Charter a Beechcraft King Air 350

The Beechcraft King Air 350 is the world's best-selling turboprop business aircraft - a twin-engine pressurised cabin aircraft that has been in continuous production since 1974, making it one of the longest-running production runs in the history of civil aviation. In the UK charter market, it occupies a specific and practical niche: the cost-conscious alternative to a light jet for groups of 6 to 9 passengers on UK domestic, Irish and short European sectors. Charter rates start from approximately £850 per flight hour - significantly below any jet in the charter market - while the cabin is genuinely comfortable and the aircraft operates reliably from grass strips, small regional airports and any surface a Cessna uses.

The King Air 350 variant introduced winglets and two additional cockpit windows on each side of the fuselage, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A turboprop engines. It carries up to 15 passengers in a high-density configuration and 9 to 11 in the standard executive layout. Private Jets UK arranges King Air 350 charters from regional UK airports including those unavailable to jets. For our full range of aircraft and pricing see our private jet price guide, or browse the complete fleet.

Why charter the King Air 350?

• Lowest charter cost in private aviation. At £850 to £1,400 per flight hour, it is the most affordable pressurised cabin aircraft available for charter in the UK. A London to Edinburgh sector costs from approximately £3,800 all-in - a fraction of the same trip on a light jet;
• Access to the widest range of airports. The King Air 350 can operate from grass strips, short runways and regional airfields that no jet can use. This makes it the only practical private aviation option for remote Scottish islands, small Channel Island airfields and rural UK destinations with restricted runway lengths;
• Up to 15 passengers. In high-density configuration it carries more passengers than most light jets and matches or exceeds many midsize jets. For large group travel on short UK sectors, nothing else comes close on a per-seat cost basis;
• Pressurised cabin. Unlike many smaller turboprops, it has a fully pressurised cabin - passengers are not exposed to altitude discomfort on sectors up to its maximum ceiling of 10,600 m (34,800 ft);
• Proven safety record. The King Air family has accumulated more than 60 million flight hours across civil and military operations worldwide. No King Air 350 has been recorded in a fatal accident in US commercial operations since entering service;
• Excellent short-field performance. The PT6A-60A engines and turboprop configuration allow shorter takeoff and landing distances than most jets, enabling access to destinations unreachable by jet aircraft.

Charter cost - King Air 350 prices from UK airports

Hourly rates run from approximately £850 to £1,400 depending on the operator, positioning and season. These are the lowest rates available for a pressurised multi-passenger cabin aircraft in the UK charter market. On short UK sectors where the lower cruise speed (482 km/h vs 787 km/h for a Citation XLS) adds 20 to 30 minutes to the journey, the cost saving typically more than compensates.

Indicative one-way prices from UK airports:

• London to Edinburgh - from £3,800 (9 passengers, approximately 1 hour 10 minutes);
• London to Amsterdam - from £4,600 (9 passengers, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes);
• London to Belfast - from £3,600 (9 passengers, approximately 1 hour);
• London to Jersey - from £3,200 (9 passengers, approximately 55 minutes);
• Edinburgh to Dublin - from £3,400 (9 passengers, approximately 55 minutes);
• London to Paris - from £4,800 (9 passengers, approximately 1 hour 20 minutes);
• Manchester to Amsterdam - from £4,200 (9 passengers, approximately 1 hour 10 minutes).

Empty Leg opportunities on the King Air 350 appear frequently on UK domestic routes. See our Empty Legs page for current availability.

Ideal routes for the King Air 350

This aircraft is best suited to short sectors where cost efficiency, airport accessibility or high passenger numbers are the primary requirement. Its 482 km/h cruise speed means it is not competitive with jets on sectors over 2 hours, but for the right mission it has no equal in its price bracket:

• UK domestic (30 to 90 minutes). Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Aberdeen, Inverness, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Newquay. The King Air 350's short-field capability opens Scottish island airstrips and remote regional airports entirely unavailable to jets. For energy sector clients, medical transport, island logistics and rural estate travel, it is often the only practical option;
• UK to Ireland (45 to 70 minutes). Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Knock. Fast enough on these short sectors to compete with jets on door-to-door time when the reduced handling time at smaller airports is factored in;
• UK to France and Benelux (1 to 1.5 hours). Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Lille. On these sectors the speed penalty vs a light jet is under 25 minutes - often worth it for the cost saving on 9-passenger groups;
• Large group travel on short UK sectors. With up to 15 seats, it can move a full sports team, medical team or corporate group on a single aircraft where a light jet would require two. The economics become compelling at 10 or more passengers;
• Remote and restricted airports. Anywhere a jet cannot go: grass strips, mountain airstrips, short unpaved runways. The King Air 350 is the standard aircraft for oil and gas crew transfers, island supply operations and remote site access across the UK and Europe.

Cabin and in-flight experience

The King Air 350 cabin measures 5.94 m long, 1.37 m wide and 1.45 m high. The width is narrower than most light jets - one seat on each side of a central aisle rather than paired seating. On short sectors of under 90 minutes, this is not a material constraint; on longer sectors, clients with a preference for working across a table should consider a light or midsize jet.

The standard executive configuration seats 9 to 11 passengers. Hot and cold beverage service is standard. Collins Pro Line 21 avionics in the cockpit provides a modern glass flight deck with dual primary flight displays and a central multifunction display.

• Catering. Hot and cold beverage units fitted as standard. Catering from the departure FBO can be pre-arranged for most sectors;
• Lavatory. An enclosed private lavatory is included in the standard executive layout;
• Baggage. Standard luggage capacity for 9 to 11 passengers; sports equipment such as golf bags requires advance confirmation with the operator;
• Pressurisation. Fully pressurised to maximum altitude of 10,600 m - comfortable for all passengers on the sectors this aircraft typically operates.

Technical specifications

King Air 350 vs similar aircraft

• King Air 350 vs Pilatus PC-12. That aircraft is a single-engine turboprop with a slightly larger cargo door and similar short-field capability. It has twin engines - preferred by many operators and clients for overwater, mountainous or night operations where engine redundancy matters - and a larger standard passenger capacity. Charter rates are broadly comparable;
• King Air 350 vs Phenom 100 / Citation Mustang. Very light jets in the £1,700 to £2,500/hr range offer a faster cruise and a jet-category experience at roughly double the hourly rate. On sectors under 1 hour, the time difference is small and the King Air 350 represents significantly better value per passenger. For groups of 8 or more, the capacity advantage often makes it the only practical single-aircraft option;
• King Air 350 vs Phenom 300. The Phenom 300 costs approximately £2,100 to £3,000/hr and cruises at 834 km/h - nearly twice the speed. For time-critical travel or sectors over 1.5 hours, the jet is the better choice. For cost-sensitive 9-passenger groups on UK domestic sectors under 1 hour, the King Air 350 can halve the total charter cost.

Frequently asked questions - King Air 350 charter

How much does it cost to charter a Beechcraft King Air 350 in the UK?
Rates run from approximately £850 to £1,400 per flight hour - the lowest available for a pressurised multi-passenger cabin aircraft. London to Edinburgh costs from £3,800 for 9 passengers. London to Amsterdam costs from £4,600. All quotes are all-inclusive with no hidden charges.

How many passengers can fly on a King Air 350?
Up to 15 passengers in a high-density configuration. The standard executive layout seats 9 to 11. For groups of 10 or more on a short sector, it is often the most cost-efficient single-aircraft solution available.

Is the King Air 350 pressurised?
Yes. Unlike smaller turboprops, the King Air 350 has a fully pressurised cabin allowing comfortable operation up to its maximum altitude of 10,600 m (34,800 ft). Passengers do not experience altitude discomfort on any sector this aircraft typically operates.

What airports can the King Air 350 use?
It can operate from any surface a single-engine light aircraft uses - grass strips, short unpaved runways, Scottish island airstrips and regional airfields with no jet operation. This is its defining practical advantage: it reaches destinations where no jet can land.

Is a King Air 350 faster than a private jet?
No. At 482 km/h cruise, it is roughly half the speed of a light jet. On a 1-hour sector the time difference is 15 to 20 minutes. On sectors over 1.5 hours, the time penalty grows - a jet becomes the better choice when schedule is the priority. The King Air 350 is chosen when cost, capacity or airport access outweighs speed.

What are the typical uses of this aircraft in the UK?
The most common applications in the UK are: corporate group travel on domestic routes, oil and gas crew transfers to remote sites, medical evacuation and air ambulance operations, island access (Scottish islands, Channel Islands), sports team travel and cost-sensitive 9-passenger European day trips.