How Much Fuel Do Business Jets Burn Per Hour?

How much fuel do business jets burn per hour?   When it comes to flying on a private jet, one of the biggest expenses is fuel.

How much fuel do business jets burn per hour?

 

When it comes to flying on a private jet, one of the biggest expenses is fuel. Therefore, it's important to consider the hourly fuel consumption.

 

The hourly fuel cost for a private jet can range from about $500 per hour to nearly $2,000 per hour. Naturally, the larger the aircraft, the higher the consumption.

 

However, in this article discussing the cost of refueling a private jet, all provided values are averages for categories of aircraft.

 

The Embraer Lineage 1000 and Lineage 1000E burn the most fuel per hour, with an average fuel consumption of 626 gallons per hour. At an average Jet-A fuel price of $5 per gallon, the Lineage 1000/E will cost $3,130 per hour just for fuel.

 

In contrast, there is the Dassault Falcon 50. Although the Falcon 50 is a 1980s aircraft, its average hourly fuel consumption is 229 gallons per hour. This results in an hourly fuel cost of $1,145.

 

When examining the average hourly fuel consumption of midsize jets, there is a significant gap between the least and most economical aircraft.

 

The midsize jet that burns the most fuel per hour is the Hawker 800XP. The average hourly fuel performance of the 800XP is 291 gallons per hour. With an average fuel price of $5 per gallon, the fuel cost for the Hawker 800XP will be $1,455 per flight hour.

 

The Hawker 800XP is a jet that was originally designed and manufactured in the mid-1990s. Since then, midsize jets have become more fuel-efficient.

 

Among midsize jets, the lowest fuel consumption belongs to the Pilatus PC-24. The PC-24 is an impressive aircraft in many ways. It is not only the first private jet produced by Pilatus but also extremely versatile. This is most notable for its ability to land on grass and dirt runways, a feature that is unique in the world of private jets.

 

Nonetheless, the Pilatus PC-24 stands out in many ways. Its low hourly rate is one of its many strengths. The average hourly fuel consumption of the Pilatus PC-24 is only 160 gallons per hour. Thus, at an average fuel price of $5 per gallon, the PC-24 will cost only $800 per flight hour. This is an extremely reasonable cost for such a large and powerful aircraft.

 

When it comes to light jets, the difference between the aircraft that burns the most fuel and the one that burns the least is relatively small.

 

The Cessna Citation III is a light jet that burns the most fuel per hour. Given that deliveries of this aircraft began in 1983, it's not surprising that it consumes the most fuel in this category.

The average hourly cost of the Citation III is 241 gallons per hour, resulting in an estimated hourly fuel cost of $1,205.

 

The Cessna Citation CJ1+ burns an average of only 132 gallons of fuel per hour. Thus, the estimated hourly fuel cost for flying the Citation CJ1+ is only $660.

 

Finally, the smallest business jets on the market are VLJs. The Cessna Citation M2 officially accommodates up to 6 passengers and reaches a speed of 404 knots at an altitude of 41,000 feet. 

The Cirrus Vision Jet is a single-engine jet with no restroom. Officially, the Vision Jet can carry up to five passengers. However, in reality, it is likely to accommodate only two. Additionally, the Vision Jet has a maximum cruise speed of just 311 knots and a maximum altitude of 31,000 feet.

 

As expected, the average amount of fuel these jets burn per hour varies widely. The Cessna Citation M2 burns an average of 120 gallons of fuel per hour, while the Cirrus Vision Jet burns an average of just 50 gallons of fuel per hour.

 

Assuming a gallon of jet fuel costs $5, the M2 will cost $600 per hour in fuel. This figure is very close to the most economical light jets.

 

On the other hand, the fuel cost for the Cirrus will be just $250 per hour.

 

Variables Affecting Fuel Consumption

 

Please note that the figures above represent the average fuel consumption for these aircraft per hour. There are numerous factors that can and do affect the amount of fuel a private jet burns.

 

The following factors will influence the fuel efficiency of the aircraft:

Speed and Altitude

The higher the altitude, the more fuel-efficient the jet engine.

Weather Conditions

Flying into a headwind will burn more fuel.

Flying with a tailwind will reduce fuel consumption.

Takeoff and Landing

Takeoff is the most fuel-intensive part of a flight. Consequently, shorter flights burn proportionally more fuel.

Climb rates and drag

Aircraft Weight

The number of passengers and the amount of cargo onboard will affect burn rates. Greater weight means increased fuel consumption.

The longer the flight, the more fuel is required, hence the greater the weight.

 

Summary

 

In conclusion, private jets will burn between 50 gallons of fuel per hour up to 626 gallons per hour.

 

Of course, keep in mind that these figures are based on average fuel consumption. Therefore, if you looked at consumption during takeoff and climb, these numbers would be much higher.