When a Philadelphia group is too large for a heavy jet, the answer is an airliner-size aircraft flying out of Philadelphia International.
Bombardier Aerospace introduced the Challenger 850 in 2006. It is flown by a crew of 2. The type carries 14 to 16 passengers, cruises at 459 knots, tops out at 41,000 feet, covers 2,811 nautical miles and holds 202 cubic feet of baggage.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: VIP Airliner
- Manufacturer: Bombardier Aerospace
- Year introduced: 2006
- Seating: 14 to 16
- Crew: 2
- Range: 2,811 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 459 knots
- Service ceiling: 41,000 feet
- Length: 87.8 feet
- Wingspan: 69.6 feet
- Height: 20.4 feet
- Baggage volume: 202 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Enclosed
Why the Challenger 850 Fits Philadelphia
Airliner-size charters leave from Philadelphia International (KPHL), which takes anything up to airliner size on a 12,000-foot runway.
A published range of 2,811 nautical miles brings Aspen, Scottsdale, Las Vegas and Los Angeles within reach of Philadelphia, before the operator applies reserves and routing for the day.
Anything above nineteen passengers, the aircraft required would fall into regional airliner, or airliner-size, and the trip would no longer fall under the FAR Part 135 standards but possibly operate under FAR Part 121 or foreign equivalent standards. Part 121 and equivalent generally carry stricter crew and operating requirements than FAR Part 91 and FAR Part 135.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Challenger 850 run $14,000 to $18,000 per hour as of 8/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
As a rough guide, Philadelphia to Los Angeles is about 2,089 nautical miles, which is roughly 4.5 to 5.0 hours of flight time at this aircraft’s cruise speed before winds and routing are applied.
Other VIP Airliners Available
Contact
For a quote on a Challenger 850 charter to or from Philadelphia, call 1-888-987-5387 or visit our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.