The turboprop is private aviation's best-kept secret. On stages under 500 miles, a Pilatus PC-12 arrives within minutes of a light jet, at an hourly rate our bands put roughly 40% lower. The propellers fool people into expecting a lesser experience; the cabin, often finished to the same standard as a jet, corrects them.
Turboprops also open airports jets can't use: shorter runways, grass strips, high-altitude fields. That's why they dominate routes into ski country, island hops and ranch strips across the American West.
What a turboprop costs on real routes
One-way estimates for routes this category can serve. Rows markedrecommended are the ones where ourrecommendation rule picks this category over every other:
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles → 🇺🇸 Las VegasRecommended | 229 mi | 1h 14m | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| 🇨🇦 Toronto → 🇺🇸 New YorkRecommended | 345 mi | 1h 37m | $4,000 – $7,000 |
| 🇦🇺 Sydney → 🇦🇺 Melbourne | 438 mi | 1h 55m | $3,600 – $8,800 |
| 🇺🇸 Los Angeles → 🇲🇽 Cabo San Lucas | 930 mi | 3h 30m | $6,300 – $15,300 |
When the turboprop is the right call
Choose a turboprop when the trip is under roughly two hours, the party is six or fewer, and budget matters more than raw speed. LA to Vegas, Miami to the Bahamas, Denver to Aspen — on these stages the time penalty against a jet is 15–25 minutes, and the savings run into thousands. Skip it for transcontinental trips or weather-critical schedules where jet cruise altitudes matter.
Inside the cabin
Expect 6–8 executive seats, a lavatory on the PC-12 and King Air 350, and cabin cross-sections comparable to a light jet. No stand-up aisle — you board bent, sit comfortably, and deplane 90 seconds after touchdown at an FBO a jet couldn't reach.
The aircraft you'll actually be quoted
| Aircraft | Hourly rate | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pilatus PC-12 NGX | $1,900–2,900/h | Single-engine workhorse, huge cargo door, 6–8 seats |
| Beechcraft King Air 350i | $2,400–3,500/h | Twin-engine, pressurized comfort, 8–9 seats |
| Daher TBM 960 | $1,800–2,600/h | Fastest single-engine turboprop, 4–5 seats |
| Cessna Grand Caravan EX | $1,700–2,400/h | Island-hop specialist, 9+ seats, unpaved strips |
These hourly figures describe individual airframes, not the category, and can sit slightly outside the $2,000–$3,500 band above — an older airframe prices below it, a brand-new one above. Our estimates always use the category band; see the methodology.
Estimate your route on a turboprop
Instant market ranges for any pair of 75+ airports — then live Villiers pricing and confirmed quotes by email if you want them.
Charter cost estimate
Ready
Los Angeles (VNY) → Las Vegas (LAS)
229 mi · one way · 4 pax
Recommended aircraft
Turboprop
$4,000 – $7,000
1h 14m in the air · Nonstop · 6–8 seats · Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350 · billed at the 2-hour minimum
Chosen because it flies the 229 mi nonstop, seats 4 comfortably, and is the least expensive category that suits a hop this short.
Lowest viable option
Other aircraft options (4)
| Category | Typical aircraft | Flight time | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light Jet | Phenom 300, Citation CJ3+ | 1h 01m | $7,000 – $11,000 |
| Midsize Jet | Citation Latitude, Learjet 60XR | 0h 57m | $11,000 – $16,000 |
| Super-Midsize | Challenger 350, Citation X | 0h 56m | $16,000 – $20,000 |
| Heavy Jet | Gulfstream G650, Global 7500 | 0h 54m | $20,000 – $36,000 |
What is included
- Aircraft and crew for the flight time shown
- Fuel at prevailing prices
- Standard landing and handling fees at business-aviation airports
- Routine catering and in-flight service at the operator’s standard level
- Federal excise tax and segment fees where the operator quotes them inclusively
What may change the final quote
- De-icing, which is charged per application in winter
- Overnight crew expenses on multi-day trips
- Aircraft-on-ground and extended-wait charges
- International handling, customs, overflight and permit fees
- Peak-date and event surcharges
- Ground transport, hangarage and special catering requests
Estimate, not a binding quote. These are indicative market ranges for the aircraft category, not an offer from an operator.See exactly how we calculate this.
Live availability from Villiers Jets
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Turboprop charter: common questions
How much does it cost to charter a turboprop?
$2,000–$3,500 per flight hour on our rate bands. Los Angeles to Las Vegas — 1h 14m in the air — estimates at $4,000 – $7,000, which is the least expensive way to fly private on a stage that short.
Are turboprops safe compared to jets?
Yes. The Pilatus PC-12 and King Air family have decades of service and safety records comparable to light jets. They fly lower and slightly slower, but under the same Part 135 charter oversight, maintenance standards and two-pilot options as any jet charter.
How far can a turboprop fly?
Realistic charter stages run up to about 1,000–1,200 miles, but the sweet spot is under 500 miles — beyond that, a light jet closes the price gap through speed and becomes the better buy.