Block time.
Block time is the elapsed time from the moment an aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until it comes to rest at its parking position after landing. Block time includes taxiing at both ends. Charter operators generally bill by block time rather than airborne time, so ground delays at busy airports increase the price.
| Term | Block time |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Flight time, Round-trip charter, Slot |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Block time mean in practice?
Charter pricing is built on hours, and the hour that matters is block time: chocks off to chocks on.
On a short flight, taxi time at two busy airports can add a noticeable fraction to the billed hours. Operators also apply a daily minimum, commonly expressed in block hours, so a very short trip may be charged at the minimum. When you receive a quote, check whether it is a fixed price for the trip or an hourly rate multiplied by estimated block time and subject to adjustment. Fixed quotes protect you from taxi delays and headwinds; hourly quotes can be revised after the flight. The ICAO definition of flight time for aeroplanes, first movement for take-off until final rest, is the same measure that many operators call block time.
Questions
What does Block time mean?
Block time is the elapsed time from the moment an aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until it comes to rest at its parking position after landing. Block time includes taxiing at both ends. Charter operators generally bill by block time rather than airborne time, so ground delays at busy airports increase the price.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Flight length (accessed 2026-09-20)
- 14 CFR 1.1 Definitions (Cornell LII) (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.