Private jet to Argentina

Argentina sits at the far end of the South Atlantic: about 11,100 km from London, Paris or Geneva to Buenos Aires and more than 12,000 km to Ushuaia on Tierra del Fuego. Only an ultra long range jet such as the Global 7500 flies to the capital without landing; heavy jets refuel once, in Cape Verde or north-east Brazil. Clients go for meetings in Puerto Madero and Recoleta, polo in Palermo, the wineries of Mendoza, skiing at Bariloche and the glaciers and Antarctic departures of Patagonia.

Almost every crossing ends at Ezeiza, where the general aviation terminal clears passengers round the clock. Flights between two Argentine airports are reserved for Argentine companies, so a trip to the Andes or the far south usually needs two aircraft: one across the ocean and an Argentine jet inside the country. As a broker, we book both and plan the permits, the waiting time at Ezeiza and the internal legs as one trip.

Write the route, the dates and the number of passengers in the form; a consultant replies with aircraft, the permit timetable and a price.

What a private flight changes on this route

Flight times and fuel stops

The track runs south-west along the coast of West Africa, over the narrowest part of the Atlantic and down across Brazil. A Challenger 650 or Falcon 900EX lands once, typically at Sal in Cape Verde or in north-east Brazil, and the trip takes about two hours longer than in a non-stop Global 7500: 15:04 h against 12:50 h from London. To Ushuaia even the Global 7500 needs a stop. Thirteen to sixteen hours is beyond the duty day of two pilots, so the operator flies with a reinforced crew or plans a night on the way.

Prices from Europe and the Americas

Every figure is a one-way price for the whole aircraft, flown by a jet positioned near the departure airport. The ANAC permit, overflight fees, handling at Ezeiza, the fuel stop and passenger taxes appear as separate lines in the quote, and the time in each row belongs to the first aircraft.

From the European hubs

A Challenger 650 with one stop costs EUR 135,000 from London, Paris, Geneva, Milan or Nice to Ezeiza and EUR 125,000 from Madrid, the shortest of the hub routes at 10,087 km. The three-engine Falcon 900EX, with a larger cabin for up to 14, costs more on every row, for example EUR 155,000 instead of EUR 135,000 from London. The non-stop Global 7500 costs EUR 165,000 from Madrid and between EUR 180,000 and EUR 190,000 from the other hubs, and saves about two hours. To Ushuaia from Madrid or Buenos Aires from Larnaca all three aircraft stop once, so the Global 7500 at EUR 220,000 buys cabin space rather than time.

From other European cities

From Lisbon and Barcelona the Gulfstream G550 reaches Ezeiza without landing, for EUR 140,000 and EUR 155,000; from Rome it has to stop once.

From the United States

Miami - Buenos Aires is 7,130 km, within the range of a Falcon 900EX: 8:53 h for EUR 92,000.

Regional flights and Argentine domestic legs

Flights from Brazil, Uruguay or Chile are international and can be flown by any operator with the permits. The five rows from San Fernando are domestic, so an Argentine operator flies them; the reverse direction costs the same:

Montevideo - Buenos Aires takes under an hour and costs from EUR 8,000 in a light jet. Inside the country, Bariloche costs from EUR 13,000 and Ushuaia from EUR 17,500 one way in a Citation CJ3; for a group with ski bags we price a Citation XLS+ or Challenger 350. On the European side, the French tax on a business jet leaving France rises with the distance flown, Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on flights from or to the country beyond 1,500 km, Austria EUR 12, and Germany a departure tax shown in the quote. In the UK the higher Air Passenger Duty rate applies to aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which includes the Challenger 650, Falcon 900EX and Global 7500. Argentine airport and passenger charges 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 three typical trips cost

Cost per passenger

The aircraft is chartered as a whole, so the share per person falls as the cabin fills; taxes are added per passenger:

Calculator

The calculator gives a first figure in seconds and sends it by e-mail; add Mendoza, Bariloche or Ushuaia in the comment and we price the Argentine leg as well.

Airports from Buenos Aires to Tierra del Fuego

A flight from abroad must land first at an airport with customs and immigration, and even a fuel stop inside Argentina goes through full clearance. Many smaller fields are domestic only, and overtime at a remote airport must be requested three working days ahead. The ones that matter:

If fog closes Ezeiza, which happens on winter mornings, operators divert to Rosario, Córdoba, Mar del Plata or Montevideo across the river.

Ezeiza ground rules worth knowing

Handlers at Ezeiza warn every crew about the same points:

• The aircraft is searched by customs and airport police twice, once the passengers are off and again before it leaves; nobody stays in the cabin while it is parked.
• Catering may not be brought in from outside, so meals for the flight home are ordered from a supplier at the airport.
• Towing and ground equipment come from Intercargo, which serves airline flights first, so departure times are planned with some slack.
• Parking is hard to find from October to January; a rented hangar avoids the apron charge.
• Fuel releases go in at least 24 hours ahead on a working day; most airports outside Buenos Aires have one supplier.

Which aircraft for Argentina

On a 13-hour night flight, ultra long range jets give several passengers flat beds and the crew its own rest compartment. The heavy jets cost less and stop once; the stop takes 45-60 minutes. Skis and fishing rods fit the hold of a Challenger 350 for the Argentine leg; tell us about them when you book.

Want both options priced for your dates? Leave your number and a consultant will call back.

Seasons and events month by month

Argentina has two peaks: the southern summer from December to February and the ski holidays from mid-July to mid-August. For Buenos Aires, March to May and September to November are the easiest months, though Ezeiza parking tightens from October. Long-range Empty Legs between Europe and Buenos Aires are most frequent after New Year and after the polo final, when jets return north without passengers.

Getting from the airports

For the ice itself, see our page on private flights to Antarctica. Flights between Argentina and the Falkland Islands need prior authorisation from the Argentine authorities, as does a foreign aircraft crossing Argentine airspace to or from the islands.

Empty Legs to and from Argentina

Each transatlantic leg covers the most expensive part of the trip. Send the direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we pass on legs that fit.

Dogs and cats on the trip

Argentina is one of the simplest countries in South America for a dog or cat: no import permit, no quarantine, and the SENASA inspection at Ezeiza costs nothing when the pet travels with its owner. On a private jet the pet stays in the cabin and remains on board during the fuel stop; the operator must agree in advance.

Passports, permits and customs

Checklist before take-off

• Passports valid for the whole stay, without damage, for every passenger.
• Full names, nationality, dates of birth and passport numbers a week ahead.
• The Argentine operator booked for any leg to Mendoza, Bariloche or Patagonia.
• Hangar or parking at Ezeiza reserved if the jet waits between October and January.
• Catering for the return ordered through the handler.
• For a pet: the certificate in Spanish, rabies record and parasite treatment.

Booking step by step

1. Tell us where in Argentina you are going: Buenos Aires only, the wine country, the lakes, the glaciers or an Antarctic cruise.
2. We price a heavy jet with one stop against the non-stop Global 7500, and the Argentine aircraft for the internal legs.
3. Contract and payment; the operator files with ANAC and the overflight states, and we plan with a week of lead time.
4. We reserve parking or a hangar at Ezeiza, catering and cars, and confirm customs hours at any airport outside Buenos Aires.
5. On arrival the handler takes you through the general aviation terminal at Ezeiza to the car.

Many trips continue across the river to Uruguay or north to Brazil, Chile and Paraguay.

Questions about private flights to Argentina

• • How much does a private jet from Europe to Argentina cost?

  • From EUR 125,000 one way from Madrid to Ezeiza in a Challenger 650 with one stop, and EUR 135,000 from London, Paris or Geneva. Non-stop in a Global 7500 costs from EUR 165,000.

• • Can we fly to Buenos Aires without a stop?

  • Yes, in a Global 7500 from any of the European hubs except Larnaca; London - Ezeiza takes about 12:50 h. From Lisbon and Barcelona a Gulfstream G550 also flies through.

• • Which Buenos Aires airport do private jets use?

  • Ezeiza, with a 24-hour general aviation terminal and customs. San Fernando takes only aircraft under 30 t, and Aeroparque only short stops with prior permission.

• • Can our jet from Europe take us on to Bariloche or Ushuaia?

  • No. Domestic flights are reserved for Argentine companies, so we book an Argentine jet, for example San Fernando - Bariloche from EUR 13,000 in a Citation CJ3.

• • How much notice do the permits need?

  • The overflight permit needs at least 72 hours; we plan with a week, because neighbouring countries on the route need clearance too.

• • Do EU and UK citizens need a visa?

  • No, for tourist stays of up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for the whole stay and undamaged.

• • What is the time difference with Argentina?

  • Buenos Aires is 3 hours behind London in the British winter and 4 hours in summer. The whole country keeps one time zone and does not change its clocks.

• • Can we bring our dog?

  • Yes. The dog needs a government vet certificate in Spanish, a valid rabies vaccination and parasite treatment. Argentina is an EU-listed country, so no antibody test is needed for the return.

• • Why should Ezeiza parking be booked early?

  • From October to January the apron is full. A rented hangar solves it and avoids the parking charge outside.

• • Can we reach Antarctica from Argentina?

  • By sea, from Ushuaia, where most Antarctic Peninsula cruises board between November and March. Flights onto the ice leave from Punta Arenas in Chile or from Cape Town.

• • Are there Empty Legs from Buenos Aires to Europe?

  • Yes, most often in January and December, when long-range jets return north. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your dates.