Falcon 8X Charter from Miami
A Falcon 8X charter from Miami is the long range option for buyers who care about where the aircraft can land as much as how far it can fly. 6,450 nm of range, a 42.7 ft cabin, three engines instead of two, and a typical market range of $13,500–$17,500 per flight hour — the lowest of the three long range jets on this site.
The compromise is baggage and width. 140 cu ft of hold is 55 cu ft less than a Global 6000, and the cabin is 6 inches narrower. For eight people with normal luggage that is invisible. For fourteen people with ski gear it is the whole conversation.
The case for a Falcon 8X charter from Miami
Dassault's argument for the 8X is that three smaller engines burn less fuel than two large ones on the same mission while giving the airframe short-field manners no other 6,450 nm jet has. In charter terms that shows up two ways: a lower hourly rate than the G650ER for similar reach, and access to fields that a heavier long range jet cannot use at weight.
From South Florida the practical effect is flexibility on the far end. European Alpine fields, constrained island runways and city airports with a steep approach are all in play, while the aircraft still crosses the Atlantic non-stop with the seats full. Dassault's digital flight control system, carried over from the company's fighter work, is the other thing pilots talk about — precise handling in the kind of approach where precision is the point.
Where it loses is volume. If the trip is fourteen people moving equipment, the Global 6000 or a VIP airliner is the honest recommendation and no amount of range makes up for a hold that is 55 cu ft smaller.
Dassault Falcon 8X specifications
6,450 nm at 488 knots and Mach 0.85, with a certified ceiling of 51,000 ft. The passenger note in the data is the interesting part: 12–16 with more than 30 cabin layouts offered from new, which is why two 8X charter quotes for the same trip can describe genuinely different aircraft inside.
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Dassault Aviation |
| Charter class | Long Range Jet Charter |
| Passengers | 14 — 12–16 with more than 30 cabin layouts offered from new |
| Range, 4 passengers, IFR reserves | 6,450 nm |
| High-speed cruise | 488 kts (Mach 0.85) |
| Certified ceiling | 51,000 ft |
| Cabin height | 74 in — stand-up cabin |
| Cabin width | 92 in |
| Cabin length | 42.7 ft |
| Baggage volume | 140 cu ft |
| Lavatory | Enclosed, externally serviced |
| Connectivity | Ka-band, FalconConnect packages |
| First delivery, this variant | 2016 |
| Typical market hourly rate | $13,500–$17,500 per flight hour |
Three engines, thirty cabin layouts
Why the layouts vary so much
Dassault offered more than 30 cabin layouts from new and buyers used them. Some 8X airframes run three lounge zones and a large galley; others trade the mid-cabin for a bigger aft suite; shower-equipped configurations exist on the type though few charter tails in this market carry one. Ask the desk for a floor plan of the actual aircraft rather than a stock image of the model.
Sleeping on a night crossing
The aft zone on most charter 8X airframes makes into a berth for two, with a further two lying flat on facing seats forward. Four sleeping properly out of 14 seats is the planning number. On a Miami to Geneva overnight that is enough for the people who have to work on arrival, which is usually the only sleeping question that matters.
Crew and the relief pilot
Two pilots and two cabin crew is standard internationally. Past roughly ten hours of flight time a relief pilot joins so the flight deck stays inside FAA Part 135 flight-time and duty limits, resting in the cabin or a dedicated crew area depending on the airframe. From Miami that applies to Gulf and East Asia routings; European sectors sit comfortably inside an unaugmented duty day.
Hourly rate and the trijet fuel argument
The typical market range is $13,500–$17,500 per flight hour for South Florida lift, about $3,000 below a G650ER and roughly $1,000 below a Global 6000 at the bottom of each band. Part of that is fuel burn and part is simply that the market pays a premium for the Gulfstream badge on resale and on charter.
On a long international itinerary the fuel difference is visible because fuel is quoted as its own line at every foreign stop. On a four-hour domestic leg it is noise next to positioning, handling and the daily minimum. The charter cost guide walks through which lines move with the aircraft and which do not, and the hourly rates page sets the class bands side by side.
| Leg from Miami | Approx. flight hours | Typical market range |
|---|---|---|
| Bogota, one way | 3.2 | $43,000–$56,000 |
| London, one way eastbound | 8.1 | $109,500–$142,000 |
| Buenos Aires, one way | 8.0 | $108,000–$140,000 |
| Tokyo, one way | 13.0 | $175,500–$227,500 |
Miami missions: Europe easy, the Gulf at the limit
Transatlantic work is straightforward. London at roughly 3,850 nm, Geneva at roughly 4,140 nm, Milan at roughly 4,150 nm and Lisbon at roughly 3,400 nm are all well inside 6,450 nm in both directions from Miami with a full cabin. South America is the same: Sao Paulo at about 3,470 nm and Buenos Aires at about 3,780 nm are routine, and the whole of the Caribbean and Central America is a half-tank exercise.
Dubai at roughly 6,400 nm is the interesting case. It sits just inside the book figure, which means it is flown non-stop in good conditions with a moderate load and planned with a stop when winds, payload or temperature go the wrong way. Treat it as a leg that needs a specific flight plan rather than a guaranteed non-stop. Tokyo at roughly 6,150 nm is more comfortable but still a sector to plan carefully.
Johannesburg at roughly 6,965 nm is beyond the 8X from Miami and takes a stop. So does Hong Kong. Those are the pairings where the G650ER earns its premium, and if they recur on your calendar the extra hourly cost is cheaper than the extra day.
| Destination | Approx. great-circle distance | Non-stop from Miami? |
|---|---|---|
| Sao Paulo | 3,470 nm | Yes |
| London | 3,850 nm | Yes, both directions |
| Geneva | 4,140 nm | Yes |
| Tokyo | 6,150 nm | Yes, with a specific flight plan |
| Dubai | 6,400 nm | At the limit — non-stop in good conditions, otherwise a stop |
| Johannesburg | 6,965 nm | No — one technical stop |
Falcon 8X compared with the Global 6000 and the G650ER
Against the Global 6000, the 8X flies 450 nm further and quotes roughly $1,000 an hour less, while giving up 6 inches of cabin width and 55 cu ft of baggage. Passenger count and luggage volume decide this comparison far more often than the range figure does.
Against the G650ER, the gap is 1,050 nm of range, 28 knots of cruise and about $3,000 an hour. The Gulfstream is the faster, longer-legged airplane with the lower cabin altitude. The Falcon does most of the same work for less and lands at more places. Neither answer is wrong; the itinerary decides.
If the trip is a group movement rather than an executive one, price a VIP airliner alongside — for twenty or more passengers the cost per seat changes the picture entirely. When you have dates, send them to the quote desk and ask for the 8X, the Global and the G650ER on one comparison sheet.
| Figure | Dassault Falcon 8X | Bombardier Global 6000 | Gulfstream G650ER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range | 6,450 nm | 6,000 nm | 7,500 nm |
| Cruise | 488 kts | 488 kts | 516 kts |
| Cabin width | 92 in | 98 in | 98 in |
| Cabin length | 42.7 ft | 43.3 ft | 46.8 ft |
| Baggage | 140 cu ft | 195 cu ft | 195 cu ft |
| Hourly range | $13,500–$17,500 | $14,500–$18,500 | $16,500–$22,000 |
Frequently asked questions
Why does the Falcon 8X have three engines?
Dassault's design logic is that three smaller engines give lower fuel burn on the same mission than two large ones, plus better field performance and a longer-established overwater operating case. For a charter buyer the practical results are a lower hourly rate than comparable twins and the ability to use shorter runways at weight. The third engine also adds a maintenance line, which operators price into the rate.
Can a Falcon 8X fly Miami to Dubai non-stop?
Sometimes. Dubai is roughly 6,400 nm from Miami against a published range of 6,450 nm with four passengers and IFR reserves, so the leg sits right at the book figure. In good conditions with a moderate load it goes non-stop; with a full cabin, heavy bags or unfavourable winds the operator plans a technical stop. Ask what the specific flight plan for your date assumes.
What is steep approach approval and does it matter from Miami?
It is a certification allowing an aircraft to fly approaches at a steeper angle than standard, which some constrained city and Alpine airports require. It matters at the far end of a trip rather than at departure — no South Florida field needs it. Dassault offers the approval on the 8X, but it is fitted per airframe, so confirm it on the specific tail before planning around a restricted destination.
How much luggage does the Falcon 8X take?
The hold is 140 cu ft, which is 55 cu ft less than a Global 6000 or a G650ER. For eight to ten passengers with suitcases and carry-ons that is ample. For fourteen passengers with ski bags, golf clubs or production equipment it becomes the limiting factor, and the honest recommendation is to price a wider-bodied type instead of arguing with the hold.
What international paperwork does a Falcon 8X trip need?
The operator files eAPIS manifests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection outbound and inbound, arranges an overflight permit for each foreign airspace on the routing and a landing permit at the destination, and appoints a handling agent for customs, fuel and ground transport. European trips are typically filed 48 to 72 hours ahead; parts of Africa and Asia need a week or more.
Where does an international Falcon 8X flight clear customs in South Florida?
At a port of entry with Customs and Border Protection on the field. Opa-locka Executive is the standard general-aviation clearance point for Miami-Dade, while Miami International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood run full-time CBP with deeper international handling at higher ramp cost. Palm Beach International covers the northern end of the market. The operator books the arrival with CBP in advance.
Related pages
- Long Range Jet CharterThe class page, with rates and the range comparison across all three types.
- Global 6000 charterWider cabin and a bigger hold, 450 nm less range.
- Gulfstream G650ER charterThe step up for Johannesburg, Hong Kong and speed.
- Request a charter quoteSend dates and passenger numbers for a priced comparison.
Further reading from the blog
Sources and further reading
- Dassault Falcon 8X — Dassault's own product page for the 8X, the source for its published range and cabin layout options.
- FAA regulations and policies — Primary text for the Part 135 flight-time and duty rules that decide when a relief pilot is required.
- CBP eAPIS for private flyers — Official guidance on the manifests filed before every international departure and arrival.
Get a quote for your flight
Send us the route, the date and the number of passengers. You will get real options with all-in pricing, the operator's certificate and safety rating, and the aircraft's actual tail number — not a stock photo and a starting-from price.