Falcon 20

Passengers	Range	Cruise Speed	Charter From	Best For
Up to 9	1,700 nm (1,956 mi)	470 ktas (541 mph)	$3,500/hr	Groups drawn to a genuine piece of aviation history

Note: The hourly rate is not the total trip cost. Final pricing includes landing and handling fees, crew, overflight permits, and taxes, plus variable costs such as repositioning, de-icing, wait time, and overnights. Contact Hogani Jets for an accurate all-in quote.

Charter of a Dassault Falcon 20 starts at $3,500 to $5,000 per flight hour. First flown in 1963, the Falcon 20 launched Dassault's entire business jet line and later became the founding fleet aircraft of FedEx. It seats up to nine passengers with a range of 1,700 nautical miles and a 470-knot cruise speed. Twin rear-mounted turbofan engines and a swept, slatted wing define this aircraft. Hogani Jets coordinates each Falcon 20 charter through licensed Part 135 operators.

Before it was a charter aircraft, the Falcon 20 convinced Frederick Smith his delivery idea could work.

Dassault's first business jet became the founding fleet of FedEx and set a world speed record. It also launched a family of aircraft still in production today. Few jets in charter service carry this much real history.

The Mystere 20 prototype first flew on May 4, 1963. Dassault marketed it in North America as the Falcon 20, and production ran from 1965 to 1988. A pair of rear-mounted turbofan engines and a highly swept, slatted wing define this aircraft.

Specification	Dassault Falcon 20
Manufacturer	Dassault Aviation
Aircraft Category	Midsize jet (twin-engine)
Passenger Capacity	Up to 9
Cabin Length	23.0 ft (7.01 m)
Cabin Width	6.1 ft (1.86 m)
Cabin Height	5.9 ft (1.80 m)
Cabin Pressurization	7,500 ft cabin altitude
Lavatory	Enclosed
Baggage Capacity	~48 cu ft
Max Range	1,700 nm (1,956 mi)
Max Cruise Speed	470 ktas (541 mph)
Service Ceiling	42,000 ft
Max Takeoff Weight	~28,660 lbs
Typical Takeoff Distance	~4,500 ft
Typical Landing Distance	~3,000 ft
Engines	2 x turbofan (rear-mounted)
Hourly Charter Rate	$3,500 to $5,000

On June 10, 1965, Jacqueline Auriol flew the first Falcon 20 prototype to a women's world speed record. She averaged 859 kilometers per hour over a 1,000-kilometer course. This was a genuine, documented milestone, not marketing language.

Pan American World Airways marketed the aircraft in North America as the Fan Jet Falcon. Pan Am had ordered 160 units by 1967. That partnership gave Dassault its first serious foothold in the US market.

The most remarkable connection belongs to FedEx. Founder Frederick Smith chose the Falcon 20 to launch his overnight delivery service. A converted Falcon 20 carried FedEx's first air express package on April 17, 1973. At its peak, FedEx operated 33 of them.

In November 2012, a Falcon 20 became the first civil jet to fly on pure biofuel. This was a genuine milestone in sustainable aviation. The US Coast Guard also flew a dedicated variant, the HU-25 Guardian, for search-and-rescue missions into the 2010s.

Production ended in 1988, making the Falcon 20 a genuinely vintage design. A 2015 FAA noise rule prohibits aircraft under 75,000 pounds that lack Stage 3 compliance from flying domestically.

Any Falcon 20 in US charter service today has been modified to meet this standard. This is typically done through re-engining or a hush kit. Confirm this compliance with your operator when booking.

A midsize jet trades some efficiency for more cabin room, range, and passenger capacity than a light jet offers.

More cabin room: a genuine stand-up cabin, unusually spacious for a jet of this era.
More seats: up to 9 passengers versus 4 to 6 for most light jets.
Genuine speed: 470 knots cruise, among the faster midsize jets of any generation.
Best mission: regional trips for groups who value a genuine piece of aviation history alongside performance.

The Falcon 20 seats up to nine passengers, with some configurations extending to ten.

Rear-mounted engines keep cabin noise and vibration notably low for a jet of this era.
An enclosed lavatory is standard equipment.
Cabin configuration and amenities vary meaningfully between individual aircraft given decades of production and upgrades.
There is no flight attendant standard on this aircraft category; confirm service expectations at booking.

The Falcon 20 performs best on regional routes where genuine cruise speed matters alongside cost.

Route	ICAO Codes	Est. Flight Time	Notes
New York to Chicago	KTEB to KMDW	~1h 45m	Fast regional business corridor
Los Angeles to Denver	KVNY to KDEN	~2h 5m	High-elevation destination
Dallas to Houston	KDAL to KHOU	~45m	Short Texas business run
Miami to the Bahamas	KOPF to MYNN	~30m	Short international leg

Falcon 20 charter rates typically run $3,500 to $5,000 per flight hour, with variation by operator and aircraft equipment. Total one-way trip pricing depends on route distance, positioning, and demand.

Contact Hogani Jets at charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573 for a current quote.

Route	Est. One-Way Price	Notes
New York to Chicago	$14,100 to $20,800	Fast regional business corridor
Los Angeles to Denver	$15,300 to $22,400	High-elevation destination
Dallas to Houston	$11,600 to $16,800	Short Texas business run
Miami to the Bahamas	$10,800 to $15,500	Short international leg

The hourly rate covers core operational costs. Additional fees are quoted separately on every trip.

Aircraft operation: fuel, crew, and maintenance are included in the hourly rate.
Two certificated pilots: standard for Falcon 20 charter operations.
Federal excise tax and segment fees: federally mandated, quoted separately.
Positioning costs: charged if the aircraft must reposition to your departure airport.
International handling fees: apply on Caribbean, Canada, and other international hops.

Contact Hogani Jets for current pricing and details.

The most common cross-shop comparisons are the Citation Excel and the Hawker 750. The Excel offers newer avionics; the Hawker 750 offers more range. The Falcon 20 wins on outright cruise speed and history.

Specification	Citation Excel	Hawker 750	Dassault Falcon 20
Type	Midsize jet	Midsize jet	Midsize jet
Production Era	1998 to 2004	2007 to 2012	1965 to 1988
Passengers	Up to 9	Up to 8	Up to 9
Published Range	1,860 nm	2,276 nm	1,700 nm
Cruise Speed	430 ktas (495 mph)	448 ktas (515 mph)	470 ktas (541 mph)
Hourly Rate	$3,500 to $5,000	$3,500 to $5,000	$3,500 to $5,000
Best Use Case	Newer avionics	Longest cabin, most range	Fastest cruise, genuine history

Every Falcon 20 charter operator's Part 135 certificate, insurance coverage, and safety record is independently reviewed before booking. ARGUS, Wyvern, or IS-BAO ratings are considered where they exist as one part of that review.

Given the aircraft's age, confirm your specific operator's engine and noise-compliance modifications directly. Hogani Jets does not operate the aircraft.

Every charter is conducted by a licensed Part 135 direct air carrier under that carrier's independent operational control.

The Falcon 20 is a strong fit on fast regional legs where cruise speed matters alongside cost. The following Hogani Jets route pages cover its most relevant charter corridors.

New York to Chicago private jet charter
Dallas to Houston private jet charter
Miami to the Bahamas private jet charter

Relationship	Aircraft	When to Consider
Modern Alternative	Citation Excel	Newer avionics and a longer production history
Larger Cabin Alternative	Hawker 750	More range and the largest cabin in its class
Faster Light Jet Alternative	Falcon 10	A smaller, later Dassault design at a lower rate
Newest Cockpit Alternative	Citation XLS Gen2	A clean-sheet modern flight deck

Ready to book a Dassault Falcon 20 charter or check availability? Contact Hogani Jets for a tailored quote.

Call +1-855-660-0573 or email charter@hoganijets.com, and our team will coordinate the right aircraft and operator for your trip.

Reviewed by Matt Hogan — Founder, Hogani Jets & Aviation Specialist.

How much does it cost to charter a Dassault Falcon 20?

Falcon 20 charter rates typically run $3,500 to $5,000 per flight hour. For shorter regional trips prices start at $10,500+. For longer trip in excess of three hours, please expect pricing to begin at $21,000+.

Is it true FedEx started with the Falcon 20?

Yes. Founder Frederick Smith chose the Falcon 20 to launch FedEx. A converted Falcon 20 carried the company's first air express package on April 17, 1973. FedEx operated 33 of them at its peak.

How many passengers can the Falcon 20 carry?

The Falcon 20 seats up to nine passengers, with some configurations extending to ten.

How fast does the Falcon 20 fly?

The Falcon 20 cruises at up to 470 knots true airspeed (541 mph). That is among the faster midsize jets of any era.

Is the Falcon 20 still legal to fly in the United States?

Yes, provided the aircraft meets modern Stage 3 noise requirements. A 2015 FAA rule requires aircraft under 75,000 pounds to be noise compliant. This is typically done through re-engining or a hush kit.

Why does the Falcon 20's range vary so much between sources?

The Falcon 20 was produced in several distinct variants over 23 years, each with different engines and fuel capacity. Published range figures genuinely differ by variant, not by error.

Are empty leg flights available on the Dassault Falcon 20?

Yes. The Falcon 20's charter fleet presence creates empty-leg opportunities at meaningful savings off standard one-way rates. Availability is short-notice and date-fixed, so Hogani Jets recommends flexibility when chasing empty-leg pricing.

Is Hogani Jets a direct air carrier?

No. Hogani Jets is an air charter broker and does not own or operate aircraft. All Falcon 20 charters are facilitated through licensed Part 135 direct air carriers, holding full operational and regulatory control.

Last Updated: 23 Sep 2026, 01:02 PM

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