Turboprop charter cost San Diego
Turboprop charter cost San Diego falls in a $2,200 to $3,500 per hour band for the 2026 market. A Phoenix leg on a six- to eight-seat turboprop prices around $2,500 to $4,000. This page explains those figures and what pushes a quote up or down.
- per flight hour
- $2,200–$3,500
- passengers
- 6-8
- usual spread
- 1,500 nm
A turboprop charter quote out of San Diego is built from three pieces: the hourly rate, the flight time, and a set of fixed and variable fees that have nothing to do with how fast the aircraft cruises. The hourly band for this class is $2,200 to $3,500, and the published San Diego routes on this site show where that lands in practice. A Las Vegas run, 217 nautical miles, prices around $2,500 to $3,500. Phoenix, 259 nm, comes in near $2,500 to $4,000. San Francisco, 384 nm, runs $3,500 to $6,000. Those are estimates, and a broker will confirm the real number against live operator availability before you book.
The class itself sits between a light jet and a midsize jet on price and speed. A turboprop cruises near 300 knots with a typical range around 1,500 nm and seats six to eight, so it is the right tool for shorter legs where a jet's speed advantage never gets a chance to pay off. For a San Diego departure to Phoenix, Las Vegas, or the Central Valley, the prop burns less and often costs less per trip than a light jet. On longer hauls the math turns, and you will see that in the route notes below.
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 roomier of the two turboprops listed here. It seats eight, cruises at 312 knots, and carries a 1,800 nm range with a cabin 4 ft 9 in tall and 16 ft 8 in long and 55 cu ft of baggage. For a group of eight flying San Diego to Phoenix, the 350i is the natural pick. Expect it near the top of the $2,200 to $3,500 hourly band. The extra cabin length matters on the longer regional legs where people stand up.
Turboprop charter cost San Diego
- Short regional legs under roughly 400 nm, where climb and descent eat a jet's speed edge: Phoenix, Las Vegas, and San Francisco all fit this pattern and show up in the sample pricing.
- Airports with shorter runways or tighter approaches than a jet wants, including smaller fields around Southern California and the desert Southwest, where a turboprop's field performance keeps more options open.
- Parties of six to eight traveling together who want the whole cabin rather than splitting across two light jets, since the class carries that group in one aircraft.
- Trips where the schedule matters more than the cruise speed: a prop can often be positioned and dispatched on shorter notice for a regional run than a jet based farther away.
What a turboprop quote will not do
A turboprop is the wrong aircraft when distance or speed dominates. New York at 2,102 nm is not a nonstop in this class and prices $18,500 to $29,500 with a fuel stop; Chicago at 1,493 nm is also not nonstop at $14,000 to $22,000. If the trip is that long, a jet is the honest recommendation, and a broker should say so. When the leg runs past 1,500 nm, the prop's economics stop working in your favor.
Quotes are estimates until an operator confirms the aircraft. Prices move with positioning, crew duty limits, ramp and handling fees, and weather. International legs add CBP processing and, where applicable, TSA screening for the charter operation. A broker arranges the flight under DOT Part 295 as your agent; the operating certificate and operational control sit with the charter operator, not the broker. If a quote looks far below the $2,200 to $3,500 band, ask what is missing from it.
Turboprop rates on popular routes
The sample routes below are turboprop pricing from and to San Diego on the published city pairs. Each line shows distance, block time, and an estimated price range for the class. Treat them as a starting point, not a firm quote.
Turboprop pricing and flight times by route
On a turboprop, these 24 routes take 1h 04m to 9h 41m, with one-way estimates ranging from $2,500 to $34,000.
| Route | Time | One-way estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix → San Diego | 1h 12m | $2,500–$4,000 |
| Las Vegas → San Diego | 1h 04m | $2,500–$3,500 |
| San Francisco → San Diego | 1h 39m | $3,500–$6,000 |
| New York → San Diego | 8h 24m+ one stop | $18,500–$29,500 |
| Chicago → San Diego | 6h 17m+ one stop | $14,000–$22,000 |
| Dallas → San Diego | 3h 53m | $8,500–$13,500 |
| Houston → San Diego | 4h 17m | $9,500–$15,000 |
| Atlanta → San Diego | 6h 48m+ one stop | $15,000–$24,000 |
| Washington, DC → San Diego | 7h 52m+ one stop | $17,500–$27,500 |
| Boston → San Diego | 8h 50m+ one stop | $19,500–$31,000 |
| Philadelphia → San Diego | 8h 16m+ one stop | $18,000–$29,000 |
| Denver → San Diego | 2h 49m | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Seattle → San Diego | 3h 29m | $7,500–$12,000 |
| Nashville → San Diego | 6h 21m+ one stop | $14,000–$22,000 |
| Charlotte → San Diego | 7h 20m+ one stop | $16,000–$25,500 |
| Orlando → San Diego | 7h 33m+ one stop | $16,500–$26,500 |
| San Diego → Las Vegas | 1h 04m | $2,500–$3,500 |
| San Diego → New York | 8h 24m+ one stop | $18,500–$29,500 |
| San Diego → Aspen | 2h 30m | $5,500–$8,500 |
| San Diego → Nassau | 8h 29m+ one stop | $18,500–$29,500 |
| San Diego → Cabo San Lucas | 2h 46m | $6,000–$9,500 |
| San Diego → Turks and Caicos | 9h 41m+ one stop | $21,500–$34,000 |
| San Diego → Palm Beach | 7h 54m+ one stop | $17,500–$27,500 |
| San Diego → The Hamptons | 8h 42m+ one stop | $19,000–$30,500 |
Questions
What is the turboprop charter cost San Diego travelers should budget per hour?
The hourly band for this class is $2,200 to $3,500, and that is the figure to plan around for 2026. The final number depends on the specific aircraft, the route, and how far the operator has to fly to reach you. A broker will quote against live availability rather than a published rate card, so expect the estimate to firm up once an aircraft is held.
How much does a turboprop charter from San Diego to Phoenix cost?
The Phoenix leg is 259 nm with a block time of 1h 12m, and pricing runs about $2,500 to $4,000. That is a nonstop trip in this class. The spread reflects which aircraft is assigned and where it is based; a King Air 350i with eight seats will sit toward the top, a PC-12 with six toward the bottom.
Is a turboprop cheaper than a light jet for San Diego to Las Vegas?
Usually yes on this route. Las Vegas is 217 nm with a 1h 04m block time, and turboprop pricing runs about $2,500 to $3,500. A light jet's speed advantage never gets a chance to show on a leg that short, so the prop's lower fuel burn tends to win on price. Confirm both quotes side by side before you decide.
Can a turboprop fly nonstop from San Diego to San Francisco?
Yes. San Francisco is 384 nm with a 1h 39m block time, nonstop in this class, and pricing runs about $3,500 to $6,000. Both the King Air 350i and the PC-12 NGX have the range for it with room to spare. This is one of the routes where the prop is genuinely competitive with a light jet on total trip cost.
How many passengers fit on a turboprop charter from San Diego?
The class seats six to eight. The Beechcraft King Air 350i carries eight with 55 cu ft of baggage, and the Pilatus PC-12 NGX carries six with 40 cu ft. If your group is larger than eight, you are looking at two aircraft or a move up to a jet. Baggage volume, not seat count, is usually what forces that decision.
Who is responsible for the flight when I book through a broker?
The charter operator holds the operating certificate and operational control; the broker acts as your agent under DOT Part 295 and arranges the trip. That distinction matters if anything goes wrong, so ask which operator is assigned before you sign. International legs also involve CBP processing, and the operator handles TSA requirements where they apply.