Learjet 35A
The Learjet 35A is a light jet seating seven passengers with a range of 2,160 nautical miles at 460 knots and a 45,000-foot service ceiling. The 12.8-foot cabin is 4.9 feet wide and 4.4 feet tall, with a belted lavatory. Those dimensions place it firmly in light jet territory, but the 2,160nm range and 460-knot cruise exceed the light category average by wide margins (460 vs 429 ktas avg; 2,160 vs 1,712nm avg), making the 35A a fast, long-ranged aircraft in a narrow fuselage designed in the 1970s.
The 71 US Part 135 aircraft are split between cargo and medical transport rather than passenger charter. Royal Air Freight (13 aircraft), AirNet II (12), Kalitta Charters (8), and Bankair (4) run the 35A as an overnight freight aircraft. REVA Inc. (4), MEDWAY Air Ambulance (4), Phoenix Air Group (4), and Med Flight Air Ambulance (3) operate the type for medical transport and air ambulance. Together these eight operators hold 69% of the fleet. The 35A is rarely offered on open passenger charter markets.
When available for passenger charter, rates run approximately $3,500 to $4,500 per hour. Used Learjet 35A aircraft sell for $200,000 to $700,000 depending on total time and avionics.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 7 |
| Cabin length | 12.8 ft |
| Cabin width | 4.9 ft |
| Cabin height | 4.4 ft |
| Baggage volume | 40 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Belted, curtained |
| Galley | No |
| Wi-Fi | Rare |
| Cabin floor | Drop aisle |
At 4.4 ft of cabin height, the Learjet 35A is a sit-down jet. Expect to duck moving between seats. The lavatory is belted with a curtain — not a full door.
Operator floor plans vary. Some Learjet 35A 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 | 2,160 nm |
| Max cruise | 460 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~391 ktas |
| Service ceiling | 45,000 ft |
2,160 nm covers most US domestic missions. Coast-to-coast with one stop, transcontinental city pairs east of the Rockies non-stop.
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 Learjet 35A at roughly $3,000–$5,000 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Light jets like this carry 6–8 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 →
Safety Record
History
Gates Learjet developed the Model 35 as a stretched, longer-range evolution of the Model 25, fitted with Garrett (later AlliedSignal, now Honeywell) TFE731-2-2A turbofan engines. The prototype flew on August 22, 1973, and the FAA certified the aircraft in July 1974, with deliveries beginning the same month. Sixty-four base Model 35s were produced before Gates Learjet introduced the 35A in 1976 with the improved TFE731-2-2B engine and higher fuel capacity.
Production of the 35A ran through 1993, with serial number 677 marking the final airframe; production of the 35/36 series ceased in 1994. More than 600 Model 35As were built, the highest production total of any Learjet variant to that point. The US military purchased 80 aircraft as the C-21A for passenger and cargo transport; deliveries ran from April 1984 through October 1985. The C-21A served as the primary military executive transport and medevac jet for the USAF through the 1990s. Over 500 Learjet 35s remain in service worldwide despite the design being more than 50 years old.
Ideal For
- Time-critical overnight cargo on routes where 460-knot speed and 45,000-foot cruise allow reliable scheduling: same-night delivery on sectors up to 2,000nm
- Medical transport and air ambulance where the 35A's long range and speed reduce patient transfer time and the belted lavatory accommodates stretcher configurations with modification
- Operators who need a fast, economical twin-turbofan for cargo without jet operating costs approaching midsize or super-midsize levels
- Repositioning flights for operators with existing 35A fleets where the aircraft must be moved as an empty leg between cargo missions
- Long-range light jet passenger charter for two to five passengers on routes where the 2,160nm range eliminates fuel stops unavoidable in shorter-range light jets
Learjet 35A vs Light Average
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Learjet 35A primarily a cargo aircraft?
In the US Part 135 market, yes. Royal Air Freight (13 aircraft), AirNet II (12), Kalitta Charters (8), and Bankair (4) operate the 35A as cargo aircraft. Medical transport operators account for most of the remaining fleet. Passenger charter availability is limited, and most available aircraft show their cargo-focused configuration.
How much does it cost to charter a Learjet 35A for passengers?
When available for passenger charter, rates typically run $3,500 to $4,500 per hour. The type's light jet cabin limits it to two to five comfortable passengers; the 12.8-foot cabin at 4.4 feet tall does not allow standing. Used aircraft trade from $200,000 to $700,000, making ownership economics very different from newer light jets in the same price bracket.
How does the Learjet 35A compare to the Phenom 300?
The Phenom 300 is faster (453 ktas vs 460 ktas, nearly identical), carries one more passenger (8 vs 7), and has a taller cabin (4.9ft vs 4.4ft). The Learjet 35A has slightly more range (2,160 vs 2,010nm). The Phenom 300 is a 2009-era design with modern avionics and Wi-Fi; the 35A dates from 1976 with avionics that typically reflect their age. For passenger charter, the Phenom 300 is the practical choice. The 35A's advantages are acquisition cost and cargo configuration for freight operations.
What is the C-21A military variant?
The US Air Force purchased 80 Learjet 35As as the C-21A for passenger transport, cargo, and medical evacuation support. Deliveries ran from April 1984 through October 1985. The C-21A carried eight passengers in executive configuration and could accept two litters in medevac configuration. The type served across USAF commands through the 1990s and into the 2000s before being replaced.
Why are Learjet 35As still flying after 50 years?
Acquisition cost is the primary driver. Used 35As sell for $200,000 to $700,000 — a fraction of newer jets with comparable speed and range. The TFE731 engine is well-supported globally with broad MRO coverage. For cargo operators who need a fast twin-turbofan at low capital cost, the 35A remains economical despite its age. Over 500 remain in worldwide service as of 2025.
Learjet 35As for Charter (70) Page 1 of 2
Where Learjet 35As 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
| Pontiac (KPTK) | 117 |
| Columbus (KLCK) | 103 |
| Denver (KAPA) | 88 |
| Detroit (KYIP) | 71 |
| Bedford (KBED) | 63 |
| Albuquerque (KABQ) | 53 |
| St Louis (KSUS) | 51 |
| Birmingham (KBHM) | 45 |
| Atlanta (KFTY) | 39 |
| Charlotte (KCLT) | 37 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| Kalitta Charters LLC | 12 | 723 |
| Royal Air Freight, Inc. | 10 | 553 |
| AirNet II LLC | 5 | 322 |
| MEDWAY AIR AMBULANCE LLC | 4 | 239 |
| Med Flight Air Ambulance, Inc. | 2 | 128 |
| Air Gato Enterprises, Inc. | 2 | 117 |
| East Coast Jets, Inc | 2 | 109 |
| PHOENIX AIR GROUP INC | 3 | 86 |
| REVA, Inc. | 2 | 79 |
| AEROMEDEVAC INC | 1 | 49 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Learjet 35A on the dimensions that matter most.