Turboprop charter cost Chicago
Turboprop charter cost Chicago starts at $2,200 per flight hour. A St. Louis leg, 231 nm, prices $2,500 to $4,000. Here is how those numbers break down.
Turboprop charter cost in Chicago is built the way any charter quote is built: flight time, plus taxi, plus deadhead if the aircraft isn't based here. At an hourly band of $2,200 to $3,500, a 1h 07m hop from St. Louis lands between $2,500 and $4,000 because you pay for the whole aircraft, not a seat. A twin engine turboprop charter from Chicago typically seats six to eight passengers and cruises near 300 knots, so short and mid-range legs price out well below jets. You are arranging the flight through a broker; the aircraft comes from a company holding FAA Part 135 operating authority, and that operator controls the flight.
Where turboprops earn their keep is the 200 to 800 nautical mile band. Denver to Chicago, 803 nm, runs 3h 07m and prices $7,000 to $11,000; Houston, 814 nm, is 3h 09m at the same estimate. Push to Miami at 1,007 nm and the number rises to $8,500 to $13,500. For a short leg like St. Louis to Chicago at 231 nm, a turboprop keeps the invoice in four figures, with just over an hour of flight time against a jet that would spend most of the leg climbing. The trade is speed and cabin size for cost per mile.
Daher TBM 960
- 6 seats
- 330 kt cruise
- 1,730 nm range
- 32 cu ft baggage
Beechcraft King Air 350i
- 8 seats
- 312 kt cruise
- 1,800 nm range
- 55 cu ft baggage
The Beechcraft King Air 350i is the default Chicago turboprop for eight passengers. It cruises at 312 knots with a 1,800 nm range, a cabin 4 ft 9 in tall and 16 ft 8 in long, and 55 cu ft of baggage. If you fill all eight seats, then the King Air spreads the hourly band across the most people. Operators fly it under FAA Part 135 authority; your broker arranges the trip.
When turboprop charter cost Chicago
- Short regional legs under roughly 400 nm, where a jet's climb and descent eat the time advantage and the turboprop invoice stays lower. If your stage length is short, then a twin engine airplane beats a jet on price per mile.
- Airports with short runways or weight limits around the Midwest, since turboprops get in where larger jets cannot and often at closer fields. When the runway is short, then a twin prop airplane opens fields a jet must overfly.
- Six to eight passengers on a trip of two to four hours, where the King Air 350i cabin is enough and the price gap to a jet is real. If the group fits six to eight, then a turboprop covers the Chicago leg without a fuel stop.
- One-way positioning or empty leg opportunities; ask the broker about empty leg flights Chicago, which can cut the price when an aircraft needs to move. When an aircraft repositions, then an empty leg can undercut the standard charter rate.
What the Chicago turboprop estimates
These are estimates, not final quotes. Federal excise tax, segment fees, crew overnight costs, deicing in a Chicago winter, and international fees all sit outside the hourly band. If your trip crosses into Canada, then CBP and advance passenger manifest rules apply on the return, and the operator will price that handling separately. When peak dates around holidays and major events tighten supply, then the number climbs. A turboprop is not the right tool for every trip. Los Angeles to Chicago is 1,528 nm and does not go nonstop in this class; the estimate runs $14,000 to $22,500 with a fuel stop, and a jet makes better sense. Phoenix at 1,260 nm is also nonstop: false. When the leg pushes past about 1,000 nm, then compare the turboprop quote against a light jet before you commit. Ask what is included and what is extra in writing.
Turboprop prices on common routes
Sample turboprop estimates from Chicago show the pattern: price tracks flight hours, and flight hours track distance. When you compare private flights from Chicago, then the aircraft type matters less than the stage length. These are estimates from the broker, not quotes, and they move with aircraft availability, crew duty time, and the airport you choose.
Turboprop times and prices by route
A turboprop covers these 24 routes in 1h 07m to 6h 44m, with one-way estimates ranging $2,500 to $23,500.
| Route | Time | One-way estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New York → Chicago | 2h 25m | $5,500–$8,500 |
| Los Angeles → Chicago | 6h 24m+ intermediate stop | $14,000–$22,500 |
| Denver → Chicago | 3h 07m | $7,000–$11,000 |
| Miami → Chicago | 3h 49m | $8,500–$13,500 |
| Phoenix → Chicago | 5h 28m+ intermediate stop | $12,000–$19,000 |
| St. Louis → Chicago | 1h 07m | $2,500–$4,000 |
| Houston → Chicago | 3h 09m | $7,000–$11,000 |
| Minneapolis → Chicago | 1h 25m | $3,000–$5,000 |
| San Francisco → Chicago | 6h 44m+ intermediate stop | $15,000–$23,500 |
| Dallas → Chicago | 2h 44m | $6,000–$9,500 |
| Atlanta → Chicago | 2h 00m | $4,500–$7,000 |
| Washington, DC → Chicago | 1h 59m | $4,500–$7,000 |
| Boston → Chicago | 2h 49m | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Philadelphia → Chicago | 2h 18m | $5,000–$8,000 |
| Seattle → Chicago | 6h 22m+ intermediate stop | $14,000–$22,500 |
| Las Vegas → Chicago | 5h 43m+ intermediate stop | $12,500–$20,000 |
| Chicago → Las Vegas | 5h 43m+ intermediate stop | $12,500–$20,000 |
| Chicago → Miami | 3h 49m | $8,500–$13,500 |
| Chicago → Los Angeles | 6h 24m+ intermediate stop | $14,000–$22,500 |
| Chicago → New York | 2h 25m | $5,500–$8,500 |
| Chicago → San Diego | 6h 19m+ intermediate stop | $14,000–$22,000 |
| Chicago → Phoenix | 5h 28m+ intermediate stop | $12,000–$19,000 |
| Chicago → San Francisco | 6h 44m+ intermediate stop | $15,000–$23,500 |
| Chicago → Dallas | 2h 44m | $6,000–$9,500 |
Questions
What is the turboprop charter cost Chicago per hour?
Turboprop charter cost Chicago runs $2,200 to $3,500 per flight hour depending on the aircraft and operator. The Beechcraft King Air 350i sits toward the top of that band; the Pilatus PC-12 NGX often prices lower. If you multiply the hourly rate by flight hours plus taxi time, then you get a rough figure, before taxes and fees. Treat any number as an estimate until the operator confirms it.
How much does a turboprop charter from Chicago to St. Louis cost?
The St. Louis to Chicago leg, 231 nm, is estimated at $2,500 to $4,000 with 1h 07m of flight time and is nonstop. When you book this route, then you pay for the whole aircraft, not a seat. Pricing moves with aircraft type and how far the aircraft has to fly empty to reach you. Ask for the all-in figure, taxes included.
Is a turboprop cheaper than a jet for Chicago flights?
Yes, on short and mid-range legs. At $2,200 to $3,500 per hour, a turboprop undercuts most jets on trips where the jet's speed advantage is small, roughly under 500 nm. Denver to Chicago is 3h 07m in a turboprop at $7,000 to $11,000. When the leg is long, then the turboprop needs a fuel stop and the gap narrows or reverses, so compare both for your route.
How many passengers fit on a turboprop charter from Chicago?
Six to eight passengers in this class. The King Air 350i seats eight with 55 cu ft of baggage; the PC-12 NGX seats six with 40 cu ft. If your group is larger, then you need a different aircraft, and if luggage is heavy, check the baggage figure before you book. The broker can match the cabin to your party size and bags.
Can a turboprop fly nonstop from Chicago to Los Angeles?
No in this class. Los Angeles to Chicago is 1,528 nm, beyond what these turboprops cover nonstop with a full load and reserves, and the estimate of $14,000 to $22,500 reflects 6h 24m with a fuel stop. Phoenix at 1,260 nm is also nonstop: false. When your route is under roughly 1,000 nm, then the turboprop is competitive; beyond that, price a jet.
Who operates the turboprop and who is responsible for the flight?
The operating company holds FAA Part 135 authority and has operational control of the flight, including crew, maintenance, and dispatch. The broker arranges the trip and acts as your agent under DOT Part 295 rules; it does not own the aircraft. If your trip is international, then CBP clears the return. If a quote does not name the operator, ask before you pay a deposit.