Private jet to Albania

Albania has a long coast on the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, two hill towns on the UNESCO list, Berat and Gjirokastër, and a capital that does business all year. For private aviation the country comes down to one airport: Tirana, at Rinas north-west of the city, open around the clock with a terminal for private flights. From Vienna a light jet lands there in 1:35 h, from London in 3:09 h.

The difficulty is not the flight but the road after it. The beaches of the south, from Vlorë to Saranda and Ksamil, are two to four hours by car from the runway, so a helicopter or a landing on Corfu across the strait often saves half a day. Albania is outside the EU and Schengen: the operator needs a permit at least two working days ahead, and there is passport and customs control both ways. As a broker, we find the aircraft with operators across Europe and plan the permit, the handler and the transfer to the coast together.

Send the route, the dates, the number of passengers and your address in the country, and we reply with aircraft, prices and the fastest way to the coast.

Why Albania by private jet

Flight times to Tirana

These are Citation CJ3 times, taxi included; the regional table below shows the slightly longer turboprop times. Southern Italy is the closest market: from Brindisi or Bari a turboprop is the sensible choice, and the light jet saves only a few minutes. From the rest of Europe every hub is a non-stop flight in a light jet, with London and Madrid the longest sectors at just over three hours.

Prices for a private jet to Albania

Each price is for the whole aircraft, one way, assuming an aircraft available near the departure airport. Handling, airport charges, the permit and passenger taxes are added in the quote. The flight time is for the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

Vienna is the cheapest hub at EUR 10,500 in a light jet, Milan follows at EUR 11,000. Two rows go to Corfu, the Greek island opposite Saranda: from Milan it costs EUR 11,500 against EUR 11,000 to Tirana, and the boat across the strait replaces four hours on the road. In July and August parking on Corfu is very limited, so the aircraft usually drops the passengers and leaves.

From Italy, Greece and the Balkans

A Pilatus PC-12 from Brindisi, Podgorica, Skopje or Pristina costs EUR 6,500 and takes 44-51 minutes. Every flight from Italy pays the Italian passenger tax of EUR 100 per person, because the tax applies to flights from and to Italy and the distance stays under 1,500 km. From Rome or Athens the light jet is 20-25 minutes faster than the turboprop: EUR 9,500 against EUR 8,000.

Long-haul

The Falcon 7X flies New York - Tirana non-stop in 9:02 h, while the Challenger 350 and Challenger 650 make one fuel stop. Large aircraft need the airport's approval for the stand, which we request with the permit. Price follows flight time plus a share for bringing the aircraft and crew to the departure airport. Passenger taxes depend on the country of departure: France about EUR 1,015 per passenger on a jet and EUR 675 on a turboprop, as the tax rises with distance and the EUR 420 rate covers only the EU, the UK, Switzerland and countries within 1,000 km of Paris, Italy EUR 100 on these routes, Austria EUR 12; Germany charges a departure tax and the Netherlands taxes aircraft of 5.7 t or more. UK Air Passenger Duty does not apply under 5.7 t, is charged at the standard rate on most jets and at the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats.

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

Three trips and their cost

Price per person

The aircraft is hired as a whole, so the cost per seat falls quickly with the size of the group; passenger taxes are added per person:

Calculator

For a return trip, a stop in Montenegro or a different aircraft, the calculator e-mails an estimate within minutes:

Tirana airport and the alternatives

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza (TIA, LATI), also called Rinas, handles almost every business flight to the country. The first landing in Albania and the last departure must be at an international airport, and in practice that means Tirana.

The permit is valid for 24 hours from the planned time, so a change of aircraft, route or date means an amendment. Catering is ordered a day ahead through the handler, and in July and August several days ahead for special menus. Parking costs less than at western European airports, so for a short stay the aircraft often waits.

Choosing the aircraft

On flights of more than two and a half hours a midsize jet with its taller cabin and larger hold is worth the difference. A light jet remains the usual choice for a day of meetings from Central Europe or Italy, and the Tirana runway takes any business jet.

Unsure whether Tirana or Corfu is closer to your villa? Leave your number and a consultant will call back.

When to fly to Albania

The Riviera season runs from June to September with its peak in July and August, when cars, boats and helicopters are booked weeks ahead. May, June and September offer warm weather with more free aircraft. Tirana itself has business traffic in every month. Empty Legs are most frequent at the start and the end of summer, when operators move aircraft between northern Europe and the Adriatic without passengers.

From Tirana to the coast and the hill towns

Helicopter transfers start at the airport or at the Farkë heliport on the edge of Tirana: about 50 minutes to Dhërmi and about an hour to Saranda. We book the helicopter in the same quote as the jet, so the times match.

Empty Legs to and from Albania

An Empty Leg is a flight without passengers, back to base or to the next client, sold below the normal price. Many summer trips to Albania are one way, so the return leg is often free:

The operator sets the date and time, so these legs suit a flexible plan. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and dates, and we send matching legs as they appear.

Flying with a dog or cat

Taking a pet to Albania is simple. Bringing it back to the EU is not, because Albania is not on the EU list of countries exempt from the rabies antibody test. The pet flies in the cabin beside you, and the operator approves it in advance:

• ISO microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport; we confirm with the Albanian veterinary service whether a health certificate is also required for your date.
• Rabies antibody test before leaving the EU: blood taken at least 30 days after vaccination and tested in an EU-approved laboratory, with the result in the passport.
• With the result in the passport before departure, the pet returns without waiting. If the blood is taken only in Albania, the pet cannot enter the EU for three months after the sample.
• The vaccination must stay valid without a break, or the test result loses its value.
• Back in the EU, the pet enters through an airport designated for animals from non-EU countries; at most five animals per person.

Documents, customs and taxes

Checklist before departure

• Passport or ID card for every passenger, undamaged, children included.
• Names and document numbers at least three working days before the flight, for the permit.
• Final address on the coast, so we can choose between Tirana and Corfu and book the transfer.
• Boat or helicopter times agreed when landing on Corfu or heading to the south.
• Pet passport with the antibody test result entered before departure.
• Company name and VAT number for the invoice.

How to book

1. Send the departure airport, dates, passengers, luggage and the address in Albania.
2. We compare landing in Tirana with a helicopter or Corfu with a boat, and send two or three aircraft options with prices.
3. You confirm, and the operator applies for the Albanian permit at least two working days ahead, with the slot and the stand.
4. You sign the contract and pay; we send the passenger list to the handler and book cars, helicopter or boat.
5. On the day, arrive 20-30 minutes before take-off. In Tirana the handler takes you through control in the private terminal to the car.

Questions about private flights to Albania

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

  • A turboprop from Brindisi, Podgorica or Skopje to Tirana costs EUR 6,500. From Vienna a light jet costs EUR 10,500 and from London EUR 15,500, one way for the whole aircraft, plus handling, permit and taxes.

• • Is Tirana airport open at night?

  • Yes. The aerodrome, customs, immigration and handling work around the clock, so a late return after dinner is possible.

• • How far ahead do we need to book?

  • The permit needs at least two full working days, so a flight on Monday is requested by the previous Thursday. For July and August, book aircraft and transfers several weeks ahead.

• • Can we fly directly to Vlorë or Saranda?

  • An airport has been built near Vlorë, but it has no regular traffic; we check for each trip whether it can be used. Saranda has no airport: land in Tirana and take a helicopter, or fly to Corfu and cross by boat in 30-70 minutes.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • About 3:09 h from Farnborough to Tirana in a Citation CJ3, or 3:22 h to Corfu. Albania is one hour ahead of London.

• • Do we need a passport?

  • EU citizens may use an ID card, other visitors a passport. There is no visa for EU, UK or US citizens for up to 90 days in 180, but there is passport and customs control both ways.

• • Can our dog come with us?

  • Yes, in the cabin. Do the rabies antibody test before leaving the EU and have the result entered in the passport, otherwise the dog must wait three months before it may return.

• • Is there a private terminal in Tirana?

  • Yes, private passengers use a separate terminal, and the handler meets the aircraft and takes you through control.

• • Are there Empty Legs from Tirana?

  • Yes, mainly in May and June and again in September, back to Italy, Vienna, Munich or Zurich. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your dates.

• • Can we combine Albania with Montenegro or North Macedonia?

  • Yes. Podgorica is 39 minutes and Skopje 44 minutes from Tirana by light jet. Each leg crosses a border, so passport control applies at both ends.

• • Can a large jet land in Tirana?

  • Yes, the runway takes any business jet, but aircraft with a wingspan over 36 m need the airport's approval for the stand, which we request with the permit.