- Passengers
- Varies by cabin, from under 20 to around 50
- Published range
- About 5,650 to 10,200 nm
- Cabin
- Bedrooms, offices, dining and staff seating
- Pricing
- Quoted per trip; varies very widely
- Best for
- Delegations, teams, large private groups
Last reviewed
What a VIP airliner is
A VIP airliner is a commercial airliner built or converted as a private aircraft. Airbus sells them as ACJs (Airbus Corporate Jets) and Boeing as BBJs (Boeing Business Jets); the cabin is then fitted out by a specialist completion centre to the owner's design. The result might include a principal bedroom with a shower, an office, a dining room, a lounge and a separate section of first or business class seats for staff or guests.
Because every cabin is bespoke, there is no standard passenger count. Manufacturers quote range with a nominal VIP load, which is what the table shows; the actual aircraft you charter might seat anywhere from under 20 to around 50 depending on how it was completed. Ask for the seat map and photographs of the specific aircraft before you commit.
Few VIP airliners are available for charter at any one time, and many are older ACJ318, ACJ319 and 737-based BBJ airframes rather than the current neo and MAX models. The original 737NG-based BBJ left production in 2021; it remains a capable and common charter aircraft.
| Model | Range basis | Approx. range | Cabin notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus ACJ TwoTwenty (A220-based) | Up to 18 passengers | 5,650 nm (10,460 km), about 12 hours | 73 m2 of floor space in six living areas |
| Airbus ACJ320neo | 25 passengers | 6,000 nm (11,100 km), over 13 hours | Single-aisle airliner cabin, typically several VIP rooms plus guest seating |
| Airbus ACJ319neo | 8 passengers | 6,750 nm (12,500 km), over 15 hours | Shorter fuselage traded for range |
| Boeing BBJ (737-700 based, production ended 2021) | VIP load | Over 6,000 nm (11,100 km) | 113 delivered between 1998 and 2021 |
| Boeing BBJ MAX 8 | VIP load | About 6,450 to 6,650 nm (11,950 to 12,300 km), sources differ | About 1,025 sq ft of cabin; seat count varies widely by completion |
| Boeing BBJ MAX 7 | VIP load | About 6,600 to 7,000 nm (12,200 to 13,000 km), sources differ | About 884 sq ft of cabin; the 737-7 it is based on was certified by the FAA only in August 2026 |
| Airbus ACJ330neo (widebody) | 25 passengers | 10,200 nm (18,890 km), up to 21 hours | Twin-aisle cabin; rarely available for charter |
What the range means from London
Even the shortest-range model in the table, the ACJ TwoTwenty at about 5,650 nm, reaches Johannesburg (about 4,900 nm), Los Angeles (about 4,720 nm) and Hong Kong (about 5,220 nm) from London on paper. The ACJ320neo, ACJ319neo and BBJ MAX types, at about 6,000 to 7,000 nm, add Singapore (about 5,890 nm) and give more margin on Tokyo (about 5,200 nm).
In practice, range on a VIP airliner depends heavily on the completion. Heavy interiors, extra auxiliary tanks or their absence, and a full cabin of guests and baggage all change the numbers, so we confirm nonstop capability for the exact airframe, load and season. Airport suitability also matters: these aircraft need longer runways, larger parking stands and handling for airliner-sized aircraft, which rules out some business aviation airfields. For London departures we confirm which airports can accept the specific aircraft and its weight before quoting.
Cabin and baggage
The cabin is the reason to choose this category. An ACJ TwoTwenty offers 73 m2 of floor space; a BBJ MAX 8 about 1,025 sq ft. That leaves room for a principal suite, an office or meeting room, a dining area and a separate guest or staff section, so a head of delegation can sleep or work while the team travels in comfort behind.
Baggage capacity is airliner-scale. Equipment cases, large personal baggage, gifts and merchandise all fit in a way they never would on a business jet. If you are moving equipment as well as people, tell us the volume and weight at enquiry stage.
VIP airliner, heavy jet or group charter?
Choose a VIP airliner when the group is larger than a heavy jet can carry comfortably, typically above about 16, and the principal needs private space: government and corporate delegations, royal and family travel, and high-profile touring parties.
Choose a heavy jet when the group is 16 or fewer. You lose the bedroom-and-office layout but gain a much wider choice of aircraft, airports and departure times, usually at a much lower cost.
Choose a commercial group charter when the priority is seats rather than suites. A sports team, an orchestra, an incentive trip or a corporate event of 50 to several hundred people is usually best served by a standard airliner in all-business or mixed configuration, chartered through our commercial charter service. Some airline-operated aircraft in high-premium layouts sit between the two categories, and we will show you both where they fit.
Indicative VIP airliner charter costs
VIP airliners are not in our hourly rate table. Published hourly figures for them come mainly from US brokers, in dollars, and disagree widely, so we do not give a number in pounds. In practice these aircraft are quoted per trip or per programme, and the price varies very widely with the aircraft, where it is based, positioning, crew accommodation, the dates and how long the aircraft is retained. For comparison, heavy jets cost about £5,000 to £11,000 per flight hour and ultra-long-range jets about £7,000 to £16,000, indicative; expect a VIP airliner to cost considerably more, before taxes, VAT where it applies, airport, handling and overflight fees.
Positioning is particularly significant here, because there are few aircraft and they may be based in the Middle East, Europe or Asia. Most VIP airliner charters are priced as a full itinerary with the aircraft and crew retained throughout. We quote a fixed price for the whole itinerary and set out the alternatives, including a heavy jet or a commercial group charter where they would do the job.