The aircraft that suits a Philadelphia trip depends on four things: how far you are going, how many people are traveling, how much baggage is coming, and what the runway will take at both ends. A short run to Boston or Washington and a nonstop to the West Coast call for very different aircraft, and the difference shows up in the quote.
Below are the categories we arrange most often. Your advisor will narrow it with you when we present options.
Passenger charter
- Piston aircraft for short regional hops into the smaller fields around Philadelphia
- Turboprops, which handle short runways well and suit trips within the Northeast
- Entry-level jets for small groups on shorter legs
- Light jets and super light jets, the workhorses of Northeast business travel
- Midsize and super midsize jets for transcontinental range with a stand-up cabin
- Heavy jets for larger parties and longer legs
- Long-range jets for nonstop international travel
- VIP airliners for groups that outgrow a heavy jet
- Helicopters for short repositioning and site access
Each category page lists the aircraft we arrange in it, with cabin, range and seating for each.
Which category fits your trip
Most Philadelphia charter runs are regional: New York, Boston, Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Toronto. A light or midsize jet covers those comfortably, and that is usually where we start.
Range is what narrows the choice on Florida and West Coast trips. Once you are more than a couple of hours in the air, cabin size starts to matter as much as speed. Winter routings can shift the answer as well, because headwinds on a westbound leg eat into range, and an aircraft that is comfortable in July may need a fuel stop in January.
Runway matters at the smaller end. Philadelphia International and Northeast Philadelphia, New Castle, Trenton-Mercer and Chester County all take jets. Wings Field, Brandywine, Doylestown, Quakertown and the other short fields around the region are piston and light turboprop airports. The required runway for any particular trip is a performance calculation the operator makes for that aircraft, at that weight, in that day’s conditions, so we confirm it with the operator for your specific trip.
Cargo and medical
- Air cargo charter for full-aircraft freight, from a single pallet through to outsize loads
- Medical and air ambulance flights for patients who need medical support on board
How we choose an operator
Whichever category you end up in, the operator behind the aircraft goes through our internal due diligence before we present it. We confirm operator certification, review the operator’s safety and incident history, and confirm pilot experience and currency on the specific aircraft type. Where the operator participates in a Wyvern or ARGUS program, we reference those audits as well. The detail is on our safety page.
Get options for your trip
Call 1-888-987-5387 or request a quote online and we will come back with aircraft that fit the trip. The phone is answered at any hour, on any day of the year.