Private jet to Cuba

Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, about 1,250 km from end to end, and private flights come for Old Havana, the beaches of Varadero, the resort cays on the north coast and the east around Holguín and Santiago de Cuba. From London Farnborough to Havana the distance is about 7,470 km: a Global 6000 or a Gulfstream G650 flies it without a stop, a Challenger 650 lands once for fuel.

The island needs more preparation than the rest of the Caribbean. Every flight needs a landing permit, a local handler is compulsory, jet fuel has at times been unavailable at Cuban airports, and not every operator and insurer accepts flights to Cuba. As a broker we settle these points with the operator before we send a price, and we say early if a request cannot be flown.

Several European governments advise against travel to Cuba or against all but essential travel, citing shortages of fuel and power. Read your government's advice before booking and make sure your travel insurance covers Cuba.

Send us the destination on the island, the dates and the number of passengers:

Routing, flight times and fuel

Non-stop times in a Global 6000 from the main table: Lisbon - Havana 8:46 h, London - Havana 9:17 h, Madrid - Havana 9:17 h, Paris - Varadero 9:31 h, Frankfurt - Havana 10:04 h, Vienna - Holguín 10:31 h. A Challenger 650 refuels once, usually in the Azores, and takes about an hour and a half longer. The westbound flight meets headwinds; the return is usually shorter.

Because fuel cannot be promised on the island, the return is often planned in two parts: a short leg to an airport that sells fuel, then the ocean crossing. Grand Cayman is about 425 km from Havana, Cancún in Mexico about 510 km, Nassau in the Bahamas about 550 km and Montego Bay in Jamaica about 680 km. That leg appears as its own line in the quote.

Prices to Havana and the resorts

Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, assuming an aircraft based near the departure city. Not included: the Cuban landing permit and its handler, overflight and navigation fees, a refuelling leg outside Cuba if needed, and passenger taxes. The flight time is that of the first aircraft in the row.

From European hubs

The Challenger 650 with one stop is the cheapest way across: EUR 92,000 from Lisbon and EUR 97,000 from London or Madrid. Non-stop, the Global 6000 costs from EUR 110,000 out of Lisbon and EUR 115,000 out of London, Paris or Madrid. The airport on the island changes the price only a little, so it pays to land near the hotel.

From neighbouring islands and Mexico

Each of these legs is a separate international arrival with its own permit, and the aircraft brings the fuel for its next sector. Flights between Cuban airports also need their own permit and handling, so between Havana and Varadero a car is usually simpler: about 140 km, two to two and a half hours.

Taxes at departure from Europe: France a per-passenger tax on jets, rising with distance; Italy EUR 200 per passenger at this distance (also charged on arrival in Italy), Austria EUR 12; UK Air Passenger Duty at the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats and at the standard rate on lighter jets; Germany, Norway and the Netherlands charge their own. Services in Havana are generally paid in advance through the handler. Every item appears 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 in figures

Per passenger

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Airports on the island

Cuba's international airports are state-owned and have no business aviation terminals of the European kind; an experienced handler matters more than usual.

Which aircraft

From Europe the choice is between a Challenger 650 with one fuel stop and a non-stop Global 6000 or Gulfstream G650; the long-range jets also carry a reserve for the next leg, which matters when Cuban fuel is uncertain. More models in the ultra long range catalogue. For the hops to Grand Cayman, Cancún or Jamaica a Citation CJ3 is enough. Before proposing an aircraft, the operator confirms in writing that the aircraft, its insurance and its own rules allow a flight to Cuba.

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When to travel

The best months are December to April: dry, with temperatures of about 17 to 25 degrees in Havana in January, and the main season for visitors. May to October is hot and wet, and the hurricane season runs from June to November, most active in September and October. Empty Legs are rare all year, because few operators fly to Cuba; the best chances are around Christmas and Easter, mostly via neighbouring islands.

Empty Legs

An empty sector to Cuba still needs its permit, handling and the operator's approval for Cuba, so it is booked like a full charter. Legs between Europe and the neighbouring islands appear more often; write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a window of several days.

Visa, forms and customs

Travellers who have been to Cuba cannot use ESTA for later travel to the United States and need a US visa, which matters for trips continuing to Miami or New York. Long power cuts occur on the island, so ask your hotel whether it has its own backup power.

Flying with a dog or a cat

• Cuba requires a health certificate from a vet issued shortly before travel and a rabies vaccination given at least 30 days before arrival; animals enter through Havana José Martí. The details are confirmed with the Cuban embassy for each trip.
• Cuba is not an EU-listed country for pet travel: take the rabies antibody test before departure, at least 30 days after vaccination, so the animal can return to the EU without waiting three months.
• Dogs returning to the UK also need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival and travel only through approved routes.
• On a private jet the animal flies in the cabin beside you, up to five per traveller, once the operator has agreed.

How to book

1. Send the destination on the island, dates, number of passengers and everyone's nationality.
2. We choose an operator that flies to Cuba and has the insurance confirmed in writing.
3. The operator applies for the landing permit through a Cuban handler, at least three working days ahead, and plans the fuel.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; we collect the passport data for the visas and D'Viajeros.
5. On arrival the handler takes you through immigration and customs, and the car waits at the terminal.

Questions about private flights to Cuba

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

  • A Challenger 650 with one stop costs from EUR 92,000 from Lisbon and EUR 97,000 from London to Havana, one way for the whole aircraft. A non-stop Global 6000 costs from EUR 110,000.

• • Can any private jet fly to Cuba?

  • No. The operator must accept the destination and confirm in writing that its aircraft and insurance allow it, so the choice of operators is smaller than for other islands.

• • Can the jet refuel in Cuba?

  • Not always. The aircraft arrives with fuel for its next leg and, if needed, refuels in Grand Cayman, Cancún, Nassau or Montego Bay.

• • How long does the landing permit take?

  • The Cuban authorities ask for at least three working days, and the application goes through a local handler. Same-day bookings are not possible.

• • How long is the flight?

  • 9:17 h from London to Havana and 8:46 h from Lisbon in a Global 6000; with a fuel stop about an hour and a half longer.

• • Which airport should we use?

  • Havana for the city, Varadero for the Hicacos hotel zone, Cayo Coco for the northern cays and Holguín for Guardalavaca.

• • Do EU and UK citizens need a visa?

  • Yes, a tourist visa or tourist card, plus the D'Viajeros form within 72 hours before arrival.

• • Can we continue to the United States afterwards?

  • Yes, but not with an ESTA: after a stay in Cuba a US visa is required.

• • When is the best time to visit?

  • December to April, the dry season. The hurricane season runs from June to November.