Private jet to East Timor

East Timor, or Timor-Leste as the state calls itself, occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor at the south-eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago, with the exclave of Oecusse on the western side. The languages of the state are Tetum and Portuguese, and the currency is the US dollar. Petroleum revenue funds most of the state budget, and most people who charter a jet here are energy contractors, lenders, delegations and officials with meetings in Dili; divers and walkers come for Atauro Island and Mount Ramelau.

All international flights to East Timor use Presidente Nicolau Lobato International at Dili. Its runway of about 1,850 m is short for a long-range jet, the airport works in daylight only and every flight needs prior permission, so a trip from Europe takes more planning than the distance suggests. From Europe it is a flight of 11,800-14,500 km with one or two fuel stops; from Darwin in Australia it is 1:31 h in a light jet.

Send the dates, the number of passengers and their nationalities; the reply names the aircraft that fits the runway, the stops and the price.

Prices and flight times

The figures are for the whole aircraft, one way, before permit, handling, fuel arrangements and passenger taxes. Because operators route around closed and restricted airspace, distances from Europe are taken 10 % above the straight line. The aircraft has to suit both the distance and the runway: from central and western Europe the Falcon 900EX and the Falcon 7X land once for fuel and the Challenger 650 twice; from Istanbul and Larnaca all three stop once. Jets that need more than 1,850 m, such as the Gulfstream G650 or the Global series, are checked case by case.

From Europe

From Vienna the Falcon 900EX costs EUR 180,000 and takes 17:41 h with one stop, while the Challenger 650 costs EUR 175,000 with two stops. From London the 900EX costs EUR 195,000. A morning departure from Europe lands at Dili inside the opening hours the next day by the local clock; an evening departure would arrive after dark, so the timing is planned backwards from the arrival.

From the Gulf, Asia and Australia

From Dubai a Falcon 7X flies without a stop in 10:14 h for EUR 125,000. Many travellers reach Singapore, Bali or Australia by scheduled flight and take a light or midsize jet for the last sector: Darwin - Dili costs EUR 10,000 in a Citation CJ3, Bali - Dili EUR 12,000. Passenger taxes are added by the country of departure: France a jet passenger tax that rises with distance, about EUR 2,100 at this range and about EUR 420 for intra-European trips, Italy EUR 200 per passenger on flights from or to its airports at this range, Austria EUR 12, and separate German and Dutch taxes (Dutch from 5.7 t). From the UK, APD applies at the higher rate to aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which covers the Challenger 650, Falcon 900EX and Falcon 7X; lighter jets pay the standard band rate and aircraft under 5.7 t are exempt. Charges in Timor-Leste 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

Price per passenger

For a route not in the tables, the calculator gives a rough figure; the final offer depends on the runway, the permit and the fuel plan.

Airports

• Prior permission for every flight comes from the civil aviation authority, AACTL, with seven business days of notice.
• Every movement is planned within daylight, and an alternate is named for every sector.
• On the short runway a fully fuelled long-range jet may not take off at maximum weight in the heat; the operator calculates the take-off weight and, if needed, plans a fuel stop in Darwin or Bali on the way home.
• The fuel release is sent to the handler before the aircraft leaves Europe.
• Runway works are checked in the notices to airmen for the dates of the trip.

Which aircraft fits the runway on your dates is easier to settle by phone: leave your number for a call back.

The year month by month

Dili is warm all year, with daytime highs of 28-30 °C. The dry season from May to November is the easier time to travel in East Timor; from December to March heavy rain can bring flash floods and landslides and close mountain roads. Public holidays shape business trips more than the weather, because ministries and banks close. Empty Legs to the region are most frequent around Christmas and New Year and usually end in Singapore, Bali or Australia.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs ending at Dili are very rare. A long-range jet returning to Europe from Singapore or Australia sometimes has a free sector, and a light jet from Darwin or Bali covers the last part. Prior permission still takes seven business days, so the dates must leave room for it. To be told about such a leg, e-mail empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and the window of dates.

Dogs and cats

The rules for animals are strict and include quarantine, so for a short trip we advise leaving the pet at home.

• Departure from the EU: microchip, pet passport and a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before the flight, for no more than five animals.
• Entering Timor-Leste: an ISO microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, the vaccination given at least 30 days and no more than a year before entry, a rabies antibody test with entry no sooner than three months after the sample, a health certificate endorsed by the government veterinary service, an examination within 48 hours of travel and parasite treatment within seven days.
• The animal enters through Dili airport and is normally held at least 14 days in an approved quarantine facility even with every paper in order. Whether it may travel in the cabin of a private jet is settled with the authority before booking.
• Coming back: Timor-Leste is not on the EU list of countries with simpler rules; the antibody test taken in Europe before departure also covers the return. Great Britain also asks for its pet health certificate and, for a dog, a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before landing; Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway ask for the same treatment for dogs.

Visa and entry

Roads outside Dili are slow and can be damaged in the wet season, and crocodiles live in rivers and on the south and east coasts, so trips into the interior or along the coast are planned with a local guide. An onward flight to the UK needs an electronic travel authorisation for EU citizens; British citizens are exempt.

How to book

1. Send the dates, the number of passengers with their nationalities and the purpose of the trip.
2. We choose an aircraft that fits both the distance and the 1,850 m runway, and plan the arrival within the opening hours.
3. You receive offers with operator, aircraft, stops, flight time and the price for the whole aircraft.
4. Once you choose, you sign the operator's contract and pay by transfer or card; what a cancellation costs depends on the operator and the days left before the flight, and is stated in the contract.
5. The handler files the prior permission seven business days ahead, arranges the fuel and meets you at the aircraft.

Questions about private flights to East Timor

• • How much does a private jet to East Timor cost?

  • From EUR 145,000 one way for the whole aircraft from Europe, Larnaca - Dili in a Challenger 650 with one stop. From Vienna a Falcon 900EX costs EUR 180,000, with permit, handling and taxes on top.

• • Why can't every long-range jet land in Dili?

  • The runway is about 1,850 m long, and some of the largest business jets need more, especially when they leave heavy with fuel. The operator calculates the take-off weight for each flight.

• • Can we arrive in the evening?

  • The airport closes at 18:45 local time, and night operations need special permission, so arrivals are planned in daylight.

• • How far ahead should we book?

  • At least two weeks: prior permission takes seven business days, and fuel and handling are arranged in advance.

• • Which passports need a visa for Timor-Leste?

  • Citizens of Schengen states need no visa for up to 90 days in any 180; British citizens get a 30-day visa on arrival at Dili for USD 30 in cash.

• • Is it cheaper to start in Asia or Australia?

  • Often, yes. Darwin - Dili takes 1:31 h in a light jet, so a scheduled flight to Darwin, Bali or Singapore plus a short charter can cost much less than a jet from Europe.

• • Can we bring a dog?

  • It is possible but demanding: antibody test, a three-month wait, and at least 14 days of quarantine on arrival.

• • What is the time difference?

  • Dili is nine hours ahead of London in winter and eight in summer; Timor-Leste does not use summer time.