Charter an Embraer Legacy 500

The Embraer Legacy 500 is a midsize business jet that holds three distinctions no other aircraft in its class can claim simultaneously: fly-by-wire digital flight controls, a flat cabin floor and full stand-up headroom at 1.83 m. Every other midsize jet on the charter market has at least one of these compromised - a raised floor over the wing carry-through, a stepped interior, or the need to duck in sections of the cabin. The Legacy 500 has none of these constraints. With a range of 3,125 nm (5,788 km) and a cruise speed of 863 km/h, it connects London to Dubai non-stop, covers all of Europe with range to spare and reaches North Africa and the Near East comfortably.

Embraer's cabin noise and pressurisation system, which received multiple best-in-class awards at the type's introduction, was designed specifically to reduce inflight fatigue - a consideration that matters more on the 3 to 5 hour European and Middle East sectors where the Legacy 500 is most frequently deployed than it does on shorter hops. Four fully flat sleeping positions are available from the forward seats. Up to 12 passengers can be carried, with 8 being the optimal configuration for the most comfortable cabin experience. Charter prices start from approximately £3,200 per flight hour. See our full range at the private jet price guide or browse our complete fleet.

Why charter the Legacy 500?

• The only midsize jet with fly-by-wire digital flight controls. No other aircraft in the midsize charter category has fully digital fly-by-wire technology. On the Legacy 500 it reduces pilot workload while improving controllability and safety margins - a technical distinction that Embraer carries over from commercial airliner development and that no Challenger 350, Citation or Phenom can match;
• Flat floor throughout the entire cabin. Most midsize jets have a raised floor section over the wing carry-through structure, creating a step or bump that limits aisle movement and seat placement. The Legacy 500 has a completely flat floor from nose to tail - a design decision that allows full freedom of movement and more flexible seat configurations;
• Full stand-up headroom at 1.83 m. Combined with the flat floor, this gives the Legacy 500 a cabin environment that feels closer to a large-cabin jet than a midsize. Passengers can stand and move freely throughout the entire 8.18 m cabin without stooping;
• Four flat sleeping positions from the forward seats. The four forward chairs recline to fully flat sleeping positions - available on overnight and early-morning European and Middle East sectors where rest during the flight is operationally relevant;
• Best-in-class cabin noise and pressurisation. Embraer's cabin sealing system was recognised with multiple best-in-class awards on the type's introduction. The lower cabin noise and improved pressurisation specifically target fatigue reduction on the 3 to 5 hour sectors the Legacy 500 most frequently covers;
• 3,125 nm range covering Dubai, Istanbul and all of Europe non-stop. The range bracket covers every major European business destination, the full Mediterranean basin, the Near East and the Arabian Gulf comfortably non-stop from UK airports.

Charter cost - Legacy 500 prices from UK airports

Hourly rates run from approximately £3,200 to £3,900 - positioned above the Phenom 300 and Citation CJ4 and below the Challenger 350, reflecting the Legacy 500's larger cabin and additional capabilities. For clients stepping up from a light jet who want the stand-up cabin experience without paying Challenger 350 rates, it represents a strong mid-market option.

Indicative one-way prices from UK airports:

• London to Dubai - from £28,000 (8 passengers, non-stop, approximately 6 hours 30 minutes);
• London to Geneva - from £6,200 (8 passengers, approximately 1 hour 20 minutes);
• London to Athens - from £14,400 (8 passengers, approximately 3 hours 20 minutes);
• London to Istanbul - from £15,200 (8 passengers, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes);
• Edinburgh to Barcelona - from £11,800 (8 passengers, approximately 2 hours 20 minutes);
• London to Marrakech - from £13,200 (8 passengers, approximately 2 hours 50 minutes);
• Manchester to Moscow - from £16,600 (8 passengers, approximately 3 hours 30 minutes).

Empty Leg flights appear on repositioning routes. See our Empty Legs page for current availability.

Ideal routes for the Legacy 500

It performs best on European and medium-haul missions where the flat floor, stand-up cabin and fly-by-wire advantages are most appreciated relative to the alternatives at comparable charter rates:

• UK to Southern and Eastern Europe (2 to 4 hours). Athens, Istanbul, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, Prague, Warsaw, Bucharest. All within range non-stop from UK airports with margin. For groups of 6 to 8 who want a stand-up cabin and flat floor on these sectors, the Legacy 500 provides this at rates below the Challenger 350;
• UK to Gulf non-stop (6 to 7 hours). Dubai and the Gulf are within range at 3,125 nm. The four flat sleeping positions make the overnight sector to Dubai a practical option for executives who want to arrive rested. Few midsize jets can cover this route non-stop with sleeping capability;
• UK to North Africa and Near East (3 to 5 hours). Marrakech, Cairo, Beirut, Tel Aviv, Amman, Riyadh - all within comfortable range from UK airports. The pressurisation and noise system specifically designed to reduce fatigue is well matched to these 3 to 5 hour working sectors;
• Overnight European missions with sleeping requirement. The four fully flat seats address a specific use case: the executive who needs to sleep on a 2 to 3 hour overnight sector between European cities without paying large-cabin rates. The Legacy 500 delivers this in a midsize jet;
• Technology-forward clients. Clients in aviation, aerospace, engineering and technology sectors who specifically seek fly-by-wire aircraft for the safety and performance advantages it provides. The Legacy 500 is the only midsize charter option that meets this criterion.

Cabin and in-flight experience

This aircraft cabin measures 8.18 m long, 2.08 m wide and 1.83 m high. The flat floor - continuous from one end of the cabin to the other with no steps or raised sections - and the stand-up headroom at 1.83 m throughout create an interior that moves and feels differently from other midsize jets. Embraer's design philosophy for the cabin combined simplicity, natural light and ergonomic precision: windows are positioned at the optimal sightline height for seated passengers, the galley is positioned and sized for full meal service functionality rather than minimum-viable provision, and every element of the interior was specified with the specific fatigue profile of 3 to 5 hour business travel in mind.

The four forward seats recline to fully flat sleeping positions. Embraer's cabin sealing system - best-in-class at launch, multiple award recipient - delivers noticeably lower cabin noise than most midsize competitors and an improved pressurisation environment that reduces the dehydration and fatigue effects typical on this class of aircraft.

• Flat floor. Continuous, uninterrupted flat floor throughout the entire 8.18 m cabin length;
• Stand-up headroom. 1.83 m throughout - can stand and walk the full cabin without stooping;
• Sleeping. Four fully flat positions from forward seat recline;
• Noise and pressurisation. Best-in-class cabin sealing system reducing inflight fatigue - award-winning at launch;
• Galley. Full-functionality galley design with hot meal service capability;
• Entertainment. Individual entertainment system with satellite connectivity. Wi-Fi and satellite phone vary by operator - confirm at booking;
• Lavatory. Private enclosed lavatory aft.

Technical specifications

Legacy 500 vs similar aircraft

• Legacy 500 vs Challenger 350. The 350 is the benchmark midsize jet with 3,200 nm range and a 2.49 m wide cabin - 0.41 m wider. Charter rates for the 350 run approximately 30 to 40% higher. The counters include fly-by-wire controls, a flat floor (the 350 has a raised section), lower cabin noise and a lower hourly rate. For clients who prioritise cabin width above all else, the Challenger 350 is the choice; for those who value fly-by-wire technology, flat floor geometry and a lower rate, the Legacy 500 makes a compelling case;
• Legacy 500 vs Phenom 300. The Phenom 300 is a light jet, with a shorter range (1,800 nm), a smaller cabin and rates approximately 35 to 45% lower. For 4 to 6 passengers on European sectors where stand-up headroom is not required, the Phenom 300 is the efficient choice. For 6 to 8 passengers who need the flat floor, stand-up headroom and sleeping positions of the Legacy 500, the additional cost is justified;
• Legacy 500 vs Citation XLS. That aircraft is a midsize jet with comparable cabin length (5.64 m) but shorter range (1,858 nm) and no stand-up headroom. Charter rates are broadly similar or slightly lower. The Legacy 500's flat floor, fly-by-wire and stand-up cabin are distinguishing advantages; the Citation XLS's advantage is wider operator network and availability in some markets.

Frequently asked questions - Legacy 500 charter

How much does it cost to charter an Embraer Legacy 500?
Charter rates run from approximately £3,200 to £3,900 per flight hour. London to Geneva costs from £6,200 for 8 passengers. London to Dubai non-stop costs from £28,000. London to Athens costs from £14,400. All quotes from Private Jets UK are fully itemised with no hidden charges.

What makes the Legacy 500 unique among midsize jets?
Three features set it apart in the midsize charter category: fly-by-wire digital flight controls (the only midsize jet with this technology), a completely flat cabin floor (most competitors have a raised section over the wing), and full stand-up headroom at 1.83 m throughout the entire cabin.

Can the Legacy 500 fly non-stop from London to Dubai?
Yes - at 3,125 nm it covers the London to Dubai sector of approximately 2,950 nm non-stop. The four flat sleeping positions make overnight Gulf missions practical for executives needing to arrive rested.

How many passengers can fly on a Legacy 500?
Maximum 12 in the maximum configuration. The optimal charter layout seats 8 in the standard configuration. Four forward seats recline to fully flat sleeping positions for overnight operations.

What is fly-by-wire and why does it matter?
Fly-by-wire replaces mechanical flight control connections with digital electronic signals processed by flight computers. It reduces pilot workload, improves safety margins and allows more precise control response across the flight envelope. It is standard on modern commercial airliners (Airbus A320, Boeing 777) but the Legacy 500 is the only midsize business jet in the charter market to use this technology.