Turboprop charter cost San Antonio
Turboprop charter cost San Antonio runs $2,200 to $3,500 per flight hour in 2026. A Dallas trip of 227 nm prices near $2,500 to $4,000. Beechcraft King Air and Pilatus PC-12 aircraft seat six to eight passengers.
The turboprop charter cost San Antonio figure comes from block hour pricing: $2,200 to $3,500 per hour on the aircraft, before taxes and fees. A 227 nm Dallas leg at $2,500 to $4,000 is the short-haul benchmark for comparing quotes, and longer flights scale roughly with time aloft. Operators price the same airplane differently depending on crew duty, repositioning distance and how far out you book. Two quotes on identical King Air 350i trips can land hundreds of dollars apart for reasons that have nothing to do with the airplane's condition.
A turboprop cruises near 300 knots and covers up to 1,500 nm with six to eight passengers aboard. The Beechcraft King Air 350i and Pilatus PC-12 NGX both hold 1,800 nm range in factory figures, though real-world legs are shorter with reserves and headwinds. Turboprops do their best work on 150 to 700 nm routes from San Antonio, where they burn less fuel than jets and can use shorter runways. That matters at reliever fields around the city where runway length is a factor, and it matters on price when the trip is under two hours.
Beechcraft King Air 350i
- 8 seats
- 312 kt cruise
- 1,800 nm range
- 55 cu ft baggage
The King Air 350i is the workhorse of the turboprop class: eight seats, 312 knots cruise, 1,800 nm range, a cabin 4 ft 9 in tall and 16 ft 8 in long, and 55 cu ft of baggage. For San Antonio groups of six to eight, the 350i is the default turboprop comparison because it pairs jet-like speed with short-field ability. Expect the upper end of the $2,200 to $3,500 hourly band on this airframe.
Pilatus PC-12 NGX
- 6 seats
- 290 kt cruise
- 1,800 nm range
- 40 cu ft baggage
The PC-12 NGX seats six, cruises 290 knots and carries 40 cu ft of bags in a cabin 4 ft 10 in tall and 16 ft 11 in long. A PC-12 quote out of San Antonio often lands near the lower half of the hourly band because the single-engine layout burns less fuel than a twin. Range reaches 1,800 nm, so most domestic legs from SAT work nonstop with reserves.
When a turboprop makes sense
- Short regional legs: a Houston trip of 168 nm runs 53 minutes and prices $2,000 to $3,500, which is hard for any jet to beat once you add taxi and climb time. A Dallas leg at 227 nm and 1 hour 6 minutes is the sweet spot for turboprop pricing when you are comparing against light jets.
- Airports with shorter runways: turboprops need less pavement than jets, so reliever fields and smaller Texas strips stay open to them. If your destination sits closer to a 4,000-foot runway than a 6,000-foot one, then a turboprop may be the only turbine option that fits the trip.
- Six to eight passengers with bags: the King Air 350i carries eight travelers and 55 cu ft of baggage. If your group fits in six to eight seats, then a turboprop often beats a light jet on cost per passenger for Texas and nearby state routes.
- Weather flexibility: turboprops handle ice and lower visibility well with the right equipment, and they can fly under some conditions that ground smaller piston aircraft. When winter fronts cross the Hill Country, then the question shifts from speed to whether the operator's aircraft and crew are approved for the conditions.
What the quote does not cover
The hourly band covers aircraft, crew and fuel, but taxes, segment fees, crew overnight costs and de-icing sit outside it on many quotes. A published $2,500 to $4,000 Dallas range is an estimate, not a final invoice, and the difference usually shows up in fees rather than the hourly rate. Ask each operator to itemize before you compare totals.
On international legs, CBP processing and customs fees add to the bill, and passenger documentation becomes the traveler's responsibility. If a trip crosses a border, then the operator needs advance notice to file the manifest. Turboprops are also slower than jets on long routes, so a 1,377 nm New York leg at 5 hours 52 minutes may include a stop that a jet would fly nonstop.
Turboprop prices on popular routes
Turboprop routes from San Antonio split into two groups: Texas hops under an hour and longer runs to the East Coast and Midwest. The long legs below 1,500 nm generally work nonstop in a turboprop. Anything farther usually needs a fuel stop, which shows up in the quote.
Turboprop charter times and prices by route
On these 24 routes a turboprop needs 0h 53m to 6h 29m, with one-way estimates running $2,000 to $22,500.
| Route | Time | One-way estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New York → San Antonio | 5h 52m + stop | $13,000–$20,500 |
| Los Angeles → San Antonio | 4h 01m | $9,000–$14,000 |
| Chicago → San Antonio | 3h 29m | $7,500–$12,000 |
| Dallas → San Antonio | 1h 06m | $2,500–$4,000 |
| Houston → San Antonio | 0h 53m | $2,000–$3,500 |
| Atlanta → San Antonio | 3h 00m | $6,500–$10,500 |
| Washington, DC → San Antonio | 4h 28m | $10,000–$15,500 |
| Boston → San Antonio | 6h 24m + stop | $14,000–$22,500 |
| Philadelphia → San Antonio | 5h 40m + stop | $12,500–$20,000 |
| Denver → San Antonio | 2h 43m | $6,000–$9,500 |
| Phoenix → San Antonio | 2h 54m | $6,500–$10,000 |
| San Francisco → San Antonio | 5h 34m + stop | $12,500–$19,500 |
| Seattle → San Antonio | 6h 29m + stop | $14,500–$22,500 |
| Las Vegas → San Antonio | 3h 34m | $8,000–$12,500 |
| Nashville → San Antonio | 2h 49m | $6,000–$10,000 |
| Charlotte → San Antonio | 3h 39m | $8,000–$12,500 |
| San Antonio → New York | 5h 52m + stop | $13,000–$20,500 |
| San Antonio → Los Angeles | 4h 01m | $9,000–$14,000 |
| San Antonio → Aspen | 2h 50m | $6,000–$10,000 |
| San Antonio → Nassau | 4h 19m | $9,500–$15,000 |
| San Antonio → Cabo San Lucas | 2h 47m | $6,000–$9,500 |
| San Antonio → Turks and Caicos | 6h 15m + stop | $14,000–$22,000 |
| San Antonio → Palm Beach | 3h 45m | $8,500–$13,000 |
| San Antonio → The Hamptons | 6h 09m + stop | $13,500–$21,500 |
Questions
What does turboprop charter cost San Antonio run per hour in 2026?
The hourly band is $2,200 to $3,500 for the aircraft, which covers crew and fuel. A 227 nm Dallas trip prices $2,500 to $4,000 all in, and a 168 nm Houston leg runs $2,000 to $3,500. Taxes and fees can push the total above the hourly math, so ask for an itemized quote before you compare operators.
How much is a turboprop flight from San Antonio to Houston?
A Houston leg of 168 nm takes 53 minutes and prices $2,000 to $3,500. That is the shortest route in the sample set and the one where turboprops compete best against jets, because taxi and climb time eat a larger share of a jet's advantage on short hops. Quotes are estimates and vary with crew and repositioning.
Can a turboprop fly nonstop from San Antonio to New York?
No. The 1,377 nm New York route is flown with a stop and takes about 5 hours 52 minutes in a turboprop, pricing $13,000 to $20,500. The aircraft in this class top out near 1,500 nm typical range, so a leg that long needs fuel. If time matters more than cost, then a jet comparison is worth running.
How many passengers fit in a turboprop from San Antonio?
Six to eight, depending on the airframe. The King Air 350i seats eight with 55 cu ft of baggage, and the PC-12 NGX seats six with 40 cu ft. If your group is larger than eight, then a turboprop will not work and a midsize jet becomes the practical option for the same trip.
Who operates the aircraft on a San Antonio turboprop charter?
The flight is flown by an FAA Part 135 operator that holds operational control, while the broker arranges the trip as an agent under DOT Part 295 rules. That split matters when something changes: the operator answers for crew and aircraft, and the broker answers for the booking. Confirm both names in writing before you pay a deposit.
Which San Antonio airports can a turboprop use?
Turboprops can use San Antonio International and the reliever fields around the city, plus smaller Texas strips with shorter runways than jets require. Runway length and density altitude decide the field, not the brand of aircraft. If you are flying to a private strip, then give the operator the runway dimensions before the quote is built.