Bombardier Challenger 350 Review: The Super-Midsize Sweet Spot

Overview

The Bombardier Challenger 350 is the dominant force in the super-midsize jet category. Delivered since 2014, it has outsold every competitor in its class and become the aircraft that operators build their charter businesses around. Built by Bombardier Aviation in Montreal, the Challenger 350 evolved from the successful Challenger 300 platform with upgraded engines, improved avionics, enhanced cabin amenities, and better field performance.

The super-midsize category exists to bridge the gap between midsize jets (good for 2–3 hour trips) and heavy jets (ideal for 6+ hour missions). The Challenger 350 does this better than any other aircraft in production. It offers a wide, flat-floor cabin that rivals some heavy jets, transcontinental range that covers coast-to-coast US routes nonstop, and operating costs that are significantly lower than stepping up to a Gulfstream G500 or Falcon 2000.

Performance

The Challenger 350 is powered by two Honeywell HTF7350 engines, each generating 7,323 pounds of thrust. Maximum cruise speed is 470 knots (Mach 0.82), and long-range cruise sits at Mach 0.80, covering a maximum range of 3,200 nautical miles with 8 passengers and NBAA IFR reserves. This range comfortably handles New York to Los Angeles, London to Istanbul, Dubai to London, and Singapore to any major city in the ASEAN region.

The aircraft has a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet and requires approximately 4,835 feet of runway for takeoff at maximum weight of 40,600 pounds. These numbers mean the Challenger 350 can access most airports that serve business aviation, including challenging fields like Aspen (7,820 feet elevation) and London City (with special crew training).

Fuel burn averages approximately 260 gallons per hour at high-speed cruise — efficient for the size of the cabin and the range delivered. Operators consistently report dispatch reliability rates above 99%, which is critical for charter scheduling.

Cabin Experience

The Challenger 350 cabin is its signature advantage. At 25 feet 2 inches long, 7 feet 2 inches wide, and 6 feet 1 inch tall, it is the widest cabin in the super-midsize class. The width matters: it allows true side-by-side seating with a wide aisle, making the cabin feel more like a heavy jet than a midsize. The flat floor runs the full length of the cabin, which is not a given in this category.

Standard charter configuration seats 8 to 10 passengers across a double-club layout. Many operators configure the aircraft with a forward four-seat club, a center two-seat club or conference arrangement, and an aft three-seat divan that converts to a flat bed. The baggage compartment is accessible in flight and holds 106 cubic feet — one of the largest in the class.

The cabin features large windows, LED mood lighting, a fully enclosed aft lavatory, and a forward galley capable of catering full meals for flights over 3 hours. Ka-band Wi-Fi is available on most charter aircraft, providing reliable internet connectivity for work and streaming. Noise levels are impressively low for the category, thanks to Bombardier's sound-dampening engineering.

Charter Costs

Challenger 350 charter rates typically range from $5,500 to $8,000 per flight hour. This positions it in the accessible end of the super-midsize market — significantly less than a Gulfstream G280 or Citation Longitude on an hourly basis. Representative one-way pricing: New York to Los Angeles from $35,000 to $48,000, London to Nice from $18,000 to $24,000, Dubai to Mumbai from $28,000 to $38,000.

The Challenger 350's economics are a key reason for its charter dominance. Operators can acquire the aircraft at a lower capital cost than competing super-midsize models, and its fuel efficiency and maintenance costs keep direct operating expenses manageable. These savings get passed through to charter passengers in the form of competitive pricing.

Who It's For

The Challenger 350 is the ideal charter aircraft for transcontinental flights with groups of 6 to 9 passengers. It is the go-to choice for coast-to-coast US travel, European medium-haul routes, Middle East to Europe flights, and intra-Asian routes under 5 hours. Business groups that need a conference-capable cabin, families traveling with luggage, and sports teams on regional circuits all gravitate toward the Challenger 350.

If your mission is under 2 hours with fewer than 6 passengers, a midsize jet like the Citation XLS saves money without sacrificing comfort. If you need to cross an ocean nonstop, step up to a large-cabin aircraft like the G650 or Global 7500. But for the 3–5 hour sweet spot that covers most domestic and regional international flying, the Challenger 350 is hard to beat.

Compare on VOLO

Evaluating the Challenger 350 against the Citation Latitude, Praetor 500, or Gulfstream G280? VOLO's aircraft comparison tool lets you compare all four side by side — cabin width, range, baggage capacity, and charter costs — across our complete 199-model catalog. The right super-midsize jet depends on your specific route and passenger count.