Private jet to Burkina Faso
A private flight to Burkina Faso is possible only when several conditions are met at the same time: the route through the airspace of the region is acceptable to the operator, the aircraft's insurer covers the airport, the landing permit is granted and every passenger has a visa. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the country, and other European governments publish similar warnings. Operators and insurers decide on such flights case by case, so we check each request individually and give a clear answer.
Where a flight can be arranged, it lands at Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara International, the airport of the capital and the only one in the country we plan passenger arrivals at. Where it cannot, or where the meeting can take place elsewhere, the usual alternatives are Abidjan in Côte d'Ivoire and Accra in Ghana, both with business aviation terminals; from there the traveller continues on a scheduled flight or a separate charter leg.
Describe the purpose of the trip, the dates and the number of travellers; a consultant replies with what can be arranged, the aircraft and the price, or with an alternative airport.
What we check before a quote
Prices
The figures below are for the whole aircraft, one way; landing permit, handling, parking, airport charges and passenger taxes are quoted on top. A one-way price assumes the aircraft returns empty; if it waits, parking and the crew hotel are added.
From Europe to Ouagadougou, if the flight is accepted
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Midsize jet Praetor 500 |
Super midsize Praetor 600 |
Heavy jet Challenger 650 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon - Ouagadougou | 3,034 km | 4:18 h | EUR 28,000 | EUR 31,000 | EUR 45,000 |
| Madrid - Ouagadougou | 3,136 km | 4:25 h | EUR 28,000 | EUR 32,000 | EUR 46,000 |
| Nice - Ouagadougou | 3,580 km | 4:59 h | EUR 30,000 | EUR 35,000 | EUR 50,000 |
| Milan Linate - Ouagadougou | 3,819 km | 5:16 h | EUR 32,000 | EUR 37,000 | EUR 51,000 |
| Geneva - Ouagadougou | 3,835 km | 5:18 h | EUR 32,000 | EUR 37,000 | EUR 51,000 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Ouagadougou | 4,087 km | 5:37 h | EUR 33,000 | EUR 39,000 | EUR 53,000 |
| Brussels - Ouagadougou | 4,321 km | 5:54 h | EUR 34,000 | EUR 41,000 | EUR 55,000 |
| Frankfurt - Ouagadougou | 4,289 km | 5:52 h | EUR 34,000 | EUR 41,000 | EUR 55,000 |
| London Farnborough - Ouagadougou | 4,329 km | 5:55 h | EUR 34,000 | EUR 41,000 | EUR 55,000 |
The sector is shorter than to the coast: a Praetor 500 flies Paris - Ouagadougou non-stop in 5:37 h for EUR 33,000, and London in 5:55 h for EUR 34,000. The Challenger 650 for groups of up to twelve costs EUR 53,000 from Paris.
To the nearest gateways
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Midsize jet Praetor 500 |
Super midsize Praetor 600 |
Heavy jet Challenger 650 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon - Abidjan | 3,764 km | 5:12 h | EUR 31,000 | EUR 37,000 | EUR 51,000 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Abidjan | 4,896 km | 6:37 h | EUR 38,000 | EUR 45,000 | EUR 60,000 |
| Brussels - Accra | 5,055 km | 8:19 h, 1 stop | EUR 46,000 | EUR 47,000 | EUR 61,000 |
| Geneva - Accra | 4,558 km | 6:12 h | EUR 36,000 | EUR 43,000 | EUR 57,000 |
From the gateways the onward journey is a scheduled flight booked by the traveller or a charter leg subject to the same check. The Brussels row shows a fuel stop for the Praetor 500; the Praetor 600 flies it without one.
Between Ouagadougou and the coast
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Turboprop Pilatus PC-12 |
Midsize jet Citation XLS+ |
Super midsize Challenger 350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abidjan - Ouagadougou | 832 km | 2:12 h | EUR 9,000 | EUR 13,500 | EUR 16,500 |
| Accra - Ouagadougou | 765 km | 2:04 h | EUR 9,000 | EUR 13,500 | EUR 16,000 |
| Lomé - Ouagadougou | 752 km | 2:02 h | EUR 9,000 | EUR 13,500 | EUR 16,000 |
| Cotonou - Ouagadougou | 792 km | 2:07 h | EUR 9,000 | EUR 13,500 | EUR 16,500 |
The coastal capitals, among them Lomé and Cotonou, are 750 to 830 km from Ouagadougou; a Citation XLS class jet takes about an hour and a half. Each leg is an international flight with its own permit, and the same acceptance check applies.
Taxes per passenger depend on where the flight starts. France charges business jets a solidarity tax that increases with distance, about EUR 1,015 per seat on a sector into West Africa against about EUR 420 on a European one; Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on sectors beyond 1,500 km in either direction. Germany and the United Kingdom charge departure taxes shown in the quote; UK APD does not apply under 5.7 t, and the higher private jet rate starts at 20 t with fewer than 19 seats.
Business jet price per flight hour
Per person
| Route | Aircraft | Whole aircraft | 2 passengers | 4 passengers | 8 passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Le Bourget - Ouagadougou | Praetor 500 | EUR 33,000 | EUR 16,500 | EUR 8,300 | EUR 4,100 |
| Geneva - Ouagadougou | Praetor 500 | EUR 32,000 | EUR 16,000 | EUR 8,000 | EUR 4,000 |
| London Farnborough - Ouagadougou | Praetor 500 | EUR 34,000 | EUR 17,000 | EUR 8,500 | EUR 4,300 |
Calculator
The calculator returns an estimate for the flight only; whether a flight to Ouagadougou can go ahead is confirmed separately.
Airports
| Airport | Codes | Runway | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara | OUA / DFFD | 3,000 m | Airport of entry, customs, handling mandatory; hours confirmed in writing |
| Bobo-Dioulasso | BOY / DFOO | 3,300 m | Second city; limited hours, not planned for passenger flights |
| Abidjan Félix-Houphouët-Boigny | ABJ / DIAP | 3,000 m | Gateway in Côte d'Ivoire, Jetex FBO, 24 h |
| Accra Kotoka | ACC / DGAA | 3,403 m | Gateway in Ghana, Terminal 1 for business aviation, 24 h |
Ouagadougou airport lies about 2 km from the city centre and has a military sector. There is no business aviation terminal; the handler certified by the civil aviation authority meets the aircraft, and immigration and customs are done at the airport. The operator plans the arrival inside opening hours that the handler confirms in writing for the date. The landing permit needs about a week of notice when filed by ordinary means.
Aircraft
- Up to 8 passengers: a midsize jet such as the Praetor 500, non-stop from every European city in the table.
- More luggage or more range in reserve: a super midsize Praetor 600.
- Groups above eight: a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650, with up to twelve seats.
- Legs to the coast: a turboprop such as the Pilatus PC-12 or a midsize jet.
Climate through the year
Ouagadougou has a hot, semi-arid climate. November to February is the dry and coolest period, March to May the hottest, and June to October the rainy season. Empty Legs are rare in every month; the only regular ones are aircraft returning to Europe empty after a drop.
Empty Legs
Empty Legs to or from Ouagadougou are rare. When an aircraft drops passengers there and does not wait, the leg back to Europe can be offered, but the acceptance check, the permit and the visas still apply. Legs between Europe and Abidjan or Accra are more frequent. Register your route at empty-legs@jets.flights.
Pets
A dog or cat may fly in the cabin with the operator's agreement. Burkina Faso asks for a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, a microchip for dogs and a veterinary health certificate issued shortly before arrival and signed by a government vet of the departure country, in French or with a certified translation. If the animal travels, the requirements are confirmed in writing before the flight.
Entry rules and travel advice
The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Burkina Faso, and travel insurance can be invalid for a trip made against such advice. Each traveller reads the advice of their own government and confirms the cover with the insurer before booking. We do not describe any trip to the country as safe; we describe what the operator, the insurer and the authorities have confirmed.
How a request is handled
- Send the purpose of the trip, dates, passengers and nationalities.
- We ask operators and their insurers whether Ouagadougou can be accepted for your date and propose Abidjan or Accra if not.
- You receive the aircraft options with the operator's written confirmation of route and insurance.
- You sign the contract with the operator; the landing permit and the handler are arranged, and you obtain the visas.
- Before departure the operator reviews the airspace notices again; if a condition changes, the flight is moved or redirected.
Questions about private flights to Burkina Faso
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- Can you fly us to Ouagadougou?
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Only after a check for each request: the operator, its insurer and the landing permit must all confirm the flight. If no operator accepts it, we propose Abidjan or Accra.
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- What does the flight cost?
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From EUR 28,000 one way for the whole aircraft from Europe; Paris - Ouagadougou costs EUR 33,000 in a Praetor 500 if the flight is accepted.
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- How long does Paris - Ouagadougou take?
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About 5:37 h non-stop in a Praetor 500 or Praetor 600.
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- Which airport is used?
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Ouagadougou Thomas Sankara International, about 2 km from the centre, with customs and mandatory handling. Regional airfields are not planned.
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- What does the government advice say?
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The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Burkina Faso, and other European governments publish similar warnings. Insurance may not cover a trip against such advice.
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- Do we need a visa?
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Yes, obtained before travel, plus a yellow fever vaccination certificate.
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- Can you fly us on to Bobo-Dioulasso?
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No. A European aircraft does not carry passengers between two points inside the country, and we do not plan regional legs.
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- Can our dog come?
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It is possible with a rabies vaccination, a microchip and a health certificate in French, but we advise discussing it with us first. The return to the EU needs a rabies antibody test.
The aviation expert will answer all your questions about business aviation and private flights. We will help you to compare and choose the best business jet for your flight.