Top 10 Private Charter Flights Out of Florida to the Caribbean

Best Value: Twin Turboprop • 6–8 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Beechcraft King Air C90 / 250 (Twin Turboprop)

Why this plane: FXE or FLL to Bimini is only 50 nautical miles across the Gulf Stream (25 minutes door-to-door). It is best flown on a twin turboprop or piston aircraft because of cost efficiency—the trip simply isn't far enough to get the speed benefit of a jet, which would cost two to three times more to save less than five minutes.

Executive Favorite: Light Jet • 7–8 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Embraer Phenom 300E (Light Business Jet) or King Air 350i

Why this plane: With heavy-jet runways and dedicated VIP FBOs (Odyssey and Jet Aviation) at Nassau (NAS), the Embraer Phenom 300E turns the 160-nautical-mile crossing from OPF or FXE into a smooth 40-minute jet hop above weather, while a King Air 350i is the smart alternative if your group is bringing multiple golf bags for Albany or Ocean Club.

Out Island Icon: Pilatus PC-12 • 6–8 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Pilatus PC-12 NGX (Pressurized Executive Turboprop)

Why this plane: At 195 nautical miles, the Swiss-built Pilatus PC-12 NGX is the undisputed workhorse for Harbour Island and North Eleuthera (ELH). Its oversized pallet-width cargo door swallows surfboard bags, villa provisioning coolers, and hard-sided luggage that won't fit through narrow light-jet doors, while landing effortlessly on Out Island strips at a fraction of jet charter rates.

Short-Runway Specialist: PC-12 NGX • 6–8 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Pilatus PC-12 NGX (for Staniel Cay TYM) or Phenom 300E (for Great Exuma GGT)

Why this plane: Staniel Cay's 3,030-foot airstrip (TYM)—steps from Pig Beach, Thunderball Grotto, and yacht anchorages—is too short for virtually all private jets. A pressurized Pilatus PC-12 NGX or King Air 250 lands safely right at Staniel Cay with full luggage and water toys, saving a three-hour open-ocean boat ride from George Town (GGT).

Boater & Angler Choice: King Air 350i • 8–9 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Beechcraft King Air 350i (Twin-Engine Turboprop)

Why this plane: Crossing just 155 nautical miles from Palm Beach (PBI) or FXE to Marsh Harbour (MHH) takes only 45 minutes on a twin-engine King Air 350i. On this short stage, a jet barely reaches cruise altitude before descending, whereas the King Air 350i seats up to nine passengers and easily hauls 7-foot offshore fishing rod tubes, dive gear, and boat provisions.

Sweet-Spot Jet: Phenom 300E • 6–8 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Embraer Phenom 300E or Cessna Citation CJ4 (Long-Range Light Jet)

Why this plane: At 505 nautical miles southeast of Miami, Turks and Caicos is where jet speed truly pays off. While a turboprop takes well over two hours, a 450-knot light jet like the Phenom 300E or Citation CJ4 climbs to 45,000 feet above tropical weather and touches down at Provo Air Center FBO in just 95 minutes at a significantly lower charter cost than a heavy jet.

Golf & Villa Favorite: Citation Latitude • 7–9 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Cessna Citation Latitude (Stand-Up Midsize Jet)

Why this plane: Flying 790 nautical miles to Punta Cana (PUJ) or Casa de Campo (LRM) usually means four to eight golfers or family members traveling with multiple sets of golf clubs and resort luggage. The Citation Latitude pairs a 6-foot flat-floor stand-up cabin with a massive 127-cubic-foot external baggage hold that easily fits six to eight golf bags for the 2-hour-and-10-minute nonstop flight.

Isla Grande Specialist: Citation Latitude • 8–9 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Cessna Citation Latitude or Sovereign+ (Midsize Jet)

Why this plane: Spanning 900 nautical miles over open Atlantic water, Miami or Fort Lauderdale to San Juan calls for true midsize jet range and cabin comfort. More importantly, the Citation Latitude and Sovereign+ have the short-field runway performance to land directly at San Juan's downtown Isla Grande Executive Airport (SIG / 5,539 ft), placing you 5 minutes from Condado and Old San Juan.

Yacht Charter Flagship: Challenger 350 • 8–10 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Bombardier Challenger 350 (Super-Midsize Jet)

Why this plane: At nearly 1,000 nautical miles nonstop from South Florida, most St. Thomas (STT) flyers are groups of six to ten guests boarding a week-long Virgin Islands yacht charter or heading to St. John. The Challenger 350 cruises at Mach 0.82 to cut flight time to 2.5 hours, offers a wide stand-up cabin, and provides walk-in in-flight baggage access for duffels and dive gear.

Jet + STOL Combo: Challenger 350 + PC-12 • 8–10 Passengers

Suggested Plane: Bombardier Challenger 350 (to SXM) + Pilatus PC-12 Transfer (to St. Barts SBH)

Why this plane: Covering 1,060 nautical miles nonstop from Miami or Palm Beach requires the long-range fuel reserves and high-Mach cruise speed of a super-midsize jet like the Challenger 350 into Princess Juliana (SXM)—and because jets are prohibited on St. Barts' steep 2,119-foot beach runway (SBH), pairing your jet with a 12-minute wing-to-wing Pilatus PC-12 hop is the ultimate way to arrive.