group of eight flying Farnborough to Teterboro one way, westbound, on a weekday outside the peak holiday weeks. The flight is about seven to eight hours, and each class is priced at the house hourly band on our cost guide. These are indicative figures for flying time only; positioning, crew costs and handling are added on the real quote, which is how a heavy-jet crossing reaches the £60,000–£95,000 one-way range above. The live figure is confirmed on enquiry.
Indicative, one way, before Air Passenger Duty. The first three rows are flying time only; the full quote adds positioning, crew costs and fees. The live figure is confirmed on enquiry.
Three things stand out. First, the super-midsize is the cheapest way across, but with eight aboard plus luggage it is the option most likely to plan a fuel stop on a day of strong headwinds, so ask before you compare it like for like. Second, the heavy jet is the sensible middle: enough room for eight to move about and enough range to fly non-stop on most days. Third, the ultra-long-range jet only earns its premium if you need its range, its beds or its onward options.
Then add the tax. If the aircraft pays the higher rate of Air Passenger Duty, eight passengers at £1,097 each adds £8,776 to whichever figure you are looking at; on a lighter jet at the standard rate it is £1,952. A return within a day or two, with the aircraft waiting, costs not much more than a one way, because the aircraft has to fly home either way; a return a week later is usually quoted as two separate trips, as explained further down this page.
Price your own crossing in a few seconds: an indicative range for London to New York or Miami, with no account and no obligation.
Check a price →What makes up the price of a transatlantic charter
A transatlantic quote is built from the same pieces as any charter. The difference is the scale of each piece:
- Aircraft time. Seven to eight hours westbound to New York, more to Miami, at the class hourly rate. This is the bulk of the bill.
- Positioning and the return. If the aircraft is based in Europe and you only want one way, someone has to pay for it to fly home. On a one-way transatlantic charter that can mean a second crossing with nobody aboard, and the quote reflects it.
- Crew costs. A long mission may need the crew to rest at the destination before flying again, which brings hotel and subsistence costs, and some operators plan longer flights with additional crew.
- Airport, handling and overflight costs. Landing and handling at both ends, plus navigation charges for the airspace the aircraft crosses.
- Taxes. UK Air Passenger Duty applies per passenger on departures from the UK, covered below.
Of those, positioning is the line that moves most between quotes and the one an empty leg removes entirely. Our guide to private jet hidden fees walks through each quote line with an annotated example.
Air Passenger Duty on a transatlantic flight
Departures from UK airports pay Air Passenger Duty per passenger, and New York and Miami both sit in band B (2,001 to 5,500 miles from London). At the current rates published by HMRC, band B is £102 per passenger at the reduced rate, £244 at the standard rate and £1,097 at the higher rate. The higher rate currently applies to aircraft of 20 tonnes or more equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers, which takes in the large-cabin Gulfstream and Falcon 8X class. Lighter jets pay the reduced or standard rate depending on seat pitch. Source: GOV.UK, rates and allowances for Air Passenger Duty.
On an eight-passenger crossing in a jet that pays the higher rate, that is £8,776 in duty alone, so it is worth seeing as its own line on any quote. HMRC has also confirmed that the higher rate will be extended to business jets of 5.7 tonnes and above from the start of the next tax year on 1 April, at the time of writing, which will bring most transatlantic-capable jets into it. Our guide to private jet air passenger duty and VAT explains both changes.
The empty-leg option: the same crossing for less
Transatlantic empty legs exist for a simple reason. Aircraft cross the Atlantic for clients flying one way, and then have to go home. A jet that has dropped a client at Teterboro and is due back in Europe is flying that crossing whether anyone books it or not. Sold as an empty leg, it typically lists at roughly £18,000–£45,000 against a full-charter range of £60,000–£95,000 one way.
That is often the deepest discount in private aviation. The percentage is similar to short-haul legs, but the absolute saving is far larger because the full charter is so expensive. Split across eight passengers, a £30,000 leg is £3,750 a head, which is in the territory of a flexible premium-cabin fare on the same route.
The catch is supply. Far fewer aircraft cross the Atlantic than fly London to Nice, so a transatlantic leg on your exact dates is the exception, not the rule. Repositioning tends to cluster around the start and end of seasons and big events, when aircraft that flew clients out in one direction need to come back. We cover timing, routes and how to catch one in our dedicated guide to transatlantic empty leg flights, and the general mechanics of how to find empty legs in our wider journal.
One more option sits between the two. If you need to cross on fixed dates and can be flexible on the way home, book the outbound as a charter and watch for an empty leg back. Aircraft heading east after a busy period in the US are more common than people expect.
One way or return: which costs less per crossing?
On short European routes a return charter is usually the efficient choice, because the aircraft would otherwise fly home empty. Across the Atlantic the maths is more nuanced. If you are staying in the US for a week, the operator either keeps the aircraft and crew waiting, which costs parking, hotels and the lost chance to fly other clients, or flies it home and back again, which means two extra crossings with nobody aboard.
The common outcomes are:
- A short stay of a day or two. A return with the aircraft waiting is usually the best value per crossing.
- A week or more. Two one-way charters, or one charter and one empty leg, often work out cheaper than paying the aircraft to wait or reposition twice.
- Flexible dates on the way home. A charter out and a watched route back is the setup most likely to save a large sum.
Ask any operator to quote both structures. If a one-way price looks high, it is often because it includes the cost of bringing the aircraft home. Our comparison of one-way charter vs empty leg goes into that in more detail.
When a private crossing isn't worth it
For one or two people with fixed dates and no time pressure, a full transatlantic charter is hard to justify on cost. A premium-cabin airline seat costs a fraction of a whole aircraft, and the flight time is broadly the same. The private advantages, choosing your airport and departure time, skipping the terminal and working or sleeping in private, are real, but you pay for them in full.
The case gets stronger with a group, a schedule that airlines can't match, or a business reason to arrive fresh and on time. It gets stronger still when an empty leg lines up. Our honest answer to are empty legs worth it applies with even more force to transatlantic legs, because the cancellation risk on a single repositioning crossing is not something to build an immovable meeting around.
How to get a real price for your crossing
- Be specific about the group. Passenger numbers and luggage decide whether a super-midsize will do or a heavy jet is needed.
- Ask whether the quote is non-stop. A cheaper aircraft with a planned fuel stop is a different product from a non-stop heavy jet.
- Ask for APD on its own line. At the higher rate it is a meaningful sum.
- Ask how the return is handled. One way with a paid return positioning, waiting time, or two separate trips.
- Watch for an empty leg in parallel. Even if you book a charter one way, a route alert on the other direction costs nothing.
Transatlantic legs are rare and go quickly. Set a London to New York or Miami alert and we'll email you when one lists.
Set up a route alert →Frequently asked questions
How much does a private jet from London to New York cost?
As a full charter, roughly £60,000–£95,000 one way on a heavy or ultra-long-range jet, including positioning but before Air Passenger Duty. As an empty leg, roughly £18,000–£45,000 when one lines up with your dates. The live figure is confirmed on enquiry.
What is the cheapest jet that can fly London to New York non-stop?
A super-midsize such as the Embraer Praetor 600, which Embraer markets specifically for London to New York without a stop. Lighter aircraft can make the crossing, but usually with a fuel stop in Iceland, Greenland or Canada.
How long is a private flight from London to New York?
Roughly seven to eight hours westbound, depending on the winds and the aircraft, and usually less eastbound. The great-circle distance from Farnborough to Teterboro is about 2,994 nautical miles.
Is a heavy jet necessary for a transatlantic flight?
Not always. A super-midsize can cross non-stop with a smaller group, but a heavy jet gives more cabin space and more range margin, especially westbound in winter. Most London to New York charters are flown on heavy jets.
How much is Air Passenger Duty on a private flight to New York?
New York is in band B. At the current HMRC rates that is £102 per passenger at the reduced rate, £244 at the standard rate and £1,097 at the higher rate, which currently applies to aircraft of 20 tonnes or more with fewer than 19 seats.
Are transatlantic empty legs common?
Far less common than short-haul European legs, because fewer aircraft make the crossing. When one appears, the saving is usually the largest in private aviation. A route alert is the practical way to catch one.
Is it cheaper to book a return or two one-way flights?
For a short stay, a return with the aircraft waiting is usually better value. For a week or more, two one-way trips, or a charter one way and an empty leg the other, often cost less than paying for the aircraft to wait or reposition.
Can a private jet fly London to Miami non-stop?
Yes, on the right aircraft. At about 3,830 nautical miles it needs a long-range jet such as a Falcon 900LX, Falcon 8X or a large Gulfstream. Smaller jets will usually plan a fuel stop.
Is Air Passenger Duty on private jets going up?
Yes. HMRC has confirmed that from the start of the next tax year on 1 April, at the time of writing, the higher rate extends to business jets of 5.7 tonnes and above, which takes in most transatlantic-capable aircraft. It has published the band B higher rate for that year at £1,132.76 per passenger. Ask for APD on its own line on any quote.
