Aircraft
Gulfstream G550: Specs, Range, and Pre-Owned Prices
Gulfstream G550 specs, range, cabin, and pre-owned pricing
The Gulfstream G550 stopped being built in 2021, and it is still one of the most chartered heavy jets in the world. Gulfstream delivered its last commercial G550 on June 30, 2021, after roughly 18 years and more than 600 aircraft. A fleet that large does not disappear — it becomes the value tier of the ultra-long-range market, which is exactly what the G550 is now.
What the Gulfstream G550 is
The G550 is a twin-engine ultra-long-range jet, powered by two Rolls-Royce BR710 C4-11 engines rated at 15,385 pounds of thrust each. It entered service in 2003 as the long-range development of the GV, and it was Gulfstream’s flagship until the G650 arrived in 2012.
Commercial production ended in 2021, but the airframe did not stop being built entirely: special-mission versions have continued to reach military and government customers, which keeps the parts and support ecosystem healthier than a discontinued type normally enjoys.
Gulfstream G550 range and speed
The G550 flies 6,750 nautical miles with NBAA IFR reserves, at a maximum operating speed of Mach 0.885 and a maximum altitude of 51,000 feet. Maximum cruise speed is about 488 knots.
That range covers New York to Dubai, Los Angeles to London, and Hong Kong to San Francisco nonstop. It falls short of the G650ER’s 7,500 nm on the very longest pairings — New York to Singapore is out of reach — but the number of trips that actually need more than 6,750 nm is small.
The cruise-speed gap between the G550 and the newer Gulfstreams is real but modest. Mach 0.885 against the G650’s Mach 0.925 is about 23 knots at cruise altitude. That is roughly 30 minutes across a 4,000 nm ocean crossing.
Cabin dimensions and layout
The G550 cabin is 6 feet 2 inches high, 7 feet 4 inches wide, and 43 feet 11 inches long, with a total interior length of about 50 feet 1 inch. It seats up to 19 passengers in three or four living areas, and typically sleeps eight.
Cabin width is where passengers notice the generation gap. The G550 is 10 inches narrower than a G650 or G700, both of which measure 8 feet 2 inches. Height differs by only an inch, so the aircraft still feels stand-up. Width is what determines whether a four-seat club section feels roomy or tight, and it is the single specification most buyers fail to check before their first flight.
A full galley and a crew rest area are standard on most builds, and the baggage compartment is accessible in flight. On a 12-hour leg, in-flight baggage access and a proper crew rest are worth more than any interior finish.
What a Gulfstream G550 costs to buy
There is no new price — every G550 transaction is a pre-owned one. Values published by Aircraft Bluebook for spring 2025 spanned roughly $11.5 million for an early 2003 aircraft to about $34 million for a 2020 build, and current broker listings run across that same band.
Age alone does not set the price. Three other factors move a G550 valuation by millions:
- Engine program status. An aircraft enrolled on a Rolls-Royce hourly maintenance program transfers with its coverage. One that is not carries a future overhaul liability the buyer absorbs.
- Avionics. ADS-B, FANS, and cockpit display upgrades are expensive retrofits. An unupgraded airframe is restricted from some airspace and routes.
- Interior and paint cycle. A large-cabin refurbishment runs into seven figures and takes months of downtime.
Budget a pre-buy inspection with a shop that knows the type before you agree a price. It is the cheapest money you will spend on the aircraft.
Cost per nautical mile: why the G550 still wins
Hourly rates hide the comparison that matters, which is what it costs to move you a mile. Divide a representative charter rate by realistic block speed and the picture changes:
| Aircraft | Rate/hour | Block speed | Cost per nm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulfstream G550 | ~$9,000 | ~470 kt | ~$19 |
| Gulfstream G650ER | ~$12,500 | ~500 kt | ~$25 |
| Gulfstream G700 | ~$14,500 | ~500 kt | ~$29 |
Now price the time you are buying. A 4,000 nm crossing takes about 8 hours 31 minutes in a G550 and about 8 hours flat in a G650ER. The G550 leg costs roughly $76,500 and the G650ER leg roughly $100,000. You are paying about $23,500 to save 31 minutes — an effective $45,000 per hour of time saved.
For a scheduling-constrained executive on a 200-hour year, that can be worth it. For most trips it is not, and this arithmetic is the whole reason a 20-year-old airframe still fills charter calendars. Our private jet charter cost guide breaks down the rest of the line items that sit on top of the hourly rate.
G550 vs G650ER
| G550 | G650ER | |
|---|---|---|
| Range | 6,750 nm | 7,500 nm (Mach 0.85) |
| Max speed | Mach 0.885 | Mach 0.925 |
| Cabin width | 7 ft 4 in | 8 ft 2 in |
| Cabin height | 6 ft 2 in | 6 ft 3 in |
| Typical pre-owned price | ~$11.5M–34M | ~$35M–55M |
| Verdict | Best cost per mile in the class | Buy for cabin width and the longest legs |
Choose the G550 when your longest routine leg is under about 6,500 nm and cabin width is not the deciding factor. Choose the G650ER when you regularly fly beyond that, or when eight or more passengers will spend 12 hours in the cabin together.
When the G550 is the wrong aircraft
The G550 is the wrong aircraft for the very longest city pairs. New York to Singapore, Los Angeles to Johannesburg, and similar 8,000 nm-class pairings need a G650ER, a G700, or a G800. Planning them in a G550 means a fuel stop, and a fuel stop erases the schedule advantage that justified the charter.
It is also the wrong aircraft for short domestic hops. A heavy jet on a 90-minute leg is paying for range it will never use — a Challenger 350 or a light jet does that trip for a third of the hourly rate. And on the buying side, a cheap G550 with an unenrolled engine program is not cheap; the deferred maintenance is simply priced into your future rather than the purchase.
How to fly a G550 without buying one
The G550 sits in the heavy-jet or ultra-long-range tier of most programs. Fractional and card programs from NetJets and Flexjet include aircraft in this class, and on-demand charter through a broker will source one for a specific trip, often at a lower rate than a newer type because supply is deep.
If you fly 25 to 100 hours a year, compare our jet card programs guide against on-demand quotes. Above that, look at fractional ownership before you consider buying a whole aircraft.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Gulfstream G550 still in production?
No. Gulfstream delivered the final commercial G550 on June 30, 2021, ending a production run of about 18 years and more than 600 aircraft. Special-mission variants have continued to be built for military and government customers, and the commercial fleet remains widely available for charter and resale.
What is the range of a Gulfstream G550?
6,750 nautical miles with NBAA IFR reserves. That covers New York to Dubai, Los Angeles to London, and Hong Kong to San Francisco nonstop, but it is not enough for the very longest pairings such as New York to Singapore, which need a G650ER or newer.
How much does a used Gulfstream G550 cost?
Roughly $11.5 million for an early 2003 aircraft to about $34 million for a 2020 build, based on Aircraft Bluebook values published for spring 2025. Engine-program enrollment, avionics upgrades, and interior condition move individual aircraft by millions within that band.
How does the G550 compare to the G650?
The G650 is faster (Mach 0.925 versus 0.885), longer-legged (7,500 nm versus 6,750 nm in ER form), and 10 inches wider in the cabin. The G550 charters for roughly 25 to 30 percent less per hour and costs about $19 per nautical mile against the G650ER's $25, which is why it remains a common choice when the mission does not need the extra range.
The short verdict
The Gulfstream G550 is the best cost-per-mile aircraft in the ultra-long-range class, and being out of production is the reason rather than a drawback. A deep pre-owned market, an established support network, and charter rates well below newer Gulfstreams make it the sensible default unless your route map genuinely requires more than 6,750 nautical miles. Price the specific trip both ways before you assume the newer aircraft is worth the difference.
We update this guide as aircraft, program, and route pricing changes. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it.