The Learjet 40 brought a proper stand-up cabin to the Learjet name, and in Los Angeles it is the aircraft that settles the old argument between Learjet speed and Citation comfort. Six or seven seats, 464 knots and 1,857 nautical miles.
Bombardier shortened the Learjet 45 fuselage to create the Learjet 40, keeping the Honeywell TFE731-20 engines and the Primus 1000 flight deck. The XR variant added thrust for better hot-and-high and short-field numbers. Cruise is 464 knots with 1,857 nautical miles of range.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Light Jet
- Manufacturer: Bombardier (Learjet)
- Year introduced: 2003-2012
- Seating: 6 to 7
- Crew: 2
- Range: 1,857 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 464 knots
- Service ceiling: 51,000 feet
- Length: 55.6 feet
- Wingspan: 47.7 feet
- Height: 14.4 feet
- Baggage volume: 50 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Enclosed
Why the Learjet 40 Fits Los Angeles
This is the fast light jet we recommend when the trip is long enough that the cabin starts to matter. A Los Angeles to Chicago or Los Angeles to Cabo San Lucas leg is inside its range with a working payload, and passengers can stand up, which a Learjet 35 does not offer.
The XR’s extra thrust is worth asking about specifically for summer departures and for the higher-elevation inland fields. Whether the aircraft on offer is a 40 or a 40XR changes the performance picture, and the operator confirms what the day’s conditions allow.
For the Orange County business pattern out of John Wayne Airport, the 40 is a common fit. The airport enforces noise limits rather than a flat curfew, so a late departure is possible but type and operator dependent, and we check it rather than assume it.
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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; reports may be provided on request.
- 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 Learjet 40 run $3,500 to $4,800 per hour as of 7/2026. Actual quotes vary by operator, routing, positioning, and date.
The Learjet 40 prices above the older Learjets and roughly with a CJ3, and the difference over a 35 buys the stand-up cabin more than the speed.
Other Light Jets Available
- Beechjet 400A
- Cessna Citation Bravo
- Cessna Citation CJ2
- Cessna Citation CJ3
- Cessna Citation CJ4
- Cessna Citation Encore
The full light jets category page lists every light jet we arrange for Los Angeles departures.
Contact
For a quote on a Learjet 40 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.