Private jet to Brunei

Brunei Darussalam is a small sultanate on the north coast of Borneo, between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and oil and gas dominate its economy. Most private flights here are business trips: energy contracts, meetings with ministries in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, and visits to the companies around the oil field at Seria. Leisure guests come for the mosques and the water village of the capital and for the rainforest of Temburong.

Every jet lands at Brunei International, about 8 km from the centre of the capital. The trip from Europe is one of the longest in Southeast Asia: a Global 7500 flies from central Europe without a stop in about 13 h, and heavy jets refuel once on the way. As a broker, we compare the operators that can fly the route and arrange the permit and the handler.

Tell us the dates, how many people fly and whether the trip is business or leisure; you receive a reply with the aircraft, the stop and the price.

Prices and flight times

Every price is one way for the whole aircraft, with permit, handling, parking and passenger taxes added. Routes from Europe are priced 10 % longer than the straight line, because closed and restricted airspace on the direct line is avoided. On a route of 11,000-12,500 km a heavy jet stops once, usually in the Gulf; only the largest long-range jets fly it without landing, and from London, Paris and Geneva even they need a stop.

From Europe

The Challenger 650 with one stop is the cheapest way from every hub: EUR 135,000 from Vienna and EUR 150,000 from London. The Falcon 900EX also stops once but has a wider cabin for up to 14. A Global 7500 flies Vienna - Bandar Seri Begawan nonstop for EUR 180,000, about two hours faster than the heavy jet that refuels, while from London it also lands once and costs EUR 220,000.

From the Gulf and Asia

From Dubai a Falcon 900EX flies without a stop in 8:25 h for EUR 87,000, which suits a party that reaches the Gulf by scheduled flight. From Singapore a Citation CJ3 takes 2:17 h for EUR 12,500, and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah is only 0:44 h away, a short hop that combines Brunei with Malaysia. Passenger taxes are charged where the trip starts: France a per-passenger tax that increases with distance, about EUR 2,100 on this route and about EUR 420 within Europe, Italy EUR 200 per passenger on flights from or to Italy beyond 1,500 km, Austria EUR 12, Germany and the Netherlands (the Dutch tax from 5.7 t) their own rates. The UK charges APD at the higher rate on aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which includes every jet in the Europe table, the standard rate of the band on smaller jets, and nothing under 5.7 t. Charges in Brunei 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

Price per passenger

For another route, the calculator gives a first estimate:

The airport

• A flight that carries passengers for hire needs a permit from the Department of Civil Aviation, with three to five working days for the application. Friday and Sunday are the local weekend, and neither they nor public holidays count.
• The authority's office works from 08:30 to 16:30 local time, so a request filed late in the week loses days.
• Crew can get a visa on arrival, usually for up to 72 hours.
• With a single runway, the operator plans an alternate on the Malaysian side of Borneo and carries the fuel for it.

Not sure about the permit, the alternate or the timing of a meeting? Leave a number and a consultant will call.

The year month by month

Brunei is hot and humid all year, with daytime highs of 30-32 °C, so the calendar is set by rain and by holidays. February and March are the driest months, November to January the wettest. Ramadan and Hari Raya follow the lunar calendar and move about eleven days earlier each year: offices shorten their hours during the fasting month, and the permit window counts only working days. Empty Legs to the region are most frequent around Christmas and New Year, usually to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong.

Empty Legs

Few Empty Legs end in Brunei itself. More often a long-range jet returning to Europe from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Hong Kong has a free sector, and a light jet from there covers the last 2-3 hours. Jets based in the Gulf also fly back empty after trips to Asia. An empty leg still needs the landing permit, which takes three to five working days. Send the route and your possible dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we write when a matching leg appears.

Dogs and cats

• The EU side asks for an ISO microchip, a pet passport and a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before departure, for up to five animals; the operator approves the pet in advance and it flies in the cabin.
• Entering Brunei: an import permit from the Department of Agriculture before departure, with the travel arrangements and arrival time notified. A government vet examines the animal no more than 48 hours before departure and signs the health certificate, and every dog and cat is inspected on arrival.
• An animal whose papers are not in order can be detained for up to six months. The rabies vaccination and any quarantine are confirmed in writing for your date, together with the rules of the country of the fuel stop.
• On the return to the EU an antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/ml is required, since Brunei is not on the EU list of exempt countries; a sample taken before departure from the EU and entered in the pet passport removes the three-month wait.
• Great Britain adds its pet health certificate, the three-month wait after the blood sample and, for dogs, a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival, which Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also require.

Entry and local rules

For a return via London, every EU passenger needs a UK electronic travel authorisation; British citizens need none.

Around the capital

Bandar Seri Begawan has the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, the Royal Regalia Museum and Kampong Ayer, the water village on stilts across the river; the Gadong night market is a short drive from the centre. Temburong, an exclave across Brunei Bay with the Ulu Temburong National Park, is reached from the capital by road and river. Kota Kinabalu, the starting point for Mount Kinabalu, is a 0:44 h flight away.

How to book

1. Send the dates, the number of passengers and the purpose of the trip.
2. We compare a heavy jet with one stop and a nonstop long-range jet, and check the permit window against the local weekend and holidays.
3. The offers name the operator, the aircraft, the stop, the flight time and the price for the whole aircraft.
4. The contract is concluded with the operator; payment goes by bank transfer or card, and the cancellation scale, set by the operator according to the time before departure, is written into it.
5. The handler files the permit with the passenger list and meets you at the aircraft on arrival.

Questions about private flights to Brunei

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

  • From EUR 120,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Larnaca - Bandar Seri Begawan in a Challenger 650 with one stop. From London the same jet costs EUR 150,000, before permit, handling and taxes.

• • Can we fly without a stop?

  • From central Europe, yes, in a Global 7500: the flight from Vienna takes 12:59 h. From London, Paris and Geneva every aircraft in the tables stops once.

• • Is there a VIP terminal?

  • No dedicated one. An authorised handler meets the aircraft and takes the passengers through immigration and customs.

• • Can we land at night?

  • Yes. The airport is open around the clock, with prior permission between midnight and 07:00 local time.

• • Is a visa needed for Brunei?

  • Not for a visit. The permitted stay depends on nationality, 90 days for British citizens, and the passport must be valid for six months.

• • How far ahead should we book?

  • At least a week: the permit takes three to five working days, and Fridays, Sundays and public holidays do not count.

• • Can we bring alcohol?

  • Non-Muslim adults may bring a limited amount for private use and must declare it on arrival; selling alcohol is illegal.

• • What is the time difference?

  • Brunei keeps the same time all year, eight hours ahead of London in winter and seven in British summer.