Private jet to Hong Kong

One of Asia's main financial centres draws bankers, fund managers, lawyers, art buyers and the regional heads of European companies, many of whom run their Asian business from offices in Central and Admiralty. A charter from Europe is a long-haul flight of 11 to 16 hours, depending on the aircraft and the number of fuel stops, and it is often the first leg of a round trip that continues to Shanghai, Singapore or Tokyo before the flight home.

Business jets land at Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok, a largely reclaimed island off Lantau, and use the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre (HKBAC), the only private terminal at the airport. The special administrative region has its own border, its own Civil Aviation Department and its own entry rules, separate from the rest of China. The runway is never the limit here: parking on the small business aviation apron usually is, so the length of stay matters as much as the choice of aircraft. As a broker, we compare offers from operators that fly to East Asia on a regular basis.

Tell us the planned landing time to the hour, the number of nights and the size of the group, and a consultant will reply with aircraft, routing and a plan for parking:

Why charter a business jet to Hong Kong

How long the flight takes

Non-stop times in a Global 7500 from the tables below, taxi and climb included:

• Larnaca: 10:51 h, Istanbul: 11:08 h, Warsaw: 11:31 h
• Vienna: 12:06 h, Hamburg: 12:22 h, Munich: 12:32 h, Frankfurt: 12:42 h
• Rome: 12:50 h, Zurich and Amsterdam: 12:52 h, Milan: 12:56 h
• Geneva: 13:11 h, Nice: 13:15 h, Paris Le Bourget: 13:18 h, London Farnborough: 13:23 h
• Madrid: 16:00 h with one fuel stop
• Dubai: 7:06 h, Doha: 7:29 h

The distances in the tables are planned route lengths, about a fifth longer than the straight line, because European operators route around closed and restricted airspace. The usual track crosses Turkey, the Caucasus, the Caspian and Central Asia and enters China from the west; some flights run further south over the Gulf and India. A heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 lands once on the way, typically in Central Asia or the Gulf, and the stop adds about an hour on the ground. Flying east, the jet stream often shortens the trip; the return to Europe against the wind can take an hour longer.

Prices for a private jet to Hong Kong

Every price is for the whole aircraft, one way, before parking, crew hotels, Hong Kong charges and passenger taxes. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in the row and shows the stop it needs.

From the European hubs

The Challenger 650 with one stop is the lowest fare from every city except Madrid: EUR 115,000 from Larnaca and EUR 120,000 from Istanbul, against EUR 140,000 from London, Paris and Nice. A non-stop Global 7500 costs EUR 150,000 from Larnaca and EUR 170,000-190,000 from western and central Europe. From Madrid the route is long enough for even the Global 7500 to stop once, and the Challenger 650 would need two stops, so that cell is on request.

From other European cities

From the Nordic capitals, central Europe and Athens the route is shorter than from the west, while Dublin is the longest sector on the page:

Regional flights in Asia

Many trips start or end elsewhere in the region. On these sectors a light jet or a super midsize is enough; the table shows flights into Hong Kong, and the reverse direction costs the same:

Long-haul from the Gulf

From Dubai and Doha the sector is half as long as from Europe, and a heavy jet flies it non-stop. The operator confirms the routing over the Gulf and India for the date:

The fare is built from flight hours plus a fixed share for bringing the aircraft and crew to the departure airport; on a sector of 12 hours or more the operator usually adds a third pilot or plans a full day of rest before the return. Passenger taxes depend on where the trip starts: France's per-passenger tax on jets is about EUR 2,100 to Hong Kong, the top distance band, against about EUR 420 within Europe, while Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on sectors over 1,500 km and Austria EUR 12 per passenger. The UK charges Air Passenger Duty at the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which covers the Challenger 650, the Falcon 7X and the Global 7500; lighter jets pay the standard rate of their distance band. Germany and Norway levy departure taxes, the Netherlands taxes passengers on aircraft of 5.7 t or more, and Sweden has no passenger tax. Hong Kong airport 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

What a trip really costs

Price per person

A charter is priced per aircraft, so the share for each traveller falls as the group grows. Taxes and airport charges per passenger come on top:

Cost calculator

Enter your route and date for a first estimate by e-mail; mention the length of stay so that parking or repositioning can be added.

Chek Lap Kok and the business aviation centre

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG, VHHH) sits on reclaimed land around the former islands of Chek Lap Kok and Lam Chau, off the north coast of Lantau, about 40 km from Central. It has three parallel runways of about 3,800 m and operates 24 hours a day without a night curfew, so every business jet, up to the largest airliner conversions, can land at any hour.

All private flights use the Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, a separate building with its own lounges and its own immigration, customs and health desks. HKBAC is also the only fuel supplier for business aircraft: fuel for the departure is ordered the day before, because waits of up to an hour happen. The airport asks crews to be in the terminal at least two hours before departure.

Three approvals must exist before the jet leaves Europe. The Civil Aviation Department issues the landing permit for private and charter flights at least three working days ahead, and its office does not work at weekends. Slots for arrival and departure are booked through the coordinator up to 14 days ahead, and through the Civil Aviation Department for days 15 to 30; the tolerance is 120 minutes, and missed slots bring penalty points for the operator. Parking is reserved separately through the airport portal, up to 30 days ahead.

Parking is the real bottleneck. A stay of up to six hours is approved automatically; for longer stays the decision depends on free space, and when the stands near the terminal are full the aircraft goes to a remote stand. Without a confirmed stand the jet may only drop its passengers and leave. Handling is charged by maximum take-off weight and parking by wingspan, in blocks of six hours.

Macau, Shenzhen and the other airports in the delta

For a long stay the most common plan is to let the aircraft wait across the estuary in Macau, which has its own business aviation terminal and more room on the apron. Shenzhen and Guangzhou are in mainland China, so landing there means a Chinese permit and Chinese border control; we suggest them only when the programme includes meetings on the mainland side.

Which aircraft suits the trip

For the flight from Europe compare heavy jets for price and ultra long range jets when a non-stop flight and sleep matter. Over 12 hours on board, the cabin layout counts as much as range: ask how many seats convert into full beds as well as the total seat count. On a full westbound flight home against strong winds, even an ultra long range jet may need a short stop, and the operator plans fuel for the actual day.

Questions about slots, parking or a round trip through Asia? Leave your number and a consultant will call you back.

When to fly: the Hong Kong calendar

The airport is busy all year, but a few recurring periods fill the slots and the stands weeks in advance:

For business trips, a mid-week arrival and a departure before the weekend work best, because landing permits are processed only on working days.

From the airport to the city

Empty Legs to and from Hong Kong

An Empty Leg is a sector the operator must fly without passengers, for example after dropping clients in the city, and sells at a reduced price. Between Asian cities they appear more often; between Europe and Hong Kong they are less frequent but worth watching:

The date and hour are set by the operator, and an Empty Leg still needs a landing permit, a slot and a parking stand, which can make a last-minute offer impossible to use. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a range of dates, and we will contact you when a suitable flight appears.

Flying with a dog or cat

Hong Kong has its own animal health rules, and they are strict:

• Leaving the EU, a pet needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport; up to five animals can travel with the owner.
• Hong Kong requires a special permit from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) for every dog or cat, issued before departure.
• The rules depend on the group in which AFCD places the country of origin: Denmark, for example, is in group II, while an animal from Poland falls under group IIIB with at least 120 days of quarantine and arrival only as manifested cargo.
• Pit bull terriers, tosas, dogo argentinos and fila brasileiros may not enter.
• Dogs over five months staying in the city need a local licence and rabies vaccination, arranged by the permit holder or an agent.

Documents and entry rules

Hong Kong is outside Schengen and outside the EU customs union, so passengers clear customs on arrival and again when they return to Europe. Departure taxes in Europe follow the rules described in the price section; anything else is listed in the quote.

Before departure: checklist

• A passport for every passenger, valid for the whole stay.
• Names, nationalities and passport numbers sent early for the landing permit and the electronic manifest.
• The exact landing time and the number of nights, for the slot and the parking request.
• A decision on where the aircraft waits: Hong Kong, Macau or back at its base.
• Onward plans to Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Macau, so that border crossings are planned.
• The hotel address and the side of the harbour it is on.
• The AFCD permit if a pet travels with you.

How to book

1. Send the dates with the landing time, the number of passengers and the length of stay.
2. We request a parking stand first, because it is the scarcest resource at Chek Lap Kok, then the slots.
3. You receive offers for a one-stop heavy jet and a non-stop ultra long range jet, with the parking or Macau option priced in.
4. After you choose, the operator files the landing permit with the Civil Aviation Department at least three working days ahead.
5. Passenger data goes into the electronic manifest, fuel for the return is ordered the day before, and the car waits at HKBAC.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Frequently asked questions about Hong Kong flights

• • How much does a private jet from Europe to Hong Kong cost?

  • From EUR 115,000 one way from Larnaca and EUR 120,000 from Istanbul in a Challenger 650 with one fuel stop, and EUR 140,000 from London. A non-stop Global 7500 costs from EUR 150,000, before parking and passenger taxes.

• • Can a business jet fly non-stop from London?

  • Yes, a Global 7500 makes it in about 13:23 h on the longer southern routing used by European operators. Heavy jets and the Falcon 7X stop once for fuel.

• • Which terminal do private passengers use?

  • The Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, the only business aviation terminal at Chek Lap Kok, with border checks in the building.

• • How far ahead should I book?

  • At least a week is sensible: the landing permit needs three working days, and parking can be reserved up to 30 days ahead. Around Chinese New Year, Art Basel and Christmas, start several weeks earlier.

• • Can the aircraft wait for us for a week?

  • Only if the airport grants a stand for the whole stay, which is not certain. Otherwise the jet waits in Macau or flies back to its base, and we price both options.

• • Do I need a visa?

  • Citizens of the EU, the UK, Switzerland and Norway visit Hong Kong without a visa, usually for up to 90 days. Mainland China has separate rules.

• • Can we bring our dog?

  • Only with a special AFCD permit issued in advance, and the conditions depend on the country of origin; from some European countries the animal faces 120 days of quarantine.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Hong Kong?

  • Yes, mostly on regional routes from Taipei, Manila, Bangkok or Singapore, and sometimes on long-range jets returning to or from Europe. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your dates.

• • Is a same-day return possible?

  • Not from Europe, because of the crew duty limits after 11-16 hours in the air. From Taipei or Shanghai a day trip works if both slots are confirmed.

• • How much luggage fits?

  • Heavy and long-range jets have holds that can be reached in flight. With a full cabin, give us the number of suitcases, golf bags or exhibition cases so the operator can check weight and volume.

• • Can we continue to Shanghai or Beijing with the same jet?

  • Yes, with a Chinese permit for the mainland landing. A further leg between two mainland cities depends on that permit, and a Chinese operator is often the simpler choice.