Private jet to Australia

Australia sits at the far end of the map for a private flight from Europe. Sydney lies about 17,000 km from London in a straight line, and the route that European operators fly around closed airspace adds roughly a tenth to that. No business jet covers the distance without landing, so every trip is planned with one fuel stop in a long-range jet or two in a heavy jet, usually in the Gulf, the Maldives or South-East Asia. From the western European hubs the journey takes about 19 to 23 hours in an ultra long range jet, stop included.

We are a broker and ask operators of long-range aircraft for offers to the six airports that most trips need: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin. Inside Australia the distances are on a European scale: Sydney - Perth alone is 3,277 km, so many clients clear the border in one city and continue on an Australian-registered jet. Typical trips are business in Sydney and Perth, the big sporting weeks in Melbourne, the reef in Queensland and long family stays over the southern summer.

Send us the cities, the dates and the number of passengers; we reply with the aircraft, the fuel stop and the prices.

Why clients fly privately to Australia

How long it takes from Europe

Times from the price tables below, gate to gate including the stops, in a Global 7500 with one stop:

Distances from Europe in the tables are 10 % longer than the straight line, because European operators route around closed and restricted airspace, so the track runs south over Turkey and the Gulf or through Central and South-East Asia. A Challenger 650 lands twice on the way to the east coast, which adds about two and a half to three hours; a Global 6000 or a Global 7500 lands once, typically in Singapore, the Maldives or the Gulf. Perth and Darwin are three to four hours closer than Sydney. On a journey of this length the operator flies an augmented crew or changes crew at the stop, and the crew has a rest period after arrival.

Prices to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the north

Prices to Australia are for the whole aircraft, one way, with the stops included and the aircraft based near the departure city; handling, parking, the crew costs of a long duty day and passenger taxes are added. The time column belongs to the first aircraft of each row, stops included.

From the European hubs

From London, Sydney costs EUR 230,000 in a Challenger 650 with two stops; a Global 6000 costs EUR 295,000 and the Global 7500 costs EUR 320,000. Perth is the least expensive city to reach: Munich - Perth costs EUR 190,000 with two stops and EUR 260,000 in the Global 7500. Larnaca is the closest hub, and there a Challenger 650 reaches Perth with a single stop for EUR 150,000.

From the Gulf and Asia

Many trips to Australia start in Dubai, Singapore or Hong Kong, or break the long journey there for a few days. Singapore - Sydney is a non-stop sector for a Challenger 650 at EUR 71,000, and Dubai - Perth takes a Falcon 7X 10:53 h without a stop for EUR 135,000. From the Maldives a Falcon 7X flies to Perth in 7:25 h.

From New Zealand, the Pacific and Bali

Auckland - Sydney takes 3:23 h in a Phenom 300 for EUR 18,500, and Bali - Perth 3:56 h for EUR 20,000. These sectors are international, so an aircraft based anywhere in the region can fly them; see also New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and Bali.

Domestic legs with an Australian operator

Flights between two Australian airports are reserved for Australian operators as a rule, and a foreign operator needs a dispensation for them. The long-range jet from Europe therefore does not fly the domestic legs; we book them with a local operator and name it in the quote. Sydney - Melbourne takes 1:29 h in a Citation CJ3 for EUR 10,000; Melbourne - Perth, across the whole continent, is 4:15 h in the same light jet for EUR 19,000.

What each passenger pays in tax follows the country of departure. Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger at this distance, and again on the flight back into Italy; Austria EUR 12. The French solidarity tax on business jets is levied per passenger and grows with the length of the flight, so a departure to Australia pays the long-distance rate. From the UK, aircraft under 5.7 t pay no Air Passenger Duty, jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats pay the higher rate and other jets the standard rate of the distance band; Germany and the Netherlands, for aircraft from 5.7 t, add their own departure taxes. Australian charges, permits and biosecurity fees appear 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

Three Australian trips costed

Cost per seat

A jet to Australia is hired as a whole, so the share per seat falls as the cabin fills; per-passenger taxes come on top.

Calculator

For another city or a return trip, the calculator sends a first estimate by e-mail:

The calculator works on the direct distance; the operator's offer then prices the real routing, the stops and where the aircraft is based.

Airports and business aviation terminals

An aircraft arriving in Australia from abroad must make its first landing at an airport designated for international arrivals. Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney accept a non-scheduled flight without special approval, whatever the number on board. Canberra, Hobart, Essendon and a few others need none for fewer than ten travellers, crew included. Any other airport, such as Broome or Uluru, needs approval requested at least ten business days ahead.

Hobart in Tasmania has a runway of about 2,730 m and no curfew, and Canberra one of about 3,280 m; both are short domestic hops from Sydney or Melbourne.

Landing permissions and quarantine checks

• A foreign operator needs a permission for a non-scheduled flight from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority; a charter carrying paying passengers also needs a permission from the Department of Infrastructure, applied for at least seven days before the first flight.
• The operator reports the arrival to the Border Force and the biosecurity service in advance, with the passport data of everyone on board.
• Every arriving aircraft must be disinsected by an approved method, with a certificate on board. If that cannot be shown, the cabin is sprayed after landing with the passengers aboard under an officer's supervision, so we ask the operator to treat it before the last departure.
• Food left over from the catering stays on board and is disposed of as international waste; for domestic legs fresh catering comes from an Australian supplier.

Choosing the jet for the long haul

For a couple or a family, the Challenger 650 with two stops is the best value; for ten passengers or more, or for a party that wants to sleep properly, the Global 6000 or the Global 7500 is the usual choice. Golf bags, diving equipment and surfboards fit in the hold of every long-range jet, but shoes, clubs and camping gear must be clean of soil for the biosecurity check. More models in the ultra long range catalogue.

Leave your number if you would like a consultant to call you back:

Seasons and events through the year

The seasons in Australia are the reverse of Europe's. For Sydney, Melbourne and Perth the most pleasant months are October to April; for the reef, Darwin and the outback the dry season from May to October is better, while the tropical north has its wet season and cyclone risk from about November to April. Empty Legs are most frequent around Christmas and New Year, when long-range jets bring families out and return to Europe empty or fly out empty to collect them.

Transfers into town

Empty Legs to and from Australia

Every long-range jet that brings a party to Australia has to leave again, and holding it on an apron for weeks is costly, so operators often fly it home. These legs appear occasionally rather than weekly, and the aircraft must be in the right city: a leg from Perth suits a client in Perth, not in Melbourne.

To be offered such a leg, e-mail empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a whole month rather than one day; a wide window gives the best chance of a match.

eVisitor, passports and declarations

Bringing a dog or cat

Australia has some of the strictest pet import rules in the world. Animals can come from approved countries, among them the UK and most EU states, but preparations take at least six months and quarantine follows on arrival:

1. Microchip first, then a rabies vaccination kept valid without a break, and a rabies antibody test with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml.
2. An identity check by a government vet before the blood sample; it shortens the later quarantine from at least 30 days to at least 10.
3. At least 180 days between the laboratory receiving the blood sample and the departure, with no exceptions.
4. An import permit applied for online with the Department of Agriculture, usually 20 to 40 business days.
5. A veterinary examination and a health certificate endorsed by a government vet within five days before export.
6. Arrival only at Melbourne and a booked place at the Mickleham quarantine facility.

The standard route is as manifest cargo; carrying the animal in the cabin of a private jet needs the department's prior written approval, which we request before any plan is made. For a holiday of a few weeks most owners leave the pet at home. The way back is simpler: Australia is on the EU list, so no new antibody test is needed, and a dog flying to Britain is treated against tapeworm by a vet 1 to 5 days before arrival there.

Checklist before the flight

• Passports for every passenger, valid for the whole stay in Australia.
• An approved eVisitor or ETA for each passenger, children included.
• Names and passport numbers to us a few days before the flight.
• No fresh food, seeds or plants in the bags; sports equipment cleaned of soil.
• The plan inside Australia: cities, hotels and domestic legs.
• For a pet: the import permit, the test results and the quarantine booking.

From request to contract

1. Send the cities, the dates, the number of passengers and how long you stay in Australia.
2. We compare a long-range jet with one stop and a heavy jet with two, and Perth or Darwin against the east coast.
3. Each offer names the operator, the model, the routing with its stops and the price for the whole aircraft.
4. After signing and payment the operator applies for the Australian permissions and reports the arrival.
5. We book the domestic legs, the transfers and, if needed, the parking or the empty flight home.

Australia by private jet: frequent questions

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

  • From Larnaca a Challenger 650 reaches Perth with one stop for EUR 150,000. From London, Sydney costs EUR 230,000 with two stops or EUR 320,000 in a Global 7500 with one, one way for the whole aircraft.

• • Can a business jet fly to Australia without a stop?

  • No. Even the Global 7500 and the Gulfstream G650 land once on the way, and a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 lands twice.

• • How long does the flight take?

  • About 19 to 20 hours to Perth and about 22 to 23 hours to Sydney from the western European hubs in a Global 7500, stop included.

• • Which airport should we choose?

  • Sydney for New South Wales, Melbourne Tullamarine for Victoria, Perth for the west, Brisbane for southern Queensland and Cairns for the reef. Perth and Darwin are about three hours closer to Europe.

• • Can we land in Sydney at night?

  • Not in a long-range jet: the curfew runs from 23:00 to 06:00. Melbourne Tullamarine, Brisbane and Perth have no curfew.

• • Can the same aircraft fly us inside Australia?

  • As a rule no. Domestic legs are reserved for Australian operators, so we book a local jet for them.

• • Do EU citizens need a visa?

  • Yes, the free eVisitor, applied for online before departure for every passenger. It allows stays of up to three months each time.

• • What happens at the biosecurity check?

  • The cabin must have been disinsected, and every passenger declares food, plants and animal products on the incoming passenger card. Leftover catering stays on board.

• • Can we bring our dog?

  • Only with at least six months of preparation, an import permit, arrival in Melbourne and at least 10 days of quarantine. Travel in the cabin of a private jet needs written approval.

• • What is the time difference?

  • Sydney and Melbourne are 10 hours ahead of Central Europe in the European winter and 8 hours in the European summer, 9 for a few weeks in between. Perth is 7 or 6 hours ahead.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Australia?

  • Now and then, most often a jet flying back to Europe after bringing a party out. Give empty-legs@jets.flights the direction and a month that would suit you.

• • How early should we book?

  • For Christmas, New Year and the Melbourne events several months ahead; otherwise a few weeks, because the permits need time.