Private jet to Chad

Four things decide whether a private jet can take you to Chad: the civil aviation authority's landing permit, an operator willing to fly the sector, insurance valid for the aircraft and passengers on Chadian territory, and visas issued before departure. We go through all four for each enquiry; if one cannot be met, you hear it before paying anything, together with an alternative such as Douala.

Almost all international traffic uses N'Djamena Hassan Djamous International (NDJ / FTTJ), close to the centre of the capital, with a 2,800 m runway that every business jet can use. Most travellers are executives and engineers from the energy and mining sectors, staff of aid organisations and diplomatic missions, and consultants on visits of a few days.

Write to us with the dates, the size of the group and the reason for the visit; a consultant comes back with a workable plan for N'Djamena, the aircraft and its price.

What we check before quoting

Prices to N'Djamena

The figures are one-way prices for the whole aircraft, assuming one is free near your departure airport. Handling, landing and parking fees, the permit and passenger taxes are quoted on top. Each row shows the flight time of its first aircraft.

From the European hubs

Rome - N'Djamena is the shortest sector at 4:50 h and EUR 35,000 in a Praetor 600; Nice costs EUR 37,000 and Paris EUR 42,000, with 6:05 h in the air. From London the same aircraft needs 6:31 h and EUR 45,000. Midsize jets such as the Citation XLS+ would need a fuel stop from every hub in the table.

From the neighbouring countries

Abuja in Nigeria is 1:41 h away and costs EUR 14,000 in a Citation XLS+, Douala and Yaoundé in Cameroon EUR 15,000, and Bangui in the Central African Republic EUR 14,500. These legs are quoted by an operator based in the region, with their own permits.

Douala as an alternative

When no European operator accepts N'Djamena for the date, the flight from Europe can end in Douala, and a regional operator flies the last sector, priced in the table above. Paris - Douala costs EUR 47,000 in a Praetor 600.

Passenger taxes depend on the departure country. On a jet leaving France the solidarity tax per passenger rises with distance, so a flight to Chad pays about EUR 1,015, where one within Europe pays about EUR 420; Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on sectors beyond 1,500 km. Austria charges EUR 12 per passenger, and Germany and the UK have departure taxes; in the UK aircraft under 5.7 t pay no APD and the higher rate applies only from 20 t with fewer than 19 seats. Chadian charges 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

Two trips worked through

Price per person

Divided by the number of travellers, the cost per seat looks like this:

Calculator

Use the calculator for a rough figure to N'Djamena or Douala, and note how long you stay in the comment box.

Airports and handling

N'Djamena has no private terminal or FBO lounge. International flight support companies work through authorised local handlers, who arrange the permit, fuel, parking and a VIP escort through the terminal; how passengers are met, in the building or at the aircraft, and how immigration and customs are handled for a private arrival, are confirmed with the handler in writing before the flight. Crew visas are usually issued on arrival for up to 72 hours.

Domestic legs to Abéché or Moundou are not flown by a foreign operator; a local operator would quote them, and each is checked against the travel advice for the area and the state of the airfield.

Which aircraft

• Small groups of up to eight: the Praetor 600 covers every European sector above without refuelling.
• Groups of up to twelve: a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 or the Legacy 650.
• Spare range from London or Amsterdam: a long-range jet such as the Falcon 7X.
• Regional legs from Cameroon or Nigeria: a midsize jet such as the Citation XLS+; from Europe it needs a fuel stop.

Prefer to talk it through? Leave a number and we call back about the permit timing and the schedule.

When to fly

November to February suits a visit best: dry weather, afternoons of 32 to 35 degrees and cool nights in the capital. The heat peaks near 40 degrees in April, the first rains come in May, and July and August are the wettest months, when several provincial airstrips are unusable. Empty Legs to Chad are rare at any time of year; when one appears, it is usually a jet going home to Europe after dropping passengers.

Ramadan and both Eid holidays fall about eleven days earlier each year. Ministries work reduced hours in Ramadan and shut on the holidays, so a permit request around those dates needs extra days.

Visas, documents and local rules

Chad is outside the EU and Schengen, so the return flight clears passport control and customs at the first Schengen or UK airport.

Flying with a dog or cat

The pet travels in the cabin with the operator's approval and enters through N'Djamena. It needs a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel to an animal of at least 12 weeks and a health certificate from a government vet issued within 10 days of entry. Requirements such as a microchip, an antibody test or an import permit are confirmed in writing with the livestock ministry before the flight, because incomplete papers can mean refusal at the airport.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs to and from N'Djamena are rare. They come from a charter that does not wait in the capital, so the aircraft returns to Europe empty, or from an aircraft repositioning after a contract in Central or West Africa. To be told about one, write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction you need and the dates you could fly.

How to book

1. You send the reason for the trip, the dates and each passenger's name and nationality.
2. We find an operator ready to fly to N'Djamena and obtain written confirmation of its insurance.
3. You receive aircraft options with operator, model and price, with Douala as a fallback where needed.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; we file the permit at least 10 working days ahead.
5. In the last days we check the permit number, the handler, the cars waiting at the airport and the current airspace notices.

Questions about private flights to Chad

• • Can a private jet fly from Europe to N'Djamena?

  • It can, once the Chadian permit is issued and an operator and its insurer have accepted the date. You get our answer before any payment.

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

  • From EUR 35,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Rome - N'Djamena in a Praetor 600. Paris costs EUR 42,000 and London EUR 45,000, plus handling, charges and taxes.

• • How long is the flight?

  • 4:50 h from Rome, 6:05 h from Paris and 6:31 h from London in a Praetor 600, non-stop. N'Djamena keeps the same time as Paris in winter and is 1 hour behind in summer.

• • Is there a VIP terminal?

  • There is none: no FBO or private lounge at N'Djamena. An authorised handler meets you at the aircraft and accompanies you through the passenger terminal.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Yes, issued before travel by a Chadian embassy, with a passport valid for six months. Stays of more than 72 hours are registered with the police.

• • How early should we book?

  • At least two weeks ahead: the permit request goes in 10 working days before the flight, and the visa takes longer.

• • Can we fly on to Abéché or Moundou?

  • Not with the aircraft from Europe. A local operator can quote these legs, after checking the travel advice for the area and the state of the airfield.

• • Can our dog come?

  • It can travel in the cabin if the operator agrees, with a rabies vaccination and a government vet's certificate. Do the antibody test in the EU before leaving, so the return is not delayed.