Private jet to Vienna

Vienna is one of the four main UN office sites, alongside New York, Geneva and Nairobi, and it also hosts OPEC, the OSCE and the regional head offices of many banks and industrial groups active in Central and Eastern Europe. Private flyers come for meetings with these organisations, for medical and scientific congresses at the Austria Center, and for the ball season in January and February, when the Opera Ball fills the State Opera. From Budapest or Prague a light jet is on the ground in under an hour and from Munich in about an hour; from Zurich, Milan or Frankfurt it takes about 1:20 h.

All business traffic uses Vienna International Airport at Schwechat, about 18 km south-east of the centre. Private passengers never enter the airline terminals: they are handled at the General Aviation Center on the western side of the airport, which has its own security check, lounges and border control for flights from outside Schengen. Every flight needs a slot, and between 23:30 and 05:30 the number of movements is capped by an annual quota. As a broker, we collect offers from operators across Europe and send the aircraft, the slot and the price for the whole aircraft in one quote.

Enter the route, the date and the number of passengers, and a consultant will reply with aircraft options, slot times and the price.

Reasons to fly privately to the Austrian capital

Flight times to Schwechat

Times for a Citation CJ3 from the price tables below, including taxi, climb and descent:

• Budapest: 0:48 h, 215 km
• Prague: 0:53 h, 278 km
• Munich: 1:00 h, 355 km
• Berlin: 1:13 h, 521 km
• Zurich: 1:20 h, Milan Linate: 1:22 h, Frankfurt: 1:22 h
• Hamburg: 1:34 h, Geneva: 1:38 h, Nice: 1:43 h
• Amsterdam: 1:50 h, Paris Le Bourget: 1:57 h, London Farnborough: 2:18 h
• Madrid: 3:00 h, Larnaca: 3:20 h

The Austrian capital lies at the eastern end of the Alps, so flights from the west cross Bavaria or Switzerland and those from the north pass over the Czech Republic. Every European hub up to Madrid and Larnaca is reached non-stop in a light jet. Long-haul sectors are also flown without a stop: Dubai takes 5:29 h in a Falcon 900EX and New York 8:31 h in the same aircraft.

Private jet prices to Vienna

Each price is for the whole aircraft, one way, plus handling, airport charges and passenger taxes, and assumes an aircraft available near the departure airport. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in each row.

From the main business aviation hubs

Munich, Prague and Budapest are all within 360 km, so a CJ3 costs EUR 8,000-8,500 from each of them. From London the same aircraft costs EUR 12,500 for a flight of 2:18 h, and the step up to a Challenger 350 adds EUR 7,500 on that route.

From Eastern Europe, the Balkans and the south

Here the light jet column uses the Phenom 300, which carries more luggage than the CJ3. The Legacy 500 and the Gulfstream G280 both have a cabin in which most adults can stand.

Long-haul flights

Both runways at Schwechat are longer than 3,400 m and take any long-range jet or VIP airliner. All three types in the table fly these routes without a fuel stop.

Domestic flights within Austria

From the Alpine and southern airports the hop to the capital takes about an hour. A turboprop is the cheapest option on these short sectors:

The price follows the flight time, plus a fixed share for bringing the aircraft and crew to the departure airport. Passenger taxes depend on the route: about EUR 420 per passenger on a jet leaving France, and EUR 100 per passenger up to 1,500 km on flights departing from or arriving in Italy. Germany and the UK charge departure taxes too; UK Air Passenger Duty depends on the aircraft weight and seats. Domestic flights within Austria carry the Austrian passenger tax and Austrian VAT. On the way back, Austria charges EUR 12 per passenger, or EUR 30 on sectors under 350 km. All amounts are listed in the quote.

Business jet price per flight hour

Heavy Jets from EUR 8,300 / hour

Light Jets from EUR 3,200 / hour

Ultra Long Range Jets from EUR 12,000 / hour

Super Midsize Jets from EUR 6,300 / hour

Very Light Jets from EUR 2,500 / hour

Long Range Jets from EUR 9,800 / hour

Midsize Jets from EUR 4,500 / hour

Turboprops from EUR 2,000 / hour

What a trip really costs

Price per person

Because the whole aircraft is chartered, the cost per seat falls quickly as the group grows. Passenger taxes are charged per head on top:

Online calculator

To get a quick figure for your own route, date and group, use the calculator: the estimate arrives by e-mail.

Schwechat airport and the alternatives

Vienna International Airport (VIE, LOWW), in German Flughafen Wien-Schwechat, lies on flat ground south-east of the city at about 180 m above sea level. Its two runways measure 3,500 m (11/29) and 3,600 m (16/34), so length never limits a business jet. The airport is the hub of Austrian Airlines and is busy throughout the day, which is why every flight, private ones included, needs a slot. In the busiest weeks the slot can move by a few minutes from the requested time.

Business jets park on the general aviation apron on the western side and are handled at the General Aviation Center, a separate building with its own entrance, security check and lounges. Several handling companies work there, among them the airport's own FBO and Jet Aviation. Border police and customs check passengers arriving from outside Schengen, and the car pulls up at the door. Hangar space for stays of several days is requested together with the slot.

The airport is open 24 hours. Between 23:30 and 05:30 the number of flights is limited by an annual cap, so a departure in those hours is confirmed in advance. In winter, de-icing is billed separately and can add time before take-off.

Other airports within reach

Almost every private flight to the city lands at Schwechat. The others are used for small aircraft, for trips to the south of Lower Austria, or as alternates when weather or capacity require it. Distances are straight-line from Schwechat:

Which aircraft fits the route

On sectors of an hour most groups of up to five fit in light jets, with one suitcase each. For a ball weekend the hanging space for gowns and tailcoats matters more than speed, so ask for an aircraft with a wardrobe: most super midsize and heavy jets have one. A delegation of 10-14 with documents and protocol staff usually needs a heavy jet, or two smaller aircraft flying in sequence.

Need help with the aircraft, a ball date or a night slot? Leave your number and a consultant will call you back.

When to fly: balls, congresses and markets

The city has business traffic all year, but the calendar below creates clear peaks for aircraft, slots and hotels:

For the New Year's Concert and the Opera Ball, secure the aircraft and the slot several months ahead; for congresses and Christmas-market weekends a few weeks are usually enough. July and August are the quietest months for business aviation here.

From the airport into the city

Empty Legs from and to Schwechat

An Empty Leg is a sector the operator has to fly without passengers, for example after dropping a delegation or before collecting clients elsewhere. The city lies on the routes between western Europe, the Balkans and the Gulf, so empty sectors appear often. Typical directions:

The operator sets the date and time of an Empty Leg, so these offers suit flexible plans rather than a fixed meeting. Send the direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we forward matching flights as they appear.

Flying with a dog or cat

On a private jet the animal flies in the cabin with you, not in the hold, and the operator must approve it in advance. Austria applies the common EU rules:

• Microchip to ISO standard, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel when it is the first one; the animal must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination.
• EU pet passport. Pets from Great Britain travel with an animal health certificate from a government-authorised vet.
• Up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial trip.
• No tapeworm treatment is required to enter Austria.

In the city, dogs on buses, trams and the underground must wear a lead and a muzzle. Some operators ask for a carrier or charge for cabin cleaning, so a large dog or several animals are confirmed before booking.

Documents, customs and taxes

Checklist before departure

• Valid passport or ID card for every passenger, children included.
• Passenger list with names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent the day before.
• Requested landing and return times, so we can book both slots, and whether the return falls after 23:30.
• Number of suitcases, garment bags for a ball and any congress equipment.
• Address of the hotel, the venue or the meeting at UN City for the car.
• Pet passport or health certificate, microchip and rabies record.
• Company name and VAT number for the invoice.

How to book a private jet to Vienna

1. Send the departure airport, the date, the preferred landing time, the number of passengers and their luggage, and the address in the city.
2. We check the slot at Schwechat, the night quota for a late return and, for longer stays, parking or a hangar.
3. You receive 2-4 aircraft options with operator, model, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, with waiting time included on a same-day return.
4. You sign the contract and pay; we confirm the slots, the handling company, the car and the catering.
5. On the day, arrive 20-30 minutes before take-off. At the General Aviation Center the car drives you straight from the door into the city.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Questions about private flights to Vienna

• • How much does a private jet to Vienna cost?

  • A turboprop from Graz costs from EUR 6,500 one way, and a light jet from Prague or Budapest from EUR 8,000, for the whole aircraft. From London a Citation CJ3 costs EUR 12,500; handling and passenger taxes are added in the quote.

• • Where do private jets park at Schwechat?

  • On the general aviation apron on the western side of the airport. Passengers use the General Aviation Center, a separate building with its own security check and lounges.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • From Farnborough it takes 2:18 h in a Citation CJ3 over a distance of about 1,300 km. A Challenger 350 needs 2:07 h, so a larger jet saves little time on this route.

• • Can I take off from Schwechat late at night?

  • The airport is open 24 hours, but flights between 23:30 and 05:30 are limited by an annual cap. We confirm a night departure when the slot is booked.

• • Do I need a passport?

  • On flights from Schengen countries there is no passport check, but the operator needs a valid passport or ID card for every passenger. Arrivals from the UK and other non-Schengen countries are checked at the General Aviation Center.

• • When should I book for the Opera Ball or the New Year's Concert?

  • Several months ahead, because aircraft, slots and hotels fill up early on those dates. For congresses and Christmas-market weekends a few weeks are usually enough.

• • Can my dog fly with me?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an EU pet passport. Austria requires no tapeworm treatment, and the operator approves the animal in advance.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Vienna?

  • Yes, mainly to and from London, Switzerland, Germany, the Adriatic coast and the Gulf. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and your dates.

• • Can the aircraft wait for a same-day return?

  • Yes. Crew waiting time and parking are included in the quote, and the return slot is booked together with the arrival.

• • Is Bratislava a good alternative?

  • Its airport is about 50 km from Schwechat and takes every business jet. It is used when Schwechat has no slot or when an aircraft parks for several days, but the drive into the city is longer.

• • How much luggage fits in a light jet?

  • Roughly one medium suitcase per passenger plus hand luggage. For ball wear on hangers or congress equipment, a super midsize or heavy jet with a wardrobe is the better choice.