Hawaii is one of the most popular private jet destinations worldwide, especially this time of year as sun-seekers seek respite from cooler climates. During the month of December, the weather hovers around a pleasant 80°F – making it the perfect wintertime escape to experience luxury resorts, globally-inspired cuisine, pristine beaches, and breathtaking natural beauty. 

The most convenient and comfortable way to make the six-hour journey to Hawaii is by private jet – no long queues, baggage restrictions or delays, unlike scheduled commercial flights. But what often surprises even the most well-seasoned private jet traveler is that a jet charter to Hawaii is simply expensive. We shed some light on this below:

The trans-Pacific flight or “Pacific crossing” to Hawaii is the longest over-water route in the world. Only the largest private jets can make the distance of approximately 2,200 nautical miles (from Los Angeles to Honolulu) — and not for the reasons you might think. While many more economical private jet types have a non-stop range suitable for this distance, there are special Federal Aviation Administration ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) safety measures in place for long-haul routes like this one.

As there are no diversion airports between Hawaii and the California West Coast, for a private aircraft to fly across the Pacific it must be rated for ETOPS-180:

• Able to fly with a full passenger load and just one engine for three hours.
• At any point in the flight, the aircraft needs to be able to return to land with only a single engine.
• Remain 180 minutes or three hours away from a diversion point at all times.
• Has sufficient reserve/contingency fuel (beyond planned fuel to complete the mission)

The above conditions limit Hawaii private jet charters to super mid-sized and heavy jets, the likes of Schubach’s 13-passenger ultra-long range Gulfstream G650ER, 10-passenger Challenger 605 and Gulfstream G200, and eight-passenger Challenger 350. Due to their size, larger jets are more costly to charter as they incur significantly higher operating expenses, including greater fuel consumption, crew requirements, maintenance and more. 

Interested in learning more about the costs associated with flying private to Hawaii? Connect with our expert charter advisors, here. For information about private charter flights to Hawaii, visit here.