Private jet to Indonesia

More than 17,000 islands spread over three time zones, and for a private flight from Europe the archipelago is about as far as business aviation goes: 11,600 to 14,400 km along the routes European operators fly. Jakarta, the capital, holds the government, the head offices and the embassies; Bali takes most of the leisure traffic, with villas in Seminyak, Canggu and Uluwatu; Lombok and Labuan Bajo on Flores are the quieter islands further east, the second one the starting point for boat trips to Komodo National Park.

Almost every flight from western and central Europe lands once for fuel, usually in the Gulf, and spends 15 to 19 hours on the way, stop included. The paperwork sets the lead time: a security clearance from the armed forces, a landing permit, a slot and a handler at every airport. As a broker, we organise all of it through the operator and compare offers from European, Gulf and Asian fleets, including the option of a large jet to Singapore or Jakarta and a smaller one for the last stretch.

Tell us which islands you want to see, the dates and the number of passengers, and whether a night in Singapore or the Maldives on the way would suit you.

Why travel to the archipelago by private jet

How long the journey takes

Hours in the air, fuel stop included where the tables show one:

• Global 7500 non-stop: Larnaca - Jakarta Halim 11:23 h, Vienna - Jakarta Halim 13:24 h
• Gulfstream G550 non-stop: Istanbul - Jakarta Halim 12:26 h
• Global 7500 with one stop: Milan Linate - Jakarta Halim 15:34 h, Munich - Bali 16:20 h, London Farnborough - Jakarta Halim 16:24 h
• Falcon 900EX with one stop: Vienna - Jakarta Halim 15:39 h, London Farnborough - Bali 18:15 h, Nice - Labuan Bajo 18:09 h
• Falcon 7X from the Gulf: Dubai - Jakarta Halim 8:04 h, Doha - Bali 9:31 h
• Phenom 300 in the region: Singapore - Jakarta Halim 1:43 h, Perth - Bali 3:56 h

With airspace in Eastern Europe closed to them, European operators fly over Turkey, the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, about a tenth further than the straight line. Jakarta is the nearest main airport, and only from Vienna and the south-east of Europe does a Global 7500 reach it in one go. Bali, Lombok and Labuan Bajo lie another 1,000 to 1,500 km east, beyond the non-stop range of any business jet with a full cabin from western and central Europe, so the stop is part of the plan. On a journey of 16 hours or more the operator carries a second crew or changes crews at the stop, and the flight home against the wind takes longer.

Prices for private flights to Indonesia

Figures cover the whole jet one way from near the departure city; the military clearance, landing permit, slots, handling, parking, airport charges and taxes are added. Each time belongs to the first model priced in its row and includes the stop where there is one.

From the European hubs

The Falcon 900EX is the most economical large cabin: EUR 160,000 from Vienna to Jakarta and EUR 180,000 from London, both with one stop. Bali costs a little more than Jakarta: London to Bali is EUR 190,000, and the prices match our page on private jets to Bali. The Global 7500 is faster but stops too, except from Vienna and Larnaca, where it flies to Jakarta non-stop for EUR 190,000 and EUR 160,000.

From other European cities

From Istanbul the Gulfstream G550 reaches Jakarta without landing for EUR 155,000, while from Warsaw, Copenhagen and Athens every aircraft stops once.

From the Gulf, South-East Asia and Australia

Only a long-range jet flies the Gulf sectors without a stop, so the smaller cabins are on request there. Regional jets keep the short sectors cheap:

Flights between Indonesian airports, usually with an aircraft based in the country:

On a journey this long the flight hours make up most of the price, and a one-way charter also covers the empty return. For two or three weeks on the islands we quote two one-way flights with the jet leaving in between, because parking is scarce and crew hotels add up. Passenger taxes at the European end: a jet leaving France pays a per-person tax that grows with the length of the flight, a flight to or from Italy at this distance EUR 200 per person and one from Austria EUR 12; Germany, Norway and the Netherlands (aircraft of 5.7 t or more) charge their own, Sweden none, and the UK levies APD at the higher rate for private jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which covers every jet in the European tables. Indonesian charges and the Bali tourist levy 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

Three typical trips

Price per person

Calculator

The calculator gives a first estimate by e-mail; mention a night stop on the way and the islands you plan to visit.

Airports for business jets

The first landing must be at an international airport, and every Indonesian airport needs prior permission, a slot and a handler booked in advance: the rules do not allow a crew to handle its own aircraft. The handler enters the aircraft into the customs system, orders fuel with 24 hours' notice and arranges catering.

Indonesia lies on the Pacific ring of fire, and ash from eruptions on Flores has more than once stopped flights to Bali and Lombok. Every plan to the eastern islands therefore carries an alternate airport and room for a night on the ground.

Which aircraft to choose

On a 16-hour journey the number of beds matters as much as speed, and layouts differ between aircraft of the same type, so tell us how many passengers want to sleep. Surfboards, dive gear and golf bags fit in the hold of the large jets, but their weight is planned with the fuel. Other models are listed under ultra long range jets and heavy jets.

For a comparison of one long flight with a split trip via Singapore, leave a number and a consultant will ring.

When to go: dry months, Nyepi and peak weeks

On Java, Bali, Lombok and Flores the dry season runs roughly from May to September and the rains from November to March, with April and October in between. April, May, June and September give the best balance of weather, free slots and available aircraft; July, August and the weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest. Long Empty Legs from Europe are rare, but regional ones between Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur run all year.

Idul Fitri at the end of Ramadan moves each year. Around it millions of Indonesians travel home and the airports of Java are especially busy, so permits and handling are booked early.

From the airports to hotels and harbours

Empty Legs to and from Indonesia

Long-range jets that bring families from Europe often leave empty, and regional aircraft move constantly between Bali and the hubs of South-East Asia:

An Empty Leg still needs the Indonesian clearance and permit, so a booking at a day's notice is rarely possible. The direction and a date range go to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Pets: a long process

Dogs and cats can enter the country, but the preparation takes months and only a few airports may receive them. Bali is closed to the direct import of dogs and cats, private flights included.

• Leaving the EU: microchip to ISO standard, EU pet passport and a rabies jab given at least 21 days before the flight; five animals at most.
• Import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, issued in two stages and usually taking four to eight weeks; a rabies antibody test of at least 0.5 IU/ml is required, plus a health certificate endorsed by a government vet shortly before arrival.
• Dogs and cats enter through designated airports such as Soekarno-Hatta in Jakarta, Surabaya and Medan, not Halim; a quarantine of about 7 to 14 days usually follows, longer if papers are missing.
• An animal bound for Bali is first cleared and quarantined elsewhere and then needs a separate permit to move on, a process of several months.
• Indonesia is not on the EU list of countries exempt from the antibody test; if the blood sample was taken at home before departure and recorded in the pet passport, there is no three-month wait on return.
• On the flight the pet travels in the cabin beside you, once the operator has approved it in advance.

Entry rules and permits

The aircraft from Europe can continue to Singapore, Malaysia, Australia or Thailand with those countries' permits.

Before departure

• Passports valid six months from entry, undamaged, for every passenger.
• Visa on arrival bought online, or card or cash ready at the counter.
• All Indonesia card for each passenger within three days before landing; Bali levy paid.
• Names and passport numbers for the clearances at least a week ahead.
• Dates checked against Nyepi in March and against Idul Fitri.
• Villa address and the number of surfboards, dive sets and golf bags.
• Prescription medicines with a copy of the prescription, and no drugs of any kind in the luggage.

How to book

1. Send the departure city, dates, number of passengers and the islands; mention a night in Singapore or the Maldives if you would like one.
2. We plan the fuel stop and compare a heavy jet with a long-range aircraft, and the aircraft waiting in Jakarta or Singapore against a return to Europe.
3. You receive two to four offers with operator, model, cabin photos, journey time and the price for the whole aircraft, with permits, crew rest and parking shown separately.
4. After the contract and payment, the operator files the security clearance, the landing permit, the slots and the overflight permits; we book island legs with an Indonesian operator.
5. Two days before departure the crew and the Indonesian handler share their contacts, and the driver is told which terminal to meet you at.

Questions about private flights to Indonesia

• • How much is a private jet to Indonesia?

  • A one-way flight from Europe starts at EUR 130,000 for the whole aircraft. A Falcon 900EX with one stop costs EUR 160,000 from Vienna to Jakarta and EUR 190,000 from London to Bali; clearances, handling and taxes come on top.

• • Is a non-stop flight possible?

  • To Jakarta, yes, in a Global 7500 from Vienna or Larnaca and a Gulfstream G550 from Istanbul. To Bali and the eastern islands every aircraft stops once from western and central Europe.

• • Which airport in Jakarta?

  • Halim, about 30 minutes from the centre, with room to park for several days. Soekarno-Hatta is used for night arrivals and for flights with pets.

• • Can our jet fly us between the islands?

  • Only with a special domestic permit that takes three to four working days, and Indonesian citizens may join only if they also enter or leave the country on it. A turboprop or light jet based in Indonesia is often simpler.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Yes, a 30-day visa on arrival or bought online, extendable once. Every passenger also fills in the All Indonesia arrival card, and visitors to Bali pay a tourist levy.

• • How long before the flight should we book?

  • At least a week: the clearance and permit need three to five working days, and the offices are closed at weekends. For July, August, Christmas and the MotoGP weekend on Lombok, book several weeks ahead.

• • What is Nyepi?

  • The Balinese Day of Silence, usually in March, when Ngurah Rai closes for 24 hours from 06:00 to 06:00. We check its date for every request in that month.

• • Which months are driest?

  • May to September is dry on Bali, Lombok and Flores; April, May, June and September combine good weather with free slots.

• • Can we bring our dog to Bali?

  • No. Bali bans the direct import of dogs and cats. Entry elsewhere in the country is possible but takes months of preparation and a quarantine.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Indonesia?

  • Mostly regional ones between Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur; long legs from Europe are rare. Ask at empty-legs@jets.flights.