Private jet to Berlin

The German capital draws private flights for reasons that rarely overlap: meetings with the federal government, the Bundestag and more than a hundred embassies; investors visiting technology companies in Mitte and Kreuzberg; trade fairs such as ITB, IFA and Grüne Woche; the Berlinale in February; and weekends of museums, galleries and restaurants. The city sits in the middle of the continent, so Prague and Hamburg are under an hour away by jet, Vienna and Warsaw about an hour and ten minutes, London a little under two hours.

Every business jet to the city lands at Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) in Schönefeld, about 18 km south-east of the centre. Tegel is closed to all flights, whatever older descriptions say. At BER private passengers use the general aviation terminal, separate from Terminals 1 and 2, and are usually at the car 10-15 minutes after landing. Two rules matter for planning: every flight needs a slot, and nothing takes off or lands between midnight and 05:00. For turboprops and light jets heading to Potsdam or the south-west of the city, Schönhagen airfield is a smaller alternative.

Give us the route, the date and the number of passengers in the form, and a consultant will come back with aircraft, slot times and prices.

Why fly privately to the capital

Flight times to BER

Citation CJ3 block times from the price tables, taxi, climb and descent included:

• Prague: 0:51 h, 257 km; Hamburg: 0:53 h, 274 km
• Copenhagen: 1:01 h; Frankfurt: 1:06 h; Munich: 1:08 h
• Warsaw: 1:12 h; Vienna: 1:13 h; Amsterdam: 1:19 h
• Zurich and Brussels: 1:24 h; Milan Linate: 1:39 h; Stockholm: 1:39 h
• Paris Le Bourget and Geneva: 1:42 h; London Farnborough: 1:52 h
• Nice: 1:59 h; Madrid: 3:04 h; Larnaca: 3:59 h

The distances are short enough that the type of jet hardly changes the arrival time: from London the Challenger 350 lands 8 minutes earlier than the CJ3. From the Gulf a long-range jet needs 5:05-5:57 h, and from New York 7:36-7:51 h non-stop in a Falcon 7X or Global 7500.

Berlin private jet charter prices

Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, before handling, airport fees and passenger taxes, and assume an aircraft available near the departure airport. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs

Prague and Hamburg are the cheapest at EUR 8,000 in a light jet, but Hamburg is also about two hours away by train, so on that route the flight pays off mainly for a group or as part of a longer trip. Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Warsaw all cost EUR 9,000 in the CJ3, Paris and Geneva EUR 10,500, London EUR 11,500.

From other European cities

From Britain, Ireland, the Nordic capitals and the Mediterranean the light jet column uses the Phenom 300, and the Legacy 500 and Gulfstream G280 add stand-up cabins:

Long-haul and the Middle East

With runways of 3,600 m and 4,000 m, BER accepts any business jet and VIP airliner. The Challenger 650 needs one fuel stop from New York; the other two types fly non-stop:

To Schönhagen instead

For a small jet and a destination in Potsdam or the south-western districts, Schönhagen saves the slot at BER. The price is close to the BER fare:

Hours in the air set most of the fare; the rest pays for moving the aircraft and crew to where the trip begins. Which passenger tax applies is decided by the country you take off from: about EUR 420 per passenger on a jet from France; Italy charges EUR 100 per passenger on sectors up to 1,500 km and EUR 200 beyond, and Austria EUR 12. Departures from the UK pay Air Passenger Duty unless the aircraft is under 5.7 t; jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats pay the higher private-jet rate, smaller jets the standard rate. The Netherlands taxes passengers on aircraft of 5.7 t or more, Norway and Denmark have their own taxes, Sweden has none, and Germany charges its departure tax on the flight home. Every amount is shown 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

Full cost of three typical trips

What each passenger pays

The aircraft is booked as a whole, so the per-seat cost drops as the group grows. Passenger taxes are added per person:

Price calculator

Enter any route, date and number of passengers, and the calculator will email you an estimate.

BER, Schönhagen and the alternates

Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER, EDDB) is the only commercial airport of the capital region. It replaced both Tegel and the old Schönefeld airport and has two parallel runways of 3,600 m and 4,000 m, so runway length is never a limit. Business aviation is handled at the General Aviation Terminal, with its own entrance away from Terminals 1 and 2 and a lounge. Ground handling is quick: 10-15 minutes from landing to the car is normal.

The airport is slot-coordinated, and the operator books arrival and departure slots with the flight. Between midnight and 05:00 there are no take-offs or landings except medical, state and police flights. An evening that runs late therefore means a night in the city, with the departure moved to the morning. Aircraft parking for stays of several days is booked in advance; for longer stays we compare the cost with sending the aircraft back to base.

Other airfields within reach

Schönhagen, south-west of the city, has a runway of about 1,500 m and no airline traffic; it suits turboprops and light jets in the daytime. If fog or a full apron rules out BER, the operator diverts to one of these. Distances are straight-line from BER:

Which aircraft to choose

For most European trips light jets are enough, because no hub is more than two hours away. A midsize or super midsize jet is worth its extra cost when the group has suitcases for several nights, sample cases or camera equipment. The PC-24 has a large cargo door and lands on short runways, which helps with bulky kit.

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

Fair and event calendar

Business aviation here has no high season in the holiday sense; demand follows fairs, festivals and the parliamentary calendar:

For IFA, the Berlinale and the marathon weekend, secure aircraft and parking 3-4 weeks in advance. In summer and between Christmas and mid-January a flight can often be arranged at a few days' notice.

From BER into the city

Empty Legs to and from the capital

Empty Legs are sectors an aircraft has to fly without passengers, for example on the way back to base after dropping clients. BER has dense business traffic across Europe, so such legs appear regularly. Common directions:

The date and time are set by the operator, so Empty Legs suit flexible plans. Send your direction and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights and we send suitable legs as they come up.

Pets on the flight

Dogs and cats travel in the cabin next to their owners, and the operator must agree in advance. The EU rules apply in Germany:

• Microchip to ISO standard, fitted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel if it is the first; minimum age at vaccination 12 weeks.
• EU pet passport, or for pets from Great Britain an animal health certificate from a government-authorised vet.
• A maximum of five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial trip.
• No tapeworm treatment for entry into Germany.
• Import of pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, bull terriers and their crosses is banned, except for visitors staying up to four weeks.

Berlin has its own rules for dogs, including leads in parks and many public areas, and hotels set their own policies, so ask ahead. Some operators require a carrier during take-off and landing.

Entry rules, customs and taxes

Pre-flight checklist

• Passport or ID card for every passenger, including children.
• Passenger list with names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent the day before.
• Arrival and departure times agreed with the slots, and the return well before midnight.
• Number of suitcases and any fair material, camera cases or instruments.
• Pet documents: passport or health certificate, microchip, rabies record.
• Address of the ministry, hotel or exhibition hall for the driver.
• Company name and VAT number for the invoice.

How to book a flight to Berlin

1. Send the route, the date, the preferred arrival time, the number of passengers and luggage, and the address in the city.
2. We check slots at BER, the night rule and, for small aircraft, Schönhagen as an option.
3. You receive 2-4 offers with operator, model, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, including waiting time if you return the same day.
4. After signing the contract and paying, we confirm the slots, handling, car and catering.
5. Arrive 20-30 minutes before departure at the General Aviation Terminal; the driver takes you straight there.

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 jet flights to Berlin

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

  • A Citation CJ3 costs from EUR 8,000 one way from Hamburg or Prague for the whole aircraft. From Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna or Warsaw the fare is EUR 9,000, from London EUR 11,500. Handling and the passenger taxes appear as separate lines.

• • Which airport do private jets use?

  • Berlin Brandenburg (BER), where private passengers use the General Aviation Terminal. Tegel is closed; small aircraft can also use Schönhagen.

• • Is there a night ban at BER?

  • Yes, no take-offs or landings between midnight and 05:00, apart from medical, state and police flights. A late return is moved to the next morning.

• • How long does the flight from London take?

  • About 1:52 h from Farnborough in a Citation CJ3 and 1:44 h in a Challenger 350, over a distance of about 990 km.

• • How long is the drive to the centre?

  • 35-45 minutes to Mitte by car, 30-40 minutes to Potsdamer Platz. The FEX train reaches Hauptbahnhof in about 30 minutes.

• • Do I need a passport?

  • On Schengen flights there is no routine check, but every passenger needs a valid passport or ID card. Arrivals from the UK go through passport control at the airport.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport. Germany does not require tapeworm treatment, but certain breeds are banned except for short visits.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Berlin?

  • Yes, mostly between Berlin and London, Scandinavia, Switzerland and other German cities. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your direction and dates.

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

  • Yes. Waiting time and parking are included in the quote, and both slots are booked in advance.

• • How much luggage can we take?

  • A light jet holds about one suitcase per passenger; for fair material or longer stays choose a midsize or super midsize jet with a larger hold.

• • How early should I book?

  • Outside fair weeks a few days are usually enough. For IFA, the Berlinale and the marathon weekend book 3-4 weeks ahead.