Private jet to the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic covers the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, the island it shares with Haiti, and is one of the most visited countries in the Caribbean. For private flyers it means three things above all: the beach resorts and villas of Punta Cana, Bávaro and Cap Cana on the eastern tip, golf and the marina at Casa de Campo near La Romana, and business in Santo Domingo, the capital. From London Farnborough to Punta Cana the distance is about 6,860 km, short enough for a Falcon 900EX to cross without a stop.

The country has seven international airports used by private jets, and the right one depends on where you are staying: landing at La Romana instead of Punta Cana saves about an hour on the road to Casa de Campo, landing at El Catey saves a drive of about three hours to Samaná. We are a broker: each request gets a non-stop flight and a cheaper one-stop option from operators on both sides of the Atlantic.

Send us the resort or city, the dates and the number of passengers, and we reply with aircraft, routing and prices.

Why fly privately to the eastern Caribbean

How long the flight takes

The westbound flight meets headwinds, so the way home is usually shorter. Non-stop times from the tables below:

• London Farnborough - Punta Cana: 8:34 h (Falcon 900EX)
• Paris Le Bourget - La Romana: 8:53 h (Falcon 900EX)
• Geneva - Punta Cana: 9:09 h (Falcon 900EX)
• Madrid - Santo Domingo: 8:22 h (Falcon 900EX)
• Lisbon - Punta Cana: 8:06 h (Praetor 600)
• Tenerife - Punta Cana: 7:12 h (Praetor 600)
• Munich - Punta Cana: 9:38 h (Global 6000)
• Vienna - Punta Cana: 10:03 h (Global 6000)

A Challenger 650 refuels once, typically in the Azores, where both legs sit comfortably within its range; the stop adds about an hour and a half to the trip. A morning departure from Europe lands in the Dominican Republic in the early afternoon local time.

Private jet prices to the Dominican Republic

Each price is one way for the whole aircraft, with the jet based near the departure city. Handling, airport fees, the tourist card and passenger taxes are extra, and the time column refers to the left-hand aircraft.

From the main European hubs

From London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Madrid the Falcon 900EX flies non-stop for less than a Challenger 650 with a stop: EUR 88,000 to Punta Cana from London and EUR 86,000 to Santo Domingo from Madrid. From Zurich, Milan, Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna, Nice and Hamburg both heavy jets stop once, and a non-stop Global 6000 costs EUR 115,000 to EUR 125,000.

From Spain, Portugal and other European cities

The Iberian side of Europe is closest. A Praetor 600 crosses from Tenerife to Punta Cana without a stop for EUR 49,000 and from Lisbon for EUR 55,000; from Porto, Barcelona, Dublin, Rome and Brussels it lands once for fuel, which keeps it the cheapest column.

From North America and the Caribbean

Many visitors to the Dominican Republic arrive from Miami or New York, or continue there after the island: a Phenom 300 costs EUR 15,000 from Miami and EUR 20,000 from New York to Punta Cana. San Juan in Puerto Rico is under an hour away. Flights within the Dominican Republic, for example Punta Cana to Santo Domingo or Samaná, are domestic and flown by a local operator, by helicopter or by car.

Taxes at departure from Europe: France a per-passenger tax on jets set by distance, about EUR 420 within Europe and about EUR 2,100 to the Caribbean; Austria EUR 12, and Italy EUR 200 per passenger at this distance, on flights from and to Italy. UK Air Passenger Duty applies 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 departure taxes. Airport fees for private aircraft in the Dominican Republic depend on the maximum take-off weight. All of it 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

What a trip costs in practice

Per passenger

Calculator

The calculator gives an instant estimate for your own route:

Airports and the VIP terminal

Each international airport in the Dominican Republic has its own owner and handling arrangement, and the closest airport to the hotel is usually the right one, since the price from Europe changes little between them.

Parking for business jets at Punta Cana becomes scarce between Christmas and Easter. On a stay of more than a few days the aircraft usually flies on and returns for the departure, which we price from the start. Passengers are asked to be at the VIP terminal 30 minutes before departure.

Choosing the aircraft

All the main airports of the Dominican Republic, from Punta Cana to Samaná, have runways long enough for the largest business jets, so the choice of aircraft depends on the distance and the party, not on the airport.

From the airport to the resort

Helicopter landings at villas or on Saona need permission several days in advance, and afternoon storms in the wet season can ground them, so a car is always kept as a fallback.

Seasons and the best months

December to April is the dry season in the Dominican Republic and the main season for visitors from Europe and North America, with Christmas and New Year as the hardest weeks to book. May and November are quieter and cheaper. Empty Legs are most frequent when long-range jets move to the Caribbean before Christmas and back after Easter, and on the short routes between Punta Cana, Florida and New York all winter.

Empty Legs between Europe and the island

Transatlantic Empty Legs to the Dominican Republic rarely match fixed dates, so they suit clients who can wait for a suitable leg. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a window of dates.

Travelling with a dog or a cat

No import permit is needed for your own dog or cat, but the deadlines are short, and the return to Europe needs a blood test planned before departure. On a private jet the animal stays in the cabin beside you for the whole crossing, once the operator has agreed.

• An ISO microchip and a rabies vaccination given at least 30 days and at most 12 months before arrival; the chip number appears on every document.
• A health certificate issued by a vet within 10 days before departure and endorsed by the state veterinary authority, with treatment against internal and external parasites in the same period.
• For the EU the Dominican Republic is an unlisted country: the rabies antibody test is done before you leave, at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before re-entering the EU.
• For the UK, a dog has a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before landing and enters by an approved route.
• Check that the resort or villa accepts animals; not all of them do.

Entry rules and customs

Travellers continuing to Miami, New York or San Juan need an ESTA or a US visa, and between two US airports the jet from abroad may carry only the passengers it brought from abroad or takes abroad, each leg with a permit to proceed; anyone who joins in the United States flies with a US operator.

Checklist before departure

• Passports valid for at least six months, children's included.
• E-ticket completed for arrival, and again before departure.
• Resort, villa or address, so we choose the airport and the car or helicopter.
• Golf, diving or kitesurf equipment declared with the request.
• ESTA if the trip continues to the United States.
• Pet documents and the antibody test result.

Booking and contract

1. Send the resort or city in the Dominican Republic, dates, passengers and luggage.
2. We pick the airport nearest to the stay and compare a non-stop jet with a one-stop option.
3. The offers name the operator, aircraft and flight time, with one price for the whole jet.
4. After signing and payment the operator files the flight and announces it to the airport; the VIP terminal or handler books the stand.
5. On arrival you clear passport control in the private terminal, and the car or helicopter waits beside it.

Questions about private flights to the Dominican Republic

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

  • From Tenerife a Praetor 600 costs EUR 49,000 and from London a Falcon 900EX EUR 88,000 to Punta Cana, one way for the whole aircraft. From central Europe a non-stop Global 6000 costs EUR 110,000 to EUR 125,000.

• • Which aircraft fly non-stop from Europe?

  • The Falcon 900EX from London, Paris, Geneva, Amsterdam and Madrid; the Global 6000 and larger jets from anywhere in central Europe. A Challenger 650 stops once in the Azores.

• • How long is the flight?

  • 8:34 h from London Farnborough to Punta Cana and 9:38 h from Munich in a Global 6000. With a stop in the Azores, count about 90 minutes more.

• • Should we land at Punta Cana or La Romana?

  • Punta Cana for Bávaro, Cap Cana and Uvero Alto; La Romana for Casa de Campo and Bayahíbe, which saves about an hour by road.

• • Which airport serves Santo Domingo?

  • Las Américas, east of the city, open around the clock with a general aviation building. Light jets can also use La Isabela, north of the city.

• • Do EU and UK citizens need a visa?

  • No, not for a tourist stay of up to 30 days. Everyone completes the e-ticket for arrival and departure.

• • When is the best time to go?

  • December to April is dry and the high season. May and November are cheaper; the hurricane season runs from June to November.

• • Can we bring our dog?

  • Yes, with microchip, rabies vaccination and a health certificate issued within 10 days of departure. Take the antibody test before leaving Europe so the dog can come home without waiting.

• • Can the same jet take us to other islands?

  • Yes, for international legs such as Punta Cana to San Juan or Providenciales. On a multi-island trip a light jet in the region is usually cheaper than keeping the long-range aircraft.

• • Can we fly between Punta Cana and Santo Domingo?

  • Yes, with a local operator or by helicopter in about 45 minutes; by road it takes about two hours.

• • Are there Empty Legs?

  • Transatlantic ones mainly around Christmas and after Easter, short ones from Florida and New York all winter. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.