Private jet to Kiribati

Kiribati is a republic of 33 atolls and islands spread along the equator in the central Pacific, in three groups: the Gilbert Islands in the west with the capital Tarawa, the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands in the east. The country spans more than 3,000 km and three time zones. Two airports take a business jet from abroad: Bonriki International on South Tarawa and Cassidy International on Kiritimati, 3,280 km apart.

Each island is planned as a separate destination. Tarawa is where government, aid projects and the Second World War sites are; Kiritimati, the largest coral atoll in the world by land area, draws anglers for bonefish and giant trevally on the lagoon flats. Both airports work in daylight hours only, fuel is limited, and there is no business aviation terminal. From Europe the flight takes one stop in an ultra long range jet and two in a heavy jet.

Tell us which island you are heading for, the dates and the number of travellers, and we reply with the routing and the aircraft.

Tarawa or Kiritimati

Prices for a private jet to Kiribati

Each figure is the one-way price of the whole aircraft, assuming one is available close to the departure airport; permits, handling, landing fees and passenger taxes come on top. The time column belongs to the first aircraft in the row and counts the stops.

From Europe to Tarawa

From Europe to Kiritimati

Kiritimati is the cheaper island from northern Europe. From London, Amsterdam or Hamburg a Challenger 650 with two stops costs EUR 180,000; from London a Falcon 7X costs EUR 225,000 and a Global 7500 costs EUR 245,000 with one stop. To Tarawa the heavy jet costs EUR 195,000 from London and the Global 7500 costs EUR 265,000. Vienna is the lowest-priced hub for Tarawa at EUR 190,000. Madrid is the longest sector at EUR 205,000 in the heavy jet.

Passenger taxes depend on where the trip starts: on a jet leaving France the solidarity tax per passenger rises with distance, about EUR 2,100 to the Pacific against about EUR 420 on a European flight, and Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on flights beyond 1,500 km, on departure from and on arrival in Italy. Austria charges EUR 12 per passenger, the Netherlands taxes aircraft of 5.7 t or more, and Germany and the UK have departure taxes of their own. Leaving Kiribati, each passenger pays a departure tax of 20 Australian dollars at the airport.

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

From the Pacific to Tarawa

Majuro and Nauru are short hops: EUR 11,500 in a Phenom 300 and less than an hour and a half in the air, which makes a tour of the Marshall Islands, Nauru and Tarawa practical in one week. Nadi in Fiji costs EUR 18,500 in the same jet. Brisbane is 3,850 km away and is priced in a Challenger 350 at EUR 40,000.

From the Pacific to Kiritimati

Honolulu - Kiritimati costs EUR 18,500 in a Phenom 300, 3:22 h, and many anglers fly to Hawaii first and take a light jet for the last sector. Papeete costs EUR 19,000; Nadi is 3,528 km away and is priced in a Challenger 350 at EUR 38,000.

Tarawa - Kiritimati is a domestic flight of 3,280 km. A foreign-registered aircraft needs the approval of the civil aviation authority for it, which we request together with the landing permit, before the trip is confirmed.

Two trips worked through

Price per person

Each extra traveller lowers the share per seat:

Calculator

The calculator gives an indicative price; write in the comment which island you need.

Airports and ground support

Fuel for the way back is confirmed before the aircraft leaves its last stop, and the crew plans the flight so that the arrival falls well inside opening hours. Rooms on South Tarawa are few and simple; on Kiritimati the fishing lodges handle rooms, transfers and boats.

Aircraft for Kiribati

• One stop from Europe: the Global 7500, the Falcon 7X or the Gulfstream G550, long-range and ultra long range jets.
• Two stops from Europe: the Challenger 650, a heavy jet that costs less and takes about two and a half hours longer.
• From Honolulu, Nadi, Majuro or Nauru: a Phenom 300 or a Citation XLS+.
• From Brisbane: a super midsize jet such as the Challenger 350.

Request a call to go through the island, the stops and the fuel plan.

When to go

Kiribati is hot all year. April to October brings steady north-easterly winds and the most pleasant weather; November to April is the wet season, with westerly gales, heavy rain and swells that can flood low-lying ground. Drought can strike in any year. Anglers come to Kiritimati all year round. Empty Legs are very rare; the best chance is the empty return of a long-range jet after a delivery, more often around Honolulu.

Entry and customs

A fuel stop in Honolulu or Alaska means entering the United States, so every passenger holds ESTA or a US visa; on a private jet ESTA works only if the operator is a Visa Waiver Program signatory. On the return passengers clear customs and passport control at the first Schengen or UK airport.

Pets

Kiribati is free of rabies and strict with animals. An import permit from the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development is required, and the ministry sets the conditions case by case. We plan a flight with a dog or cat only after the ministry confirms the conditions in writing, and we route the flight so that the animal does not leave the aircraft at a US stop. In the aircraft the pet travels in the cabin with its owner, after the operator has agreed.

Empty Legs

We will not promise an Empty Leg to Kiribati: they appear only when a jet repositions after a delivery. The return of an aircraft from Kiritimati to Honolulu, or from Tarawa to Nadi or Brisbane, is the most likely. Send your route and the range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we write when something fits.

How to book

1. Tell us the island, dates, passenger names and nationalities, and any fishing or survey equipment.
2. We choose the aircraft and the stops and check fuel, hours and the notice each airport needs.
3. You receive the quote with the operator, the routing and all fees.
4. After signature the operator files the landing permit and overflight clearances; passengers file ESTA if the route stops in the United States.
5. We confirm fuel, handling and the arrival time in writing and send the final schedule.

Kiribati: questions and answers

• • What does a private jet from Europe to Kiribati cost?

  • The lowest European price is EUR 180,000 one way: London, Amsterdam or Hamburg - Kiritimati in a Challenger 650 with two stops. Tarawa costs from EUR 190,000 from Vienna in the same aircraft.

• • Which island should we fly to?

  • Tarawa for government business and war history, Kiritimati for fishing and surf. They are 3,280 km apart and are planned as separate trips.

• • Can the airports take a jet at night?

  • No. Both work in daytime hours on weekdays, with limited Saturday hours on Tarawa, and night operations are not available. Out-of-hours arrivals are requested in advance.

• • Do EU citizens need a visa?

  • No, for stays of up to 90 days in 180 days. A stop in the United States on the way requires ESTA or a US visa.

• • Is fuel guaranteed?

  • No. Stocks are limited on both islands, so the uplift is ordered before departure and confirmed in writing.

• • Can we fly from Tarawa to Kiritimati with the same jet?

  • It is a domestic flight, so a foreign aircraft needs the civil aviation authority's approval. We request it together with the landing permit.

• • Can I bring a dog?

  • Only with a written import permit from the ministry, whose conditions are set case by case. Allow several months.

• • What is the best time?

  • April to October has the steadiest weather. November to April is the wet season with westerly gales.