Private jet to the Central African Republic

A private flight to the Central African Republic is possible, but it depends on conditions that are checked one by one: a landing permit from the national authorities, an operator that accepts the route, insurance that covers the aircraft and the passengers, visas and yellow fever certificates, and the status of the airspace on the way. We check each of them for every request and say clearly, before any payment, what can be arranged and what cannot.

The only airport used for international arrivals is Bangui M'Poko (BGF / FEFF), about 7 to 8 km north-west of the centre of the capital, with a 2,600 m runway. Most travellers are officials, staff of international organisations and aid agencies, and companies with contracts in the Central African Republic; few trips go beyond Bangui.

Send the dates, the number of travellers and what the trip is for; a consultant answers with the options for Bangui, the aircraft and the price.

What we check for every request

Prices to Bangui

Each price covers the whole aircraft for a one-way flight, with an aircraft based near the departure airport; handling, landing and parking charges, the permit and passenger taxes are added. The time shown is that of the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

Rome - Bangui is the shortest of these sectors, 6:01 h for EUR 42,000 in a Praetor 600. Nice costs EUR 44,000, Paris EUR 50,000 with 7:18 h in the air, and London EUR 53,000 with 7:44 h. A Praetor 600 or a larger jet flies all of these without a stop; a midsize Citation XLS+ needs one.

From Cameroon, the two Congos and Chad

Yaoundé is 1:30 h away for EUR 13,500 in a Citation XLS+, Douala in Cameroon 1:45 h for EUR 14,500, and Brazzaville in Congo or Kinshasa in DR Congo, on opposite banks of the Congo river, cost EUR 15,000 each. N'Djamena in Chad is 1:42 h away. These legs are flown by operators based in the region, each with its own permit.

Douala as an alternative

Where no European operator accepts Bangui for the date, or the meeting can take place outside the country, the flight from Europe ends in Douala; the sector on to Bangui is then flown by a regional operator, as priced above. Paris - Douala costs EUR 47,000 in a Praetor 600.

The tax each passenger pays depends on where the flight starts. France charges a solidarity tax that grows with distance, so Paris - Bangui pays about EUR 1,015 per passenger on a jet, against about EUR 420 inside Europe. Italy takes EUR 200 per passenger on sectors over 1,500 km and Austria EUR 12; Germany and the UK levy departure taxes too. UK APD does not apply to aircraft under 5.7 t, and its higher rate is reserved for aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats. Bangui airport charges 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

Two trips worked through

Price per person

Split between the passengers, the same fares come to:

Calculator

For a first figure, the calculator works with Bangui and Douala; mention the days in Bangui in the comment field.

Bangui M'Poko and the other airfields

The airport and tower are listed as open around the clock, but the administration works from about 08:00 to 16:00 local time, so we plan arrivals in daylight and within those hours. Air traffic services are provided by ASECNA, the regional air navigation agency. There is no business aviation terminal or VIP lounge we can confirm: a handling agent meets the aircraft, arranges fuel and catering and takes passengers through the terminal.

The Central African Republic has around forty secondary airfields, but none is an entry airport, and few take anything larger than the aircraft used for humanitarian work. We do not offer domestic flights; flights inside the country are run by humanitarian air services and local operators.

Which aircraft

• Two to eight passengers from Europe: the Praetor 600 reaches Bangui without a stop from all the hubs above.
• Groups of up to twelve: a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650.
• A full cabin with reserves from northern Europe: a long-range jet such as the Falcon 7X or the Global 6000.
• Regional legs from Cameroon or the Congos: a midsize jet such as the Citation XLS+.

A consultant can also call you back to plan the permit request and the timing of the flight.

When to fly

The dry months, December to February, are the easiest for travel: January has almost no rain, and February is the hottest month, with highs of about 35 degrees. The rains build from March, the wet season runs from June to September with a peak in August, and roads stay at their worst until November. Empty Legs are rare all year; the empty return to Europe after a drop-off is the leg most often offered.

Bangui lies on the northern bank of the Ubangi river, whose port handles most of the country's foreign trade. French and Sango are the languages of government, and the currency is the Central African CFA franc.

Visas, health and local rules

The Central African Republic is outside the EU and Schengen, so the return flight clears passport control and customs at the first Schengen or UK airport. There is no British embassy in the country; consular help comes from Kinshasa.

Flying with a dog or cat

No import scheme is published, so the requirements are confirmed in writing with the veterinary authorities in Bangui before the aircraft is confirmed. Expect a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and a health certificate issued within 10 days, with documents in French; an antibody test and an import permit may also be asked for. The pet travels in the cabin with the operator's approval.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs to and from Bangui are rare: few aircraft fly there, and the permit is tied to a date and a schedule. A charter that does not wait returns to Europe empty, and aircraft sometimes reposition from West or Central Africa. Send your direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

How to book

1. Tell us the dates, who travels and their nationalities, and why the trip is needed.
2. We look for an operator that will fly to Bangui and get its insurance cover confirmed in writing.
3. You get a proposal with the aircraft, the operator and the price, plus the Douala option.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; we file the permit request through a flight support agent.
5. Before departure we confirm the permit, the handler, the fuel release and the airspace notices in force.

Questions about private flights to the Central African Republic

• • Can a private jet fly from Europe to Bangui?

  • It can, once the permit is granted and an operator and its insurer accept the date. You get a clear yes or no from us before anything is paid.

• • How much does a private jet to the Central African Republic cost?

  • From EUR 42,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Rome - Bangui in a Praetor 600. Paris costs EUR 50,000 and London EUR 53,000, plus handling, charges and taxes.

• • How long is the flight?

  • 6:01 h from Rome, 7:18 h from Paris and 7:44 h from London in a Praetor 600, non-stop. Bangui keeps the same time as Paris in winter and is 1 hour behind in summer.

• • Can we land at night?

  • The airport is listed as open around the clock, but the administration works in the daytime, so we plan arrivals in daylight.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Yes, issued before travel, usually through the embassy in Paris, and a yellow fever certificate. Passports must be valid for six months.

• • How early should we book?

  • At least one to two weeks: the permit request needs 72 hours as a minimum, and the visa takes longer.

• • Can you fly us to other towns in the country?

  • No. Bangui is the only entry airport, and domestic flights are run by humanitarian air services and local operators.

• • Can our dog come?

  • Possibly, after the requirements are confirmed in writing with the veterinary authorities. For the return to the EU, do the antibody test before departure.