Bombardier Challenger 650 vs Embraer Legacy 650e vs Gulfstream G400'
Aircraft are often compared by category, range, and passenger capacity because those factors largely determine what missions they can serve. Short-haul regional aircraft, including turboprops and small regional jets, typically carry about 30 to 90 passengers and are optimized for frequent flights on shorter routes, usually a few hundred to roughly 1,500–2,000 miles, with strong performance at smaller airports. Narrow-body mainline jets, the workhorses of domestic and near-international travel, generally seat around 120 to 240 passengers and commonly operate up to roughly 3,000–4,000 miles, making them suitable for transcontinental routes and dense short-to-medium markets. Wide-body jets are designed for higher capacity and longer distances, often carrying about 250 to 400+ passengers and flying approximately 5,000–8,000+ miles, enabling long-haul international service. At the top end, very large wide-bodies focus on maximum passenger volume—often well over 400 seats—typically used on high-demand hub-to-hub routes where airport infrastructure and demand justify the size.
| Spec | Bombardier Challenger 650 | Embraer Legacy 650E |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| DOC / nm | $ 7.16 | $ 8.41 |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Total Seats | 11 | 14 |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier | Embraer |
| Aircraft Name | Challenger 650 | Legacy 650E |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 4085 | 3980 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.80 | $ 0.70 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 19 |
| OEM Verification | VERIFIED | VERIFIED |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 21050 | 22510 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 9 | 12 |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 3,365 | $ 3,860 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced | Honeywell Primus Elite |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 470 | 458 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $32,400,000 | $26,500,000 |
| Cabin | ||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 |
| Lavatory | 2 Enclosed Flushing | 1 Enclosed Belted Flushing |
| Min Crew | 2 | 2 |
| Crew Rest | Yes | No |
| Jump Seat | Yes | No |
| Total Seats | 11 | 14 |
| Galley Location | FWD | FWD |
| Max Cabin Seats | 12 | 19 |
| Lavatory Location | FWD / AFT | AFT |
| Cabin Pressure (psi) | 8.8 | 8.4 |
| Galley / Refreshment | Galley | Galley |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 9 | 12 |
| SL Cabin Altitude (ft) | 23000 | 21650 |
| Engine | ||
| FADEC | Yes | Yes |
| Model | CF34-3B MTO | AE3007A2 |
| TBO (hrs) | On-Condition | On-Condition |
| Flat Rating | ISA + 15 | ISA + 15 |
| Thrust (lbs) | 9220 | 9020 |
| No. of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel Burn (lbph) | — | 1901 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length (ft) | 68.4 | 86.5 |
| Wingspan (ft) | 64.4 | 69.5 |
| Aisle Step (ft) | Flat Floor | Flat Floor |
| Cabin Width (ft) | 7.9 | 6.9 |
| Cabin Height (ft) | 6 | 6 |
| Cabin Length (ft) | 25.6 | 42.4 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 20.7 | 22.2 |
| Cabin Width - Floor (ft) | 6.9 | 5.2 |
| Cabin Length - Seating (ft) | 15.4 | 30.3 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | 112 | 286 |