Light jet.
A light jet is a business jet class seating roughly six to eight passengers, with industry summaries giving an average range of about 1,953 nautical miles. Light jets such as the Cessna Citation CJ4 and Embraer Phenom 300 are widely used for regional trips. Many have an enclosed lavatory, a small galley and external baggage compartments.
| Term | Light jet |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Very light jet (VLJ), Midsize jet, Cabin class, Empty leg |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Light jet mean in practice?
Light jets are common in European and North American charter and appear often in empty leg listings.
The Citation CJ4 Gen3, for example, has a maximum range of 2,165 nautical miles, a maximum cruise speed of 451 knots and up to 10 occupants including crew. In practice, a light jet carries four to six passengers in comfort with weekend baggage. Cabin height means many adults stoop. Range is enough for London to the Mediterranean or New York to Florida without a stop in normal conditions, but transatlantic sectors are out. Hourly cost is well below midsize. The main trade-offs are cabin space, baggage volume and comfort on longer flights. Some light jets are single-pilot certified; charter operators usually fly with two pilots, but confirm. If your party is six or more with luggage, ask the broker to quote a midsize as well.
Questions
What does Light jet mean?
A light jet is a business jet class seating roughly six to eight passengers, with industry summaries giving an average range of about 1,953 nautical miles. Light jets such as the Cessna Citation CJ4 and Embraer Phenom 300 are widely used for regional trips. Many have an enclosed lavatory, a small galley and external baggage compartments.
Sources
- Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Wikipedia: Business jet (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.