Boeing BBJ 737 familyPhoto: Alan Radecki (Akradecki) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · resized · representative variant
Indicative 2020 market price$48.59m (€45m) to $58.1m (€53.8m)
Estimated annual cost at 80 h$1.81m (€1.68m)
Five-year cash outlay$61.89m (€57.31m)

A Boeing BBJ 737 family costs approximately $48.59m (€45m) to $58.1m (€53.8m) to buy at 2020 market values, and about $1.81m (€1.68m) a year to own flying 80 hours, roughly $22,680 (€21,000) per flight hour all-in. It seats 21, cruises at 470 kt (541 mph) and has a published range of 5,987 nm (11,088 km), needing about 5,906 ft (1,800 m) of runway. Figures are indicative planning estimates compiled 2026-07, not a quote for any specific airframe.

Closest alternatives

Similar aircraft to consider

Compare top alternatives

Key figures

Indicative planning data, compiled 2026-07. Verify against the AFM and records.

Seats21
Reported payload proxy3,770 lb (1,710 kg)
Reported range5,987 nm (11,088 km)
Practical planning radius (4 people)Not used for mission ranking
Cruise speed470 kt (541 mph)
Runway need~5,906 ft (1,800 m)
Landing gearRetractable tricycle
PressurisedYes
FuelJet A-1
Fixed annual base$1.08m (€1m)
Direct cost per flight hour$9,180 (€8,500)

The ownership trade-off

The BBJ 737 family combines 21-seat jet capability with about 5,987 NM reported range and about 470 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.

Cost picture at different usage

Indicative cash costs at 2020 market values, before financing, depreciation and tax. The fixed base is the same whether the aircraft flies or not, so the effective hourly cost falls as utilisation rises.

Annual useAnnual cash costEffective cost / hFive-year cash outlay
40 h / year$1.45m (€1.34m)$36,180 (€33,500)$60.06m (€55.61m)
80 h / year$1.81m (€1.68m)$22,680 (€21,000)$61.89m (€57.31m)
120 h / year$2.18m (€2.02m)$18,180 (€16,833)$63.73m (€59.01m)
180 h / year$2.73m (€2.53m)$15,180 (€14,056)$66.48m (€61.56m)

What the estimate covers

Every figure above is built from a $1.08m (€1m) fixed annual base, covering hangarage, insurance, scheduled maintenance reserves and recurring airworthiness costs, plus $9,180 (€8,500) per hour flown for fuel, reserves and consumables. It is a planning model for comparing aircraft and testing utilisation, not a maintenance programme quote, insurance quote or pre-buy assessment.

Older examples add calendar-driven maintenance: a 2011-built airframe is estimated at $1.86m (€1.73m) per year at 80 hours. Airframe and engine time, maintenance and damage history, avionics, equipment, geography and tax treatment move a real transaction further than the model year does, so price the aircraft in front of you, not the model. A cheaper example carrying deferred maintenance can be the more expensive aircraft once the first annual inspection is complete.

Boeing BBJ 737 family cost guide answers the same figures as standalone purchase and ownership questions, and the ownership cost calculator lets you replace these assumptions with your own hours and fixed costs.

Where it fits well

  • 470 kt (541 mph) cruise supports fast regional travel.
  • 5,987 nm (11,088 km) reported range is retained for profile context, but PlaneFit does not use it for mission ranking yet.
  • 3,770 lb (1,710 kg) reported payload proxy and 21 seats define the cabin context pending source-level normalization.

Limitations to price honestly

  • The BBJ 737 family combines 21-seat jet capability with about 5,987 NM reported range and about 470 kt reported cruise, while payload, runway and operating-cost figures remain indicative and should be verified for the specific aircraft before making a decision.
  • $1.08m (€1m) fixed annual planning base before flying a single hour.
  • Approximate 5,906 ft (1,800 m) take-off requirement must be checked against runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading.

Recommended missions

  • Family and small-group touring with a weight-and-balance check for every trip.
  • Longer regional missions, with reserves and payload reducing brochure range.
  • Time-sensitive business travel where dispatch reliability justifies the cost.

What you need to be qualified to fly a Boeing BBJ 737 family

On top of a pilot certificate, this aircraft obliges the person flying it to hold the following. Each one is time and money before the first trip, and insurers usually attach their own minimums on top.

  • Type rating. This aircraft is turbojet-powered, so 14 CFR 61.31(a) requires a type rating for the specific type regardless of weight. Expect a formal initial course at a training provider and recurrent training every year, both of which insurers normally make a condition of cover.

US requirements under 14 CFR 61.31, stated for orientation and not as advice. PlaneFit is not an aviation authority or a training organisation. Other authorities set different rules, and the current regulation and your instructor are what govern.

Common questions about the Boeing BBJ 737 family

How much does a Boeing BBJ 737 family cost?

An indicative 2020 market price for a Boeing BBJ 737 family is $48.59m (€45m) to $58.1m (€53.8m). This is a planning estimate normalised across the market, not a quote for a specific airframe. Condition, engine time remaining, avionics and damage history move the real number more than the model year does.

What does a Boeing BBJ 737 family cost per hour to operate?

Flying 80 hours a year, a Boeing BBJ 737 family works out at roughly $1.81m (€1.68m) annually, which is about $22,680 (€21,000) per flight hour all-in once fixed costs are spread across those hours. The direct cost per hour alone, covering fuel, reserves and consumables, is about $9,180 (€8,500).

How far can a Boeing BBJ 737 family fly?

Reported range is 5,987 nm (11,088 km). PlaneFit does not yet use this figure for mission ranking on this model.

What do you need to be qualified to fly a Boeing BBJ 737 family?

Beyond a pilot certificate, a Boeing BBJ 737 family requires type rating. This aircraft is turbojet-powered, so 14 CFR 61.31(a) requires a type rating for the specific type regardless of weight. Expect a formal initial course at a training provider and recurrent training every year, both of which insurers normally make a condition of cover. These are US requirements and are stated for orientation; confirm them against the current regulation and an instructor.

What runway does a Boeing BBJ 737 family need?

Plan on approximately 5,906 ft (1,800 m) for take-off. Check this against the actual runway, surface, slope, temperature and loading, all of which extend the requirement.

Continue your research