Private jet to American Samoa

American Samoa is a United States territory in the South Pacific, about 4,200 km south of Hawaii, made up of the main island of Tutuila, the Manu'a group and two remote atolls. Some 50,000 people live there, nearly all on Tutuila. A business jet lands at Pago Pago International in Tafuna, on the south coast of Tutuila, a short drive from the harbour of Pago Pago and the government offices in Fagatogo.

The flight from Europe is one of the longest in our tables: around 15,600-16,800 km, flown over North America with one fuel stop in an ultra long range jet or two in a heavy jet. Scheduled services are thin, with a few flights a week from Honolulu, so private clients are mostly delegations, film and survey teams, family visits for ceremonies and travellers combining Tutuila with Samoa, Fiji or Hawaii.

Give us the dates, the passenger list and the reason for the visit, and we propose the routing, the stops and the aircraft.

What decides the trip

Prices to Pago Pago

The table gives one-way prices for the whole aircraft from a base close to the departure airport; permits, handling, landing and passenger taxes are added. Each time is for the first priced aircraft, stops included.

From the European hubs

Hamburg is the cheapest hub at EUR 195,000 in a Challenger 650 with two stops, and London, Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam follow at EUR 200,000. With one stop a Falcon 7X costs EUR 250,000 from London. The Global 7500 costs EUR 275,000 and needs 19:34 h, against 22:06 h in the heavy jet. Madrid, Nice and Larnaca are the longest sectors at EUR 210,000 in the Challenger 650.

The stop is usually on the west coast of North America or in Honolulu. Passengers enter the United States at the first stop, so every traveller needs ESTA or a visa even if the destination itself has its own rules.

Passenger taxes follow the departure country: the French solidarity tax on business jets is scaled by distance and sits in its highest band on a flight this long; the Italian tax is EUR 200 per passenger beyond 1,500 km, in either direction. Vienna departures add EUR 12 per person, and the German, Dutch (from 5.7 t) and UK departure taxes are itemised. US arrival fees and the airport charges in Pago Pago 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

From the South Pacific and Hawaii

Apia in Samoa is EUR 9,000 in a Phenom 300, and Nadi in Fiji EUR 14,500, 2:16 h. Papeete costs EUR 19,000 and Auckland EUR 22,000 in the same jet. Brisbane and Honolulu are beyond the light jet's range over open water and are priced in a Challenger 350 at EUR 41,000 and EUR 42,000. Honolulu - Pago Pago is a flight between two parts of the United States, so the same rule applies as on the US mainland: the foreign jet carries only the passengers it brought from abroad or takes abroad, under a permit to proceed, and anyone joining in Hawaii flies with a US operator.

From California

Los Angeles is 7,718 km away: a Falcon 7X flies it non-stop in 9:22 h for EUR 115,000, a Praetor 600 with one stop costs EUR 79,000. It is a domestic US sector: a foreign aircraft may fly it only with the passengers it brought from abroad or takes abroad, with a permit to proceed for the leg; any guest who joins in California flies with a US operator, which we book for that sector.

A trip worked through

Price per person

The aircraft is booked as a whole; the share per seat on three sectors:

Calculator

The calculator gives an indicative price; mention the planned stay so we can compare waiting time with two empty positioning legs.

Airports in the territory

Choosing the aircraft

• From Europe with one stop: an ultra long range jet such as the Global 7500, the Gulfstream G650 or the Falcon 7X.
• From Europe with two stops: the Challenger 650, the lower price for a longer day.
• From Apia, Nadi, Papeete or Auckland: a light jet such as the Phenom 300 or the Citation XLS+.
• From Honolulu or Brisbane: a super midsize jet such as the Challenger 350.
• For the Manu'a islands: only a small turboprop, subject to the operator's runway check.

Leave your number and a consultant will call about the stops, the permits and the dates.

Seasons and events

June to September is the drier and cooler part of the year and the best for walking in the National Park of American Samoa. December to March is the wettest period, and tropical cyclones are possible from November to April, so return dates stay flexible then. Empty Legs are rare all year; the realistic chance is the return leg of a jet that has delivered another party.

Entry permit, customs and status

Passports should be valid for six months beyond departure. On Sundays much of the island rests, and visitors ask permission before using a village beach or taking photographs. On the homeward leg the border and customs check takes place at the first Schengen or UK airport where the jet lands.

Dogs and cats

American Samoa is among the most difficult destinations for a pet. Dogs and cats need an import permit, a microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a current vaccination, a rabies antibody test at an approved laboratory, parasite treatment and a health certificate endorsed by the government vet of the country of origin. Pit bull breeds and their crosses are barred, and an animal that fails the rules can be quarantined or sent back at the owner's expense. The rules provide for animals arriving as cargo, so travel in the cabin of a private jet is confirmed with the authorities in writing before we book. The US stop adds the CDC dog import form.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs to American Samoa are rare, and we do not promise them. A jet that has flown a party in usually returns empty over North America, and that leg can be sold for its date; positioning flights between Hawaii, Fiji and Samoa appear occasionally. Send your route and flexible dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

How to book

1. Send names, nationalities, dates and the reason for the visit.
2. We confirm the aircraft, the stops and the operator's Visa Waiver status, and list the permits needed.
3. You approve the quote; passengers apply for ESTA and the visitor entry permit.
4. The operator requests overflight clearances and the airport manager's permission and arranges fuel.
5. You receive the schedule with the handlers at each stop and in Pago Pago.

Questions about American Samoa

• • How much is a private jet from Europe to Pago Pago?

  • From EUR 195,000 one way from Hamburg in a Challenger 650 with two stops; EUR 200,000 from London. A Global 7500 from London costs EUR 275,000 with one stop.

• • How long does the trip take?

  • 19:34 h from London in a Global 7500 including one stop, and 22:06 h in a Challenger 650 with two stops.

• • Is ESTA enough to enter?

  • No. ESTA or a US visa covers the stop in the United States, but American Samoa issues its own visitor entry permit, applied for at least 72 working hours ahead.

• • Which airport do jets use?

  • Pago Pago International in Tafuna, with a 3,048 m runway and 24-hour attendance. Prior permission from the airport manager is needed at least 24 hours ahead.

• • Can we combine the trip with Samoa?

  • Yes. Apia is 151 km away and costs EUR 9,000 in a Phenom 300; Samoa is a day ahead on the calendar and has its own entry rules.

• • Is fuel available?

  • Jet A-1 is available, but the uplift for a private aircraft is arranged with the airport in advance, and the crew keeps Faleolo as the alternate.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Only with an import permit, an antibody test and documents endorsed by the government vet; some breeds are banned. Cabin travel on a private jet is confirmed in writing first.

• • When is the weather best?

  • June to September is drier and cooler. December to March is the wettest, and cyclones can occur from November to April.