In this guide
What are the useful differences?
The useful comparison starts with configuration and cabin shape, then tests the trip on the aircraft being offered. These references describe related aircraft families; they are not a substitute for the exact model and interior.
| Decision point | PC-12 reference | King Air 350 reference |
|---|---|---|
| Propulsion | Single-engine turboprop | Twin-engine turboprop |
| Typical seating in ACS guide | Six or eight passengers | Eight in a double-club layout |
| Cabin length × width × height in PBJ reference | 16.93 × 4.99 × 4.8 ft | 19.6 × 4.49 × 4.8 ft |
| PBJ hourly reference checked October 8, 2026 | $2,600 USD | $2,600 USD |
Sources: ACS’s Air Charter Service ↗ and Air Charter Service ↗ layout guides; PBJ’s Paramount Business Jets ↗ and Paramount Business Jets ↗ dimensional and price references. The figures do not establish identical equipment, equal availability or a complete trip price.
When should you shortlist each aircraft?
Shortlist the PC-12 when its offered layout and loading arrangement suit the group; shortlist the King Air 350 when its offered double-club cabin or twin-engine configuration fits your brief. These are reasons to request proposals, not blanket recommendations.
| Your priority | What to compare |
|---|---|
| A group that wants face-to-face seating | Both actual seat maps, with tables shown. |
| Bulky or awkward baggage | Door clearance, compartment dimensions and approved loading plan. |
| Cabin space | Usable width and length around the installed furnishings. |
| Lowest total expense | Full itinerary totals for the same airports, timing and load. |
| A jet is essential | A suitable jet alternative; neither aircraft here is a jet. |
If passengers have a firm preference about the aircraft type, say so before sourcing. Engine count alone is not a safety score; evaluate the operating carrier, approved flight and actual aircraft through the provider’s due-diligence process.
Why can equal hourly references produce different totals?
The assigned aircraft’s location, billing minimums and itinerary arrangement can outweigh the published hourly comparison. Ask for the same outbound and return brief and request the positioning and waiting assumptions behind each total.
A turboprop already near your departure airport may produce a different proposal from one that must reposition. That is a comparison to ask for, not a promise that one family is always cheaper. Use the charter-fees guide to normalize inclusions before choosing.
How should you compare range and flying time?
Ask both operators for the expected block time and fuel-stop plan with your actual group. Do not choose by placing unmatched brochure range numbers side by side.
Published maximum range can use different payload, reserve and operating assumptions. Your return may also need a different plan. If nonstop travel is essential, state that requirement and ask the provider to explain whether the offered aircraft meets it for the itinerary.
What would make one proposal the better fit?
The better proposal is the one that meets the agreed cabin, luggage and arrival requirements at an acceptable complete price, with clear change and substitution terms. Read the PC-12 guide and King Air 350 guide before making that comparison.
Ask for current interior photographs, an approved passenger count and the exact model. Confirm lavatory privacy, connectivity and any cabin attendant separately. A family label does not prove those service details.
Request the complete itinerary price for the actual aircraft, including positioning, minimum billable time, handling, parking, crew arrangements and any applicable taxes. Ask which items remain variable, when cancellation charges begin, and what substitution the agreement permits.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PC-12 cheaper to charter than a King Air 350?
Not necessarily. The cited PBJ hourly references are approximately $2,600 for each, checked October 8, 2026. Actual totals depend on the assigned aircraft and itinerary.
Which has the wider reference cabin?
PBJ lists 4.99 ft for its PC-12 reference and 4.49 ft for its King Air 350 reference. Compare actual interiors because the installed layout determines usable space.
Are either of these aircraft private jets?
No. Both are turboprops, with one engine on the PC-12 and two on the King Air 350.
Which is best for eight passengers?
Request both aircraft-specific seating and baggage plans. Eight advertised seats alone cannot settle comfort, loading or flight suitability.
Sources & research
Research checked October 8, 2026. Aircraft and airport facts are attributed to their published references. Provider prices are dated estimates, not live quotes or independent market averages. Our comparisons and worked examples are editorial analysis; fictional inputs are labeled. The operating carrier must assess the actual itinerary, aircraft, passengers and baggage.
- Paramount Business Jets — Pilatus PC-12 published aircraft reference ↗
- Paramount Business Jets — King Air 350 published aircraft reference ↗
- Air Charter Service — Pilatus PC-12 aircraft guide ↗
- Air Charter Service — King Air 350/350i aircraft guide ↗