Private jet to Gabon
Gabon sits on the equator on the Atlantic coast of Central Africa, and nearly every private flight there is made for oil, mining or government business. Libreville, the capital, takes most arrivals; Port-Gentil is the centre of the oil industry on the coast to the south; Franceville serves the manganese province in the south-east. Each of the three is an airport of entry with customs and a runway that takes a long-range jet.
From the main European hubs a Praetor 600 reaches Libreville without a stop in six to eight hours. The planning points are the landing permit, a visa issued before departure for every passenger and a yellow fever certificate. Leisure trips are few and usually combine Libreville with a national park such as Loango or Lopé, reached by a local aircraft or by road.
Send the destination, the dates and the number of passengers, and a consultant replies with the aircraft, the operator and the price.
Why charter to Gabon
Prices to Libreville, Port-Gentil and Franceville
Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft based near the departure airport, plus handling, which is mandatory, landing and parking charges, the permit and passenger taxes. Flight time is for the first aircraft in each row.
From the European hubs
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Super midsize Praetor 600 |
Heavy jet Challenger 650 |
Long range Falcon 7X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Farnborough - Libreville | 5,731 km | 7:40 h | EUR 52,000 | EUR 67,000 | EUR 88,000 |
| Amsterdam - Libreville | 5,782 km | 7:44 h | EUR 53,000 | EUR 67,000 | EUR 89,000 |
| Brussels - Libreville | 5,628 km | 7:32 h | EUR 51,000 | EUR 66,000 | EUR 87,000 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Libreville | 5,435 km | 7:18 h | EUR 50,000 | EUR 64,000 | EUR 85,000 |
| Frankfurt - Libreville | 5,512 km | 7:23 h | EUR 50,000 | EUR 65,000 | EUR 86,000 |
| Munich - Libreville | 5,331 km | 7:10 h | EUR 49,000 | EUR 63,000 | EUR 83,000 |
| Zurich - Libreville | 5,227 km | 7:02 h | EUR 48,000 | EUR 62,000 | EUR 82,000 |
| Geneva - Libreville | 5,101 km | 6:53 h | EUR 47,000 | EUR 61,000 | EUR 80,000 |
| Milan Linate - Libreville | 5,002 km | 6:45 h | EUR 46,000 | EUR 61,000 | EUR 79,000 |
| Madrid - Libreville | 4,641 km | 6:18 h | EUR 43,000 | EUR 58,000 | EUR 75,000 |
| Nice - Libreville | 4,809 km | 6:31 h | EUR 45,000 | EUR 59,000 | EUR 77,000 |
| Rome - Libreville | 4,608 km | 6:16 h | EUR 43,000 | EUR 57,000 | EUR 74,000 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Port-Gentil | 5,557 km | 7:27 h | EUR 51,000 | EUR 65,000 | EUR 86,000 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Franceville | 5,727 km | 7:40 h | EUR 52,000 | EUR 67,000 | EUR 88,000 |
Rome and Madrid are the shortest sectors, both EUR 43,000 to Libreville in a Praetor 600, with 6:16 h and 6:18 h in the air. Geneva costs EUR 47,000, Paris EUR 50,000 with 7:18 h and London EUR 52,000 with 7:40 h. Port-Gentil and Franceville are a little further: EUR 51,000 and EUR 52,000 from Paris. All rows are non-stop for the three aircraft; a Challenger 650 costs EUR 64,000 from Paris to Libreville.
From the neighbouring countries
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Turboprop Pilatus PC-12 |
Midsize jet Citation XLS+ |
Super midsize Praetor 600 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Douala - Libreville | 396 km | 1:18 h | EUR 7,500 | EUR 11,000 | EUR 11,000 |
| Malabo - Libreville | 375 km | 1:16 h | EUR 7,500 | EUR 11,000 | EUR 10,500 |
| São Tomé - Libreville | 300 km | 1:07 h | EUR 7,000 | EUR 10,500 | EUR 10,000 |
| Pointe-Noire - Port-Gentil | 574 km | 1:40 h | EUR 8,000 | EUR 12,500 | EUR 12,500 |
| Lagos - Libreville | 959 km | 2:27 h | EUR 9,500 | EUR 14,500 | EUR 15,500 |
Short legs suit a turboprop: Douala in Cameroon and Malabo in Equatorial Guinea are EUR 7,500 each in a Pilatus PC-12, and the island capital of São Tomé and Príncipe EUR 7,000 for 1:07 h. From Pointe-Noire in the Republic of the Congo to Port-Gentil the turboprop costs EUR 8,000; from Lagos in Nigeria to Libreville a Citation XLS+ costs EUR 14,500. Every one of these is an international flight with its own permit and entry formalities.
From the Gulf
| Route | Distance | Flight time | Heavy jet Falcon 900EX |
Long range Falcon 7X |
Ultra long range Global 7500 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai World Central - Libreville | 5,614 km | 7:06 h | EUR 74,000 | EUR 87,000 | EUR 100,000 |
Dubai - Libreville is 7:06 h non-stop in a Falcon 900EX for EUR 74,000.
Passenger taxes follow the departure country. From France the solidarity tax is charged per passenger and climbs with distance, so a sector to Gabon pays more than a European one; from Italy EUR 200 per passenger on sectors over 1,500 km, charged again on the return to Italy; from Austria EUR 12. German and Dutch departures are taxed (in the Netherlands from 5.7 t), and British APD applies from 5.7 t, with the higher private-jet rate for aircraft of 20 t or more seating fewer than 19. Gabonese charges appear as separate lines in the quote.
Business jet price per flight hour
Two trips priced
Price per person
The aircraft is booked as a whole, so the share per seat falls with each traveller:
| Route | Aircraft | Whole aircraft | 2 passengers | 4 passengers | 6 passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rome - Libreville | Praetor 600 | EUR 43,000 | EUR 21,500 | EUR 10,800 | EUR 7,200 |
| Paris Le Bourget - Libreville | Praetor 600 | EUR 50,000 | EUR 25,000 | EUR 12,500 | EUR 8,300 |
| London Farnborough - Libreville | Challenger 650 | EUR 67,000 | EUR 33,500 | EUR 16,800 | EUR 11,200 |
Calculator
Use the calculator for an indicative figure to Libreville; mention Port-Gentil or Franceville in the comment.
Airports and handling
| Airport | Codes | Runway | Use for private flights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libreville Léon M'ba | LBV / FOOL | 3,000 m | Capital, government and embassies; entry airport, handling mandatory |
| Port-Gentil | POG / FOOG | 2,600 m | Oil industry; entry airport, open 06:00 to midnight |
| Franceville Mvengue | MVB / FOON | 3,080 m | Manganese province; entry airport, daytime hours |
| Makokou | MKU / FOOK | about 1,800 m | No customs; only after clearing at an entry airport |
None of the airports has a business aviation terminal. Local agents such as General Aviation Services work at all three, and several international flight support companies cover Libreville; the agent arranges the permit, fuel, catering, the crew hotel and the escort through the terminal, and we confirm in writing where passengers are processed. A permit request with complete papers (registration, airworthiness, insurance and noise certificates, crew and passenger details) is usually answered within 24 to 48 working hours; we allow 72 hours, and more over a weekend or a holiday. Crew visas are issued on arrival for up to 72 hours.
A flight between Libreville, Port-Gentil and Franceville with the same passengers is possible only when the authority approves it as part of the international trip; otherwise a Gabonese operator flies the leg.
Which aircraft
- Up to eight passengers: a super midsize Praetor 600, non-stop from every hub in the table.
- Up to twelve, or engineers with equipment: a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 or the Falcon 900EX.
- A full cabin from northern Europe with wide fuel reserves: a long-range jet such as the Falcon 7X.
- Regional legs: a Pilatus PC-12 for Douala, Malabo and São Tomé, or a midsize jet such as the Citation XLS+ for Lagos; from Europe a midsize jet needs fuel stops.
Leave a phone number, and a consultant will call back to go through the airports, the hours and the permit.
When to fly
The climate is equatorial, with temperatures around 26 degrees all year and about 2.5 m of rain. The main dry season runs from June to September, with June to August the driest, though often grey; a short dry spell follows in December and January. April and November are the wettest months. Business flights run all year; for Loango the dry months bring whales offshore from July, and elephants come onto the beaches from December. Empty Legs are rare in every month, with a few more around the Christmas holidays.
Entry rules and documents
Anything restricted or dutiable goes on the customs declaration at the airport of entry. Gabon is outside Schengen and the EU customs union, so the return flight clears passport control and customs at the first Schengen or UK airport.
Flying with a dog or cat
The pet flies in the cabin with the operator's approval and enters through Libreville. Gabon publishes no import scheme of its own, so expect an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel to an animal of at least 12 weeks, and a veterinary certificate signed by a government vet within 10 days of arrival; an antibody test and an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, requested at least 30 days ahead, may also be asked for. We obtain the requirements in writing from the embassy before the aircraft is confirmed.
Empty Legs
Empty Legs on the Gabon route are rare, because few aircraft fly there and most trips are planned weeks ahead. The leg most often offered is the empty return to Europe after a drop-off in Libreville; aircraft repositioning from Lagos, Douala or Luanda after a regional contract occasionally pass through Libreville. Mail empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a spread of possible dates. The visa, the yellow fever certificate and the permit are needed exactly as for a full charter.
How to book
- Send the airport, the dates, the passenger names and nationalities, and the purpose of the visit for the visa.
- We select an operator that flies to Gabon and confirm its insurance and the opening hours of the airport.
- You receive options with operator, aircraft, flight time and price, with the waiting or empty-return scenario.
- You sign the contract with the operator and pay; the local agent files the permit with the complete aircraft papers.
- Before departure we confirm the permit, the agent, fuel and the car at the aircraft.
Questions about private flights to Gabon
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- How much does a private jet to Gabon cost?
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From EUR 43,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Rome or Madrid - Libreville in a Praetor 600. Paris costs EUR 50,000 and London EUR 52,000, plus handling, charges, the permit and taxes.
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- How long is the flight to Libreville?
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6:16 h from Rome, 7:18 h from Paris and 7:40 h from London in a Praetor 600, without a stop. Libreville keeps Paris time in winter and is one hour behind in summer.
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- Can we fly straight to Port-Gentil?
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Yes. Port-Gentil is an airport of entry with customs, open from 06:00 to midnight local time; Paris - Port-Gentil costs EUR 51,000 in a Praetor 600.
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- Is there a VIP terminal in Libreville?
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No dedicated business aviation terminal. A local agent meets the aircraft and escorts passengers through formalities.
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- Do we need a visa?
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Yes, issued before travel by an embassy or through the online platform, plus a yellow fever certificate and a passport valid for six months.
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- How early should we book?
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Two weeks or more: the visa needs time, and the permit is filed with a margin of at least 72 hours, longer around holidays such as 16-17 August.
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- Can our dog or cat come?
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Yes, in the cabin with the operator's approval. Expect a microchip, rabies vaccination, a government vet certificate and possibly an import permit; plan the antibody test for the return to the EU.
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- Can you arrange a trip to Loango or Lopé?
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The parks are far from the three entry airports, so the jet lands in Libreville or Port-Gentil and a local aircraft or road transfer completes the trip, arranged case by case.
The aviation expert will answer all your questions about business aviation and private flights. We will help you to compare and choose the best business jet for your flight.