Data as of Tuesday, 26 May 2026
A Side-by-Side Comparison of Purpose-Built Private Airliners
Airliners converted or purpose-built for ultra-premium private travel. Range, cabin volume, and passenger capacity exceed even the largest purpose-built business jets. Floor area is measured in hundreds of square feet. Passenger capacity reaches nineteen in private configuration.
Five in-production or recently-produced platforms make up the comparison set: Airbus's ACJ TwoTwenty, ACJ319, and ACJ319neo; Boeing's BBJ MAX 8; and Embraer's Lineage 1000E. Boeing's BBJ 787 is not yet in the operating-cost database and is excluded. The comparison covers range, cabin, speed, and operating profile. Acquisition cost is excluded by design.
The ACJ TwoTwenty is the corporate variant of the Airbus A220-100, launched as Airbus's clean-sheet entry between the large-cabin business jet and the larger ACJ319 family. Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney PW1500G geared turbofans. Floor area approximately 786 sq ft across three zones, lower deck cargo accessible in flight. Cabin width 10.7 ft. Range 5,650 nm at long-range cruise, sufficient for routes such as London to Riyadh or New York to So Paulo non-stop.
| Production | 2021 – Present |
| Base Type | Airbus A220-100 |
| Range | 5,650 nm |
| Cabin Width | 10.7 ft |
| Cabin Floor Area | ~786 sq ft (three zones) |
| Passenger Capacity | Up to 19 |
| Avionics | Collins Pro Line Fusion |
| APU | Standard |
| Variable Cost Per Hour | $6,345 |
| Annual Fixed Cost | $1.65M |
The ACJ319 is the corporate variant of the A319 single-aisle airliner, the long-established VVIP standard for state operators and large-cabin private owners. Floor area approximately 882 sq ft, cabin width 12.1 ft, head room 7.4 ft. Powered by twin CFM56-5B7 engines. Range 6,100 nm with auxiliary fuel tanks fitted in the cargo hold. The current production line transitioned to the ACJ319neo from 2019, but the ACJ319 remains the largest and most widely operated platform in the in-service VVIP fleet.
| Production | 1999 – 2015 (succeeded by ACJ319neo) |
| Base Type | Airbus A319 |
| Range | 6,100 nm (with auxiliary fuel tanks) |
| Cabin Width | 12.1 ft |
| Cabin Floor Area | ~882 sq ft |
| Passenger Capacity | Up to 19 |
| Avionics | Honeywell Primus Epic / Thales |
| APU | Standard |
| Variable Cost Per Hour | $9,503 |
| Annual Fixed Cost | $1.65M |
The ACJ319neo is the new-engine option variant of the ACJ319, sharing the A319neo airframe and re-engined with CFM International LEAP-1A26 turbofans. Range extends to 6,801 nm with auxiliary tanks, the longest in the VVIP class shown here. Floor area, cabin width, and overall fuselage dimensions are unchanged from the ACJ319.
| Production | 2019 – Present |
| Base Type | Airbus A319neo |
| Range | 6,801 nm (with auxiliary fuel tanks) |
| Cabin Width | 12.1 ft |
| Cabin Floor Area | ~882 sq ft |
| Passenger Capacity | Up to 19 |
| Avionics | Honeywell Primus Epic / Thales |
| APU | Standard |
| Variable Cost Per Hour | $8,911 |
| Annual Fixed Cost | $1.69M |
The BBJ MAX 8 is the corporate variant of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, the largest-cabin platform in this comparison set by floor area at approximately 1,025 sq ft. Powered by twin CFM International LEAP-1B28 engines with split-tip winglets, range is 6,357 nm with auxiliary fuel tanks. Cabin width 11.7 ft. Following the global MAX recertification programme and the 737 MAX 7 entry into service in 2025, the MAX-family BBJs are now the current Boeing offering against the Airbus ACJ319neo and ACJ TwoTwenty.
| Production | 2018 – Present |
| Base Type | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Range | 6,357 nm (with auxiliary fuel tanks) |
| Cabin Width | 11.7 ft |
| Cabin Floor Area | ~1,025 sq ft |
| Passenger Capacity | Up to 19 |
| Avionics | Honeywell Primus Epic / Boeing flight deck |
| APU | Standard |
| Variable Cost Per Hour | $9,060 |
| Annual Fixed Cost | $1.81M |
The Lineage 1000E is the corporate variant of the Embraer E190, the smallest platform in this comparison set and the only one no longer in production. Cabin floor area approximately 449 sq ft across five distinct zones, the most segmented layout of the five. Range 4,242 nm with auxiliary fuel tanks. Production ended in 2019; the platform retains an established place in the secondary market.
| Production | 2013 – 2019 |
| Base Type | Embraer E190 |
| Range | 4,242 nm (with auxiliary fuel tanks) |
| Cabin Width | 8.85 ft |
| Cabin Floor Area | ~449 sq ft (five zones) |
| Passenger Capacity | Up to 13 |
| Avionics | Honeywell Primus Epic |
| APU | Standard |
| Variable Cost Per Hour | $8,388 |
| Annual Fixed Cost | $1.58M |
Key metrics across the in-service VVIP and bizliner set. Hover a column to highlight; best values in each row are accented.
| ACJ TwoTwenty | ACJ319 | ACJ319neo | BBJ MAX 8 | Lineage 1000E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance | |||||
| Range (Long-Range Cruise) | 5,650 nm | 6,100 nm | 6,801 nm | 6,357 nm | 4,242 nm |
| High-Speed Cruise | 470 kts | 470 kts | 470 kts | 470 kts | 472 kts |
| Wingspan | 115.08 ft | 111.84 ft | 117.41 ft | 117.83 ft | 94.20 ft |
| Cabin | |||||
| Cabin Floor Area | ~786 sq ft | ~882 sq ft | ~882 sq ft | ~1,025 sq ft | ~449 sq ft |
| Cabin Width | 10.70 ft | 12.10 ft | 12.10 ft | 11.70 ft | 8.85 ft |
| Passenger Capacity | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 13 |
| Cabin Zones (typical) | 3 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 4–5 | 5 |
| Operating Economics | |||||
| Fuel / Hour | $2,670 | $3,700 | $3,015 | $3,650 | $3,420 |
| Maintenance / Hour | $1,112 | $3,128 | $3,085 | $2,651 | $2,940 |
| Engine Reserves / Hour | $1,584 | $1,652 | $1,782 | $1,716 | $1,080 |
| Variable Cost / Hour | $6,345 | $9,503 | $8,911 | $9,060 | $8,388 |
| Annual Fixed Cost | $1.65M | $1.65M | $1.69M | $1.81M | $1.58M |
| Status | |||||
| In Production | Yes | No (1999–2015) | Yes | Yes | No (2013–2019) |
| Stage 3 Noise | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Floor area figures from OEM published materials. Assumes 250 flight hours per year, $5.00 per US gallon Jet A, $105 per hour maintenance labour, 600 nm average trip.
Assumes 250 flight hours per year, $5.00 per US gallon Jet A, $105 per hour maintenance labour, 600 nm average trip.
Embraer ended Lineage 1000E production in 2019. The platform retains an established position in the secondary market.
Boeing's BBJ 787 is not yet held in the comparison data set and is excluded.
Freestream Aircraft operates as an independent advisory firm, representing principals in the acquisition, sale, and management of VVIP and bizliner aircraft worldwide. With deep platform knowledge across the Airbus ACJ, Boeing BBJ, and Embraer Lineage families, Freestream provides: