G550
The Gulfstream G550 is an ultra-long-range business jet seating 16 passengers in a 50.1-foot cabin, 7.3 feet wide and 6.2 feet tall, with flat floor, enclosed lavatory, full galley, and Wi-Fi. Range is 6,750 nautical miles at Mach 0.80, with a service ceiling of 51,000 feet and a cruise speed of 528 knots. Two Rolls-Royce BR710C4-11 turbofans power the aircraft. Against the ultra-long-range category average, the G550 is 13 knots faster (528 vs 515 ktas avg) and 607 nautical miles farther (6,750 vs 6,143nm avg); its 7.3-foot cabin width falls below the category average of 8.0 feet, which is pulled upward by the Global 7500 and Global Express family.
The 42 US Part 135 aircraft span 20 operators. Superior Transportation Associates holds 7 aircraft, Clay Lacy Aviation 5, Executive Fliteways 4, and THRO Aviation 4. That concentration in managed-fleet operations produces only 4 active empty legs. The G550 rarely surfaces on spot charter or open empty leg markets; most aircraft fly under long-term corporate charter management agreements or dedicated owner programs.
Charter rates run approximately $9,000 to $12,000 per hour. Used G550 aircraft trade from $20 million to $35 million depending on production year and avionics status.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 16 |
| Cabin length | 50.1 ft |
| Cabin width | 7.3 ft |
| Cabin height | 6.2 ft (stand-up) |
| Baggage volume | 226 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Fully enclosed |
| Galley | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Available on most aircraft |
| Cabin floor | Flat, walk-around |
The G550 carries a stand-up cabin — 6.2 ft tall, 7.3 ft wide. Adults move around without crouching. A fully enclosed lavatory makes it workable for longer legs. Connectivity varies by tail — most operators in this fleet have at least one Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft, but confirm before booking if you need to work in the air.
Operator floor plans vary. Some G550 cabins are configured with a divan that drops the headcount by one or two seats; confirm the layout with the operator before booking.
Range & performance
| Range | 6,750 nm |
| Max cruise | 528 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~449 ktas |
| Service ceiling | 51,000 ft |
6,750 nm puts most transcontinental and transatlantic city pairs in reach. New York to London or Tel Aviv non-stop, Los Angeles to Hawaii with reserves.
Distances are real great-circle nautical miles from the selected hub. Angular positions are spaced for readability, not actual bearings. Range envelope assumes no wind and a full passenger load.
Charter cost per hour
Charter the G550 at roughly $15,000–$22,000 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Ultra Long Range jets like this carry 12–16 passengers; the per-seat math improves sharply as you fill the cabin.
Rates are flight-hour pricing. Total cost depends on round-trip vs. one-way, positioning, fuel surcharges, and taxes (~15% on top of base). Run the math on your trip →
History
Gulfstream introduced the G550 (factory designation GV-SP, for "Special Performance") as an upgraded variant of the Gulfstream V, retaining the same airframe while installing the PlaneView flight deck — the first Gulfstream cockpit with a head-up display and Enhanced Vision System. The first production G550 flew on July 18, 2002, and the FAA issued type certification on August 14, 2003.
Deliveries began in 2003. Gulfstream delivered its 500th G550 in May 2015 and completed the final delivery in June 2021 after more than 600 aircraft entered service over 18 years of production. The G650, introduced in 2012, provided a wider 8.2-foot cabin and longer range, but the G550 remained in production alongside it for nearly a decade.
Ideal For
- Transatlantic and transpacific nonstop routes: New York to London (3,450nm), Los Angeles to Tokyo (5,480nm), Miami to Frankfurt (5,040nm) are all within G550 range at typical payload
- Corporate principals needing 14–16 passenger seats with flat floor, full galley, and enclosed lavatory on overnight international flights
- Buyers cross-shopping the Global Express/XRS: the G550 offers greater speed (528 vs 512 ktas) and range (6,750 vs 6,150nm) but a narrower cabin (7.3ft vs 8.0ft wide); choose the Global for cabin volume, the G550 for distance
- Long-range charter at rates below the G650: the G550 runs $9,000–$12,000/hr versus $15,000–$20,000 for a G650
- Medevac and government missions where the 51,000-foot ceiling and large cabin floor area support specialized interior configurations
G550 vs Ultra Long Range Average
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the range of the Gulfstream G550?
The G550 has a certified range of 6,750 nautical miles at Mach 0.80. That covers New York to Tokyo nonstop (approximately 6,740nm), London to Los Angeles (5,380nm), and most transatlantic city pairs without a fuel stop. Maximum speed is Mach 0.885.
How does the G550 compare to the Global Express/XRS?
Both types cover 6,000–6,750nm nonstop. The G550 is faster (528 ktas vs 512 ktas avg) and has slightly longer range. The Global Express/XRS has a wider cabin (8.0ft vs 7.3ft) and a much larger US Part 135 fleet (69 vs 42 aircraft), making Global empty legs more common. Charter rates are comparable: $9,000–$12,000/hr for both types.
How many passengers can the G550 carry?
The G550 seats up to 16 passengers in charter configurations. Most arrangements seat 10–14 in a mix of forward club chairs, center divan, and rear lounge. The full 50.1-foot cabin includes sleeping accommodation on long-haul international flights.
Why are there so few G550 empty legs available?
Only 4 active empty legs appear in the US Part 135 database because the G550 skews heavily toward managed corporate programs and dedicated owner operations. These operators fly fixed client schedules rather than listing spot availability on open markets. When a G550 empty leg does appear, it typically originates from a repositioning flight between major international business aviation hubs.
What replaced the G550?
The G650 (service entry 2012) and G700 (deliveries from 2022) are Gulfstream's current ultra-long-range aircraft. The G650 offers a wider cabin (8.2ft vs 7.3ft), higher cruise speed (561 vs 528 ktas), and longer range (7,000 vs 6,750nm). Gulfstream completed final G550 deliveries in June 2021. Used G550 aircraft typically sell for $20M–$35M.
Available Empty Legs on G550s
G550s for Charter (75) Page 1 of 2
Where G550s actually fly
ADS-B-tracked flights from the trailing 90 days. Numbers cover aircraft on our charter database; private corporate fleets and operators using PIA registration are not in this count. Methodology →
Top routes
Busiest origins
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Sunset Aviation LLC | 12 | 286 |
| Superior Transportation Associates Inc. | 7 | 206 |
| THRO AVIATION INC | 4 | 194 |
| Executive Fliteways, Inc. | 3 | 133 |
| Northeastern Aviation Corp | 2 | 102 |
| Clay Lacy Aviation, Inc. | 5 | 93 |
| Prime Jet, LLC | 3 | 84 |
| Pentastar Aviation Charter, Inc. | 1 | 82 |
| Jet Aviation Flight Services, Inc. | 2 | 78 |
| FL Aviation Corp. | 1 | 64 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the G550 on the dimensions that matter most.