Learjet 60
The Learjet 60 is a midsize jet seating eight passengers at 466 knots with a range of 2,405 nautical miles and a 51,000-foot service ceiling. The 17.7-foot cabin is 5.1 feet wide and 4.9 feet tall, with an enclosed lavatory and Wi-Fi. Against midsize category averages, the 60 is faster (466 vs 452 ktas avg) and longer-ranged (2,405 vs 2,304nm avg), though the cabin is narrower than average (5.1ft vs 5.6ft avg). Powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305A engines producing 4,600 pounds of thrust each, the 60 is one of the fastest midsize jets in US charter service.
The US fleet of 80 aircraft is heavily concentrated: ATI Jet Inc. manages 22 aircraft, representing 27.5% of the entire type. The remaining 58 aircraft spread across 34 operators. That distribution shows in empty leg availability: the Learjet 60 generates 94 active empty legs on a typical day, the highest figure of any aircraft type in this database. Route patterns skew toward Mexico and the Caribbean: El Paso to Los Cabos, Providenciales to Miami, Santo Domingo to South Florida, reflecting international charter demand from operators based along the US southern corridor.
Charter rates run approximately $4,000 to $5,000 per hour. Used Learjet 60s trade from $800,000 to $2 million for earlier examples; 60XR models from the 2007–2013 production run carry higher values.
Specs at a glance
Interior & cabin
| Passengers | 8 |
| Cabin length | 17.7 ft |
| Cabin width | 5.1 ft |
| Cabin height | 4.9 ft |
| Baggage volume | 48 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Fully enclosed |
| Galley | No |
| Wi-Fi | Available on most aircraft |
| Cabin floor | Drop aisle |
At 4.9 ft of cabin height, the Learjet 60 is a sit-down jet. Expect to duck moving between seats. 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 Learjet 60 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 | 2,405 nm |
| Max cruise | 466 ktas |
| Typical cruise | ~396 ktas |
| Service ceiling | 51,000 ft |
2,405 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 60 at roughly $4,500–$7,500 per flight hour, depending on how far ahead you book. Midsize jets like this carry 7–9 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
Bombardier developed the Learjet 60 as a midsize successor to the Learjet 55, with the first prototype flying on October 10, 1990. The FAA issued type certification in January 1993, and customer deliveries began later that year. The PW305A engines, producing 4,600 lbs of thrust each, gave the 60 substantially more climb performance than the TFE731-powered Learjet 55 it replaced. Bombardier built 318 Learjet 60 aircraft before ending production of the base model in 2007.
The Learjet 60XR replaced the 60 in production from serial number 319, with deliveries beginning in 2007. The 60XR introduced Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics, minor interior refinements, and the PW305B engine with improved efficiency. Production of the 60XR continued through 2013. The entire Learjet line, including the 60 and 60XR, was discontinued in February 2022 when Bombardier ended the Learjet program.
Ideal For
- Six to eight passengers on US-to-Mexico and US-to-Caribbean routes where the 2,405nm range covers most nonstop sectors: Miami to Cancun (590nm), Dallas to Puerto Vallarta (1,030nm), New York to Nassau (1,100nm)
- Charter customers who want Learjet speed in a midsize cabin with intercontinental range; the 60 extends the Learjet 35A's capability into a 17.7-foot pressurized cabin
- Operations from southern US airports where ATI Jet and similar operators maintain large fleets with frequent availability
- Routes where 94 active empty legs (highest in the database) make deadhead positioning economics favorable for passengers and operators
- Cross-country nonstop sectors: Los Angeles to New York is approximately 2,450nm, at the edge of published range but achievable with favorable winds
Learjet 60 vs Midsize Average
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charter a Learjet 60?
Charter rates run approximately $4,000 to $5,000 per hour. A two-hour New York to Miami flight typically totals $9,000 to $13,000 before taxes and positioning. The 60XR may carry a slight premium over the base 60 model.
What is the difference between the Learjet 60 and Learjet 60XR?
The 60XR, delivered from 2007 onward (starting at serial number 319), updated the avionics to Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 and made minor cabin improvements. The PW305B engine on the 60XR provides modest efficiency gains over the PW305A. Range and cruise speed are essentially unchanged. For charter purposes, the 60XR typically has a more current interior.
Why does the Learjet 60 generate so many empty legs?
ATI Jet Inc. alone manages 22 of the 80 US Part 135 aircraft, with many positioned along the US-Mexico and US-Caribbean corridors. International charter demand frequently creates one-way itineraries — a group flies from Miami to Cancun on a charter, leaving the aircraft to return empty. These deadhead legs appear in the empty leg market. The 60's heavy concentration in international leisure routes makes repositioning legs common.
How does the Learjet 60 compare to the Learjet 45?
Both reach 51,000 feet and cruise near 465 knots. The Learjet 60 has a longer range (2,405 vs 2,120nm). The Learjet 45 has a longer cabin (19.8ft vs 17.7ft), which is counterintuitive given the 60's midsize billing. Both are 5.1 feet wide. The 60 uses PW305A engines versus the 45's TFE731. For domestic routes under 1,500nm the performance difference is minimal; the 60's advantage is the extra range for international or transcontinental routing.
Is the Learjet 60 still in production?
No. Bombardier discontinued the entire Learjet line in February 2022. The Learjet 60XR was the last production variant, with deliveries running from 2007 to 2013. The global Learjet 60 fleet remains well-supported through Bombardier's service network, and the PW305 engine has broad MRO coverage worldwide.
Available Empty Legs on Learjet 60s
Learjet 60s for Charter (80) Page 1 of 2
Where Learjet 60s 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
| Tampa (KTPA) | 153 |
| Teterboro (KTEB) | 149 |
| Fort Lauderdale (KFLL) | 106 |
| Dulles (KIAD) | 106 |
| Naples (KAPF) | 96 |
| Boca Raton (KBCT) | 93 |
| Washington (KAFJ) | 81 |
| Austin (KAUS) | 80 |
| White Plains (KHPN) | 77 |
| Denver (KAPA) | 77 |
Most active operators
| Operator | Aircraft | Flights |
|---|---|---|
| ATI Jet Inc. | 21 | 2,078 |
| PARADISE JETS LLC | 2 | 374 |
| RSB Investments LLC | 4 | 360 |
| Altius Aviation, LLC | 2 | 299 |
| WORLDWIDE AIRCRAFT SERVICES INC | 5 | 258 |
| NORTHERN AIR TRANSPORT INC | 2 | 250 |
| CRAIG AIR CENTER INC | 2 | 242 |
| Hera Flight, LLC | 3 | 240 |
| International Jet Aviation Services Inc. | 3 | 205 |
| CRITICAL AIR RESPONSE ENTERPRISES LLC | 2 | 145 |
Comparable aircraft
Same category, similar mission profile. The framing below summarizes how each one differs from the Learjet 60 on the dimensions that matter most.