Aircraft cost guide
AW109 GrandNew Cost Per Hour: Charter Rates, Specifications & Route Pricing
The Leonardo AW109 GrandNew is the light twin behind most Riviera, Italian and Aegean VIP transfers — retractable gear, 285 km/h cruise and the widest operator availability in Europe. This guide sets out what it costs to charter and to operate, by region and by route, from a desk that owns no aircraft.
AW109 GrandNew charter cost per hour
Worldwide, GrandNew charter pricing sits in a band of roughly USD 3,600 to 4,900 per flight hour for a VIP or corporate-configured aircraft. Italy is the cheapest market on earth for this type because the installed fleet is so large that positioning legs are short.
| Region | Hourly band | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Italy & Western Mediterranean | EUR 3,200 – 4,400 | Densest AW109 fleet in the world; best availability and sharpest pricing anywhere. |
| France, Switzerland & Monaco | EUR 3,500 – 4,900 | Riviera and Alpine peak weeks price at the top; Monaco handling adds per movement. |
| United Kingdom | GBP 3,300 – 4,600 | Strong Battersea and Farnborough presence; race and regatta weeks book out early. |
| United Arab Emirates & Gulf | USD 3,800 – 5,200 | Fewer AW109s than AW139s locally, so positioning weighs heavier on the total. |
| United States & Brazil | USD 3,600 – 5,000 | Common in EMS and corporate fleets; VIP-configured airframes are the scarce variant. |
Charter rate versus operating cost
The charter rate is what an operator bills you per flight hour. The operating cost is what an owner spends: roughly USD 1,400–2,000 per hour direct, rising to about USD 2,800–3,800 fully loaded at 300 annual hours once crew, hangarage, insurance and depreciation are counted. The difference is operator overhead, availability risk and margin — which is why chartering wins below roughly 150 hours a year.
AW109 GrandNew specifications at a glance
| Manufacturer / class | Leonardo — light twin-engine (AW109 GrandNew / AW109SP) |
| Passengers | 6 in standard fit; 4–5 in a wide VIP club layout |
| Cabin | ~3.0 m³, retractable gear giving a low-drag, quiet cruise |
| Cruise speed | 285 km/h (154 kt) — among the fastest light twins in service |
| Range | 800 km (432 nm) with standard tanks; ~2 h 40 m endurance with reserves |
| Engines | Twin Pratt & Whitney PW207C with FADEC |
| MTOW | 3,175 kg |
| Baggage | ~0.8 m³ rear compartment — modest; the type's main limitation |
| Avionics | Genesys/Rockwell glass cockpit, single-pilot IFR, SAR modes optional |
| Safety | Twin FADEC engines, full OEI performance, 30-minute run-dry gearbox |
Typical AW109 routes and what they price at
Figures are indicative all-in ranges for exclusive use, based on offers we see from vetted operators. Season, positioning and event demand move them materially — request a live quote for your exact date.
| Route | Flight time | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nice → Monaco (22 km) | 7 min | EUR 3,200 – 4,400 exclusive use | The type's signature sector; one-hour minimum applies. |
| Milan → Portofino (160 km) | ~38 min | EUR 4,200 – 6,000 | Lands minutes from the marina; luggage limited to soft bags. |
| Rome → Capri (240 km) | ~55 min | EUR 5,200 – 7,200 | Non-stop within range; summer slots at Capri are tightly controlled. |
| London → Ascot (45 km) | ~15 min | GBP 3,800 – 5,400 return | Race-week arrivals are slot-managed; ground waiting is billed. |
| Athens → Mykonos (150 km) | ~40 min | EUR 4,500 – 6,500 | Over-water twin-engine sector; peak August availability is thin. |
| Geneva → Megève (70 km) | ~22 min | EUR 3,600 – 5,000 | Altiport landing needs a mountain-qualified crew. |
Route detail for the two busiest sectors is in our French Riviera transfer guide and the Athens to Mykonos helicopter page.
What actually appears on an AW109 quote
| Hourly charter rate | Aircraft, crew, insurance and standard fuel burn. Single-pilot IFR keeps crew cost below a medium twin. |
| Positioning / ferry time | The biggest swing factor. An airframe based 30 minutes away adds a billed hour before boarding. |
| Minimum flight time | One-hour minimum per leg is the norm; a seven-minute Nice–Monaco hop still prices as a full hour. |
| Landing and handling | EUR 120–800 per movement; Monaco, Capri and event helipads sit at the top of the range. |
| Crew overnight / duty | EUR 350–800 per night on multi-day itineraries, plus duty-day extensions. |
| VIP configuration premium | A club-fit GrandNew prices roughly 10–15% above a standard corporate or EMS interior. |
| Baggage overflow | The 0.8 m³ hold is small. Oversized luggage means a seat sacrificed or a larger airframe. |
The most effective lever on a GrandNew quote is positioning. In Italy and on the Riviera there is almost always an airframe within 15 minutes of your departure point — insisting on a specific operator often costs more in ferry time than it saves on the hourly rate. Model the alternatives on our charter budget planner.
AW109 GrandNew versus the alternatives
| Aircraft | Pax | Range | Cruise | Hourly band | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leonardo AW109 GrandNew | 6 | 800 km | 285 km/h | USD 3,600 – 4,900/h | Fast European sectors, best availability in Italy and the Riviera |
| Bell 429 | 7 | 720 km | 287 km/h | USD 3,400 – 4,600/h | Flat-floor cabin, bulky luggage, stretcher-capable |
| Airbus H145 | 8 | 690 km | 250 km/h | USD 3,800 – 5,200/h | Largest light-twin cabin, slower cruise |
| Leonardo AW139 | 8 VIP | 1,060 km | 306 km/h | USD 6,500 – 9,500/h | Long sectors, stand-up cabin, 350 kg baggage |
The honest comparison is with the Bell 429: near-identical speed and price, different cabins. Europe favours the AW109 on availability; luggage and stretcher missions favour the 429. For eight passengers or sectors beyond 800 km, step up to the AW139.
When the AW109 GrandNew is the right choice
- Two to five passengers travelling light — the type's core mission.
- Mediterranean and Alpine sectors of 20–500 km — flown non-stop with short positioning.
- Speed-critical transfers — retractable gear makes it the fastest option at this price.
- Over-water island crossings — twin FADEC engines with full OEI performance.
- Peak-season Europe — the widest operator pool means availability when rivals are booked out.
How we price AW109 charters
SkyMatch operates no aircraft. We source competing offers from vetted AW109 operators in your region, normalise them to a single all-in landed cost — including positioning, minimums, handling and crew — and present them side by side. If a different airframe achieves your mission for less, we say so. More on the desk on our personal concierge page.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AW109 GrandNew cost per hour to charter?
An AW109 GrandNew charters for roughly USD 3,600 to 4,900 per flight hour, with Italy and the Western Mediterranean at the sharp end around EUR 3,200–4,400 and the Gulf nearer USD 3,800–5,200. The rate covers aircraft, crew, insurance and fuel; positioning, a one-hour minimum per leg, landing fees and crew overnights are billed separately.
What is the AW109 GrandNew operating cost per hour for an owner?
Direct operating cost is typically USD 1,400 to 2,000 per hour, covering fuel, maintenance reserves, engine and airframe programmes and consumables. Adding crew salaries, hangarage, insurance and depreciation brings the fully loaded figure to roughly USD 2,800 to 3,800 per hour at 300 annual hours. Below about 150 hours a year, chartering is the cheaper route.
How fast is the AW109 GrandNew?
Typical cruise is 285 km/h (154 kt), placing it among the fastest light twins in charter service and within a few knots of the Bell 429. Retractable landing gear is the reason — it removes drag no fixed-gear rival can match at this weight, which matters most on sectors of 150 km and above.
How many passengers fit in an AW109 GrandNew?
Six in a standard configuration, or four to five in a wide VIP club layout. The cabin is narrower than a Bell 429 or H145 and the 0.8 m³ baggage hold is modest, so parties travelling with hard cases or ski equipment usually need a larger airframe or a second aircraft.
AW109 GrandNew or Bell 429 — which should I charter?
They price within a few hundred dollars of each other and cruise at almost identical speeds. Choose the AW109 in Italy, the Riviera and much of Europe where availability is far better and positioning shorter. Choose the Bell 429 when you need the flat-floor cabin, clamshell doors, bulky luggage capacity or a stretcher fit.
What is the AW109 GrandNew range?
About 800 km (432 nm) with standard tanks and roughly two hours forty minutes of endurance including reserves. That covers Rome–Capri, Milan–Nice, Athens–Mykonos and most Mediterranean island crossings non-stop, though full payload and headwinds reduce it in practice.
Is the AW109 approved for night and over-water flights?
Yes. It is single-pilot IFR certified with twin FADEC engines and full one-engine-inoperative performance, so night and over-water sectors such as Athens–Mykonos or Naples–Capri are routine, subject to operator approvals, flotation equipment and crew currency.
Related reading
- Bell 429 cost guide — the GrandNew's closest rival.
- AW139 charter cost guide — when a medium twin is worth the premium.
- Helicopter charter pricing guide — how minimums and repositioning are billed.
- Single vs twin-engine helicopters — choosing the right airframe class.