Turboprop Charter Cost Fort Lauderdale
Turboprop charter cost Fort Lauderdale travelers see most often falls between $2,200 and $3,500 per hour. A short hop from Atlanta prices from $4,500; a Boston run starts near $9,000. Here is how the numbers break down and when a turboprop beats a jet.
- $2,200–$3,500per flight hour
- 6-8passengers
- 1,500 nmtypical range
A turboprop charter quote is not a single number. It bundles the hourly rate with ferry time, airport fees, fuel and any crew overnight, and the hourly band for this class sits between $2,200 and $3,500. Expect a Fort Lauderdale turboprop quote to include ferry time from the aircraft's base (avoiding an empty repositioning leg is the single biggest lever on price). The aircraft itself cruises near 300 knots with a typical range of 1,500 nautical miles, which covers most of the eastern U.S. without a fuel stop and still lands on runways that regional jets avoid.
Brokers arrange these flights as agents under DOT Part 295; the flying is done by FAA Part 135 operators who hold operational control and their own maintenance and crew standards. That distinction matters when you compare quotes, because two prices that look alike can carry different operator experience, different cabin sizes and different cancellation terms. Ask which operator is quoted before you compare a Fort Lauderdale turboprop rate against a jet rate, and the picture gets clearer fast. A turboprop typically seats six to eight passengers, so it trades cabin height and speed for access and operating cost.
Pilatus PC-12 NGX
- 6 seats
- 290 kt cruise
- 1,800 nm range
- 40 cu ft baggage
The Pilatus PC-12 NGX seats six, cruises near 290 knots and also reaches 1,800 nm. Its cabin is 4 ft 10 in tall and 16 ft 11 in long with 40 cu ft of baggage, so it suits a smaller group traveling lighter. On a Fort Lauderdale turboprop run to Dallas or Houston the PC-12 stays nonstop and often prices at the lower end of the hourly band. Single-engine simplicity keeps operating costs down, and passengers notice how quiet the cabin is compared with older turboprops.
Daher TBM 960
- 6 seats
- 330 kt cruise
- 1,730 nm range
- 32 cu ft baggage
Turboprop charter cost Fort Lauderdale
- Short regional legs where block time barely differs: Atlanta is 508 nm and flies in 2h 05m; a light jet saves minutes, not hours, and the turboprop rate reflects that.
- Airports with shorter runways: turboprops reach fields that business jets pass over, which matters when your final destination sits away from a major field.
- Six to eight passengers with modest baggage: the King Air 350i carries eight in a cabin 4 ft 9 in tall with 55 cu ft of baggage.
- Budget-first comparisons: when the difference between $2,200 and $3,500 per hour decides the trip, the turboprop is the honest starting point before you look at jets.
What turboprop pricing does not cover
Quotes are estimates, not final invoices, and they exclude the variables a broker cannot fix in advance: de-icing in northern winters, crew duty time on weather delays, and peak-season demand around boat show week or spring break. An international leg to the Bahamas adds CBP clearance and customs fees to a Fort Lauderdale turboprop estimate, and passengers should carry passports. If a trip needs a longer runway or a heavier cabin, the turboprop stops being the right answer and a jet class quote is the honest comparison.
Popular routes and Turboprop pricing
Route pricing from Fort Lauderdale scales with distance, but not in a straight line. These sample ranges show what turboprop flights actually quote for a one-way charter, and they assume the aircraft is based nearby rather than ferrying in from another state.
New York → Fort Lauderdale
- 3h 34m
- $8,000–$12,500
- 931 nm
Chicago → Fort Lauderdale
- 3h 50m
- $8,500–$13,500
- 1,008 nm
Dallas → Fort Lauderdale
- 3h 39m
- $8,000–$13,000
- 957 nm
Houston → Fort Lauderdale
- 3h 12m
- $7,000–$11,000
- 827 nm
Atlanta → Fort Lauderdale
- 2h 05m
- $4,500–$7,500
- 508 nm
Washington, DC → Fort Lauderdale
- 3h 01m
- $6,500–$10,500
- 777 nm
Turboprop flight times and fares by route
A turboprop serves these 24 routes in 0h 52m to 9h 17m, with one-way estimates from $2,000 to $32,500.
Questions
What is the turboprop charter cost Fort Lauderdale travelers should budget per hour?
Plan on $2,200 to $3,500 per hour for the aircraft, before airport fees and any ferry time. A short regional leg such as Atlanta at 508 nm quotes from $4,500 to $7,500 one way, while a longer Boston run at 1,070 nm starts near $9,000. Treat every figure as an estimate until an operator confirms the tail.
Which turboprops fly out of Fort Lauderdale most often?
The Beechcraft King Air 350i and the Pilatus PC-12 NGX are the two you will see quoted most. The King Air seats eight at 312 knots with 1,800 nm of range; the PC-12 seats six at 290 knots with the same range. Both handle the eastern U.S. nonstop from South Florida.
How long does a turboprop take from Fort Lauderdale to New York?
The 931 nm trip flies nonstop in about 3h 34m and prices between $8,000 and $12,500 one way. That is slower than a jet on the same route, and the fare difference is the trade you are accepting. For many travelers the cabin and schedule matter more than the last thirty knots.
Can a turboprop reach the Bahamas from Fort Lauderdale?
Yes, and it is one of the most common uses for the class given the short over-water distance. International legs require CBP clearance on return, so build time for customs into the schedule and confirm passport documentation before booking. Pricing depends on the island and the operator.
Do turboprops use Fort Lauderdale Executive or the main airport?
Both are options, and the choice affects cost. Fort Lauderdale Executive handles a large share of general aviation traffic and tends to move faster for private flights, while the commercial field suits connections. Ask your broker which one the quoted operator prefers, since fees differ between them.
Is a turboprop cheaper than a light jet on the same route?
Usually yes on hourly rate, though not always on total trip cost once you account for speed. On a 3h 39m Dallas leg at 957 nm a turboprop quotes $8,000 to $13,000. Compare a jet quote on the identical city pair before deciding, and check passenger count and bags against cabin size.