For a short hop out of Washington DC with one or two passengers and soft bags, a piston aircraft is the plainest and least costly way to fly privately.
Cessna introduced the 340 in 1972. It seats 5 with a published range of 1,406 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 243 knots. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 29,800 feet, 32 cubic feet of baggage volume and a lavatory.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Piston
- Manufacturer: Cessna (Textron Aviation)
- Year introduced: 1972
- Seating: 5
- Crew: 1
- Range: 1,406 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 243 knots
- Service ceiling: 29,800 feet
- Length: 34.3 feet
- Wingspan: 38.1 feet
- Height: 12.6 feet
- Baggage volume: 32 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Belted
Why the Cessna 340 Fits Washington DC
With 1,406 nautical miles of published range, it can fly between Washington Dulles and destinations such as Toronto, Bermuda and Providenciales, allowing for reserves and routing. An international trip home can clear US Customs at Dulles, BWI Marshall, Washington Manassas or Leesburg Executive, so your advisor can plan the arrival at the one closest to you.
Smaller aircraft fly from Dulles and also from airports such as Washington Manassas, Leesburg Executive and Montgomery County Airpark, and the operator confirms which one suits the aircraft on your quote. The runway an aircraft needs is calculated by the operator for that day’s conditions, and we confirm it with the operator ahead of the trip.
How Washington DC Clients Use the Cessna 340
Piston aircraft are the most basic form of private flying, with limited cabin and baggage space. Once the trip gets longer or the group grows, your advisor will suggest a turboprop or a jet instead.
Give us the destination, the passenger count and a rough idea of the luggage, and your advisor will tell you whether this aircraft suits the trip or point you to one that does it better.
Gallery
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
- Estimated hourly rate: $1,000 to $1,500 (as of 10/2026)
Other Pistons Available
- Cirrus SR22
- Piper Aerostar 600
- Piper Cherokee Six PA-32
- Piper Navajo PA-31 (Cheyenne / Chieftain)
- Piper PA-23 Aztec
- Piper Saratoga PA-32R
Contact
For a quote on a Cessna 340 charter to or from Washington DC, call an advisor at 1-888-987-5387, or send the trip through our contact page. You can read how we review operators and crews on our safety page, and compare other categories in the aircraft gallery.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs. All images copyrighted and provided courtesy of Cessna unless noted otherwise.