The Challenger 600 is the original of the widest cabin family in Los Angeles heavy-jet charter, and cabin width is still the reason to look at it. Nine to twelve passengers across a genuinely broad floor, at the lowest number in the category.
Canadair built the Challenger 600 from 1980 around a wide, near-circular fuselage cross-section that no competitor matched at the time, powered by two Lycoming ALF502 engines. Nine to twelve seats, 458 knots and 2,800 nautical miles of range. Full specifications for the Challenger 600 are published by Bombardier.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Heavy Jet
- Manufacturer: Canadair (later Bombardier)
- Year introduced: 1980
- Seating: 9 to 12
- Crew: 2
- Range: 2,800 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 458 knots
- Service ceiling: 41,000 feet
- Length: 68.4 feet
- Wingspan: 61.8 feet
- Height: 20.7 feet
- Baggage volume: 115 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Enclosed
Why the Challenger 600 Fits Los Angeles
Twelve people in a cabin this wide, for heavy-jet money at the bottom of the band, is a combination that keeps the 600 on Los Angeles quote sheets decades after production ended. For a group heading to Las Vegas, NV, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico or across to the Midwest it is a lot of aircraft per dollar.
Range is the limit that separates it from the later Challengers. At 2,800 nautical miles a full cabin out of Van Nuys will not make New York nonstop, and the westbound return against winter winds is the leg where that shows first. The operator plans the actual date rather than the average.
These are early-1980s airframes with the original engines, so operator selection carries more weight here than on a newer aircraft. Every Challenger 600 we present flies with a current FAR Part 135 certificate holder, and we review their safety and incident history and confirm the crew are current on type before it goes on a quote.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
Industry hourly rates for the Challenger 600 run $7,000 to $9,000 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Challenger 600 quotes at the bottom of the heavy-jet band, and for a Los Angeles group of ten or more it is often the cheapest wide cabin available.
Other Heavy Jets Available
- Bombardier Challenger 650
- Cessna Citation Hemisphere
- Challenger 601
- Challenger 604
- Challenger 605
- Dassault Falcon 2000LXS
The full heavy jets category page lists every heavy jet we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Challenger 600 charter in or out of Los Angeles, call +1 (888) 987-5387 or head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.