The aircraft that suits a Kentucky trip depends on four things: how far you are going, how many people are traveling, how much baggage is coming, and which airports you are using at both ends. A couple flying from Lexington to Palm Beach for the winter and a party of twelve coming into Louisville for the Derby need very different aircraft, and the difference shows up in the quote.
Below are the categories we work with. When we send options, your advisor will explain why each one fits.
Passenger charter
- Piston aircraft for short hops with one or two passengers
- Turboprops for trips around Kentucky and into the neighboring states
- Very Light Jets for small groups on shorter legs
- Light jets and super light jets for the Midwest, the Southeast and the East Coast
- Midsize and super midsize jets for Florida, the Northeast and the ski towns of the West
- Heavy jets for larger parties and the West Coast
- Long-range jets for nonstop flights to Europe
- VIP airliners for groups that outgrow a heavy jet
- Helicopters, where the route and conditions suit one
Open any category to see the individual aircraft, with seating, range and cabin details, or begin with the passenger charter overview.
Which category fits your trip
A lot of Kentucky trips are short. Nashville, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago and Atlanta are all well within reach of a turboprop or a light jet, and that is usually where we start. Florida and New York often call for a light or midsize jet, depending on the group, while the West Coast and Europe need more range and a larger cabin.
Race weekends bring groups, from Derby parties to owners and buyers coming in for the Keeneland sales, so tell us the passenger count and the baggage at the start. Both decide the aircraft as much as the distance does.
The airport matters too. Louisville Muhammad Ali International and Blue Grass Airport in Lexington take the widest range of aircraft. Bowman Field, closer to the middle of Louisville, asks heavier aircraft to get the airport’s permission before they come in. The runway an aircraft needs is calculated by the operator for that day’s conditions, and we confirm it with the operator for your trip.
Cargo and medical
- Air cargo charter when a shipment needs its own aircraft, whether it is one urgent crate or a full load
- Medical and air ambulance flights for patients who need medical support on board
How we choose an operator
Whichever category you end up in, the operator behind the aircraft goes through our internal due diligence before we present it. We confirm operator certification, review the operator’s safety and incident history, and confirm pilot experience and currency on the specific aircraft type. Where the operator participates in a Wyvern or ARGUS program, we reference those audits as well. Our safety page explains each step.
Get options for your trip
Call 1-888-987-5387 or request a quote online, and we will come back with aircraft that fit the trip. The phone is answered at any hour, on any day of the year.