5 Reasons Why Private Jets Almost Always Cruise Above Airline Traffic

Private jets often cruise above the traffic used by commercial airlines, but the reason is not simply that business aviation has access to a higher layer of sky. The aircraft themselves are optimized for a different mission. A Gulfstream G650, for example, can climb to an initial cruise altitude of 41,000 feet (12,497 meters) and reach a maximum operating altitude of 51,000 feet (15,544 meters), while a Bombardier Global 7500 has the same 51,000-foot ceiling. At those altitudes, business jets can encounter thinner air, lower traffic density, and fewer weather systems, provided their weight, route, and air-traffic-control clearance allow it.