Private jet to Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a principality of about 160 km² in the Rhine valley between Switzerland and Austria, with Vaduz as its capital. Most people who fly here privately come for meetings at banks, trust companies and industrial firms in Vaduz and Schaan; others are on their way to the slopes of Malbun or to the larger resorts of Graubünden and Vorarlberg.

The country has no airport, only a heliport in Balzers. Private jets land at St. Gallen-Altenrhein in Switzerland, about 50 km from Vaduz on the shore of Lake Constance, at Friedrichshafen on the German side of the lake, or at Zurich. As a broker, we choose the airport by the address, the size of the group and the time of the return, because Altenrhein closes for lunch and in the evening. Below are prices, transfer times, the customs rules and what to know about travelling with a dog.

Send the meeting address, the date and the time you need to be back, and we will propose the airport and the aircraft.

Why fly privately to Vaduz

Flight times to the airports for Liechtenstein

Times in a Citation CJ3 to Altenrhein, from the first table below, including taxi, climb and descent:

Altenrhein and Friedrichshafen face each other across Lake Constance, so flight times to both are almost the same. Zurich lies further west, and the drive to Vaduz is more than twice as long. Add about 40 minutes by car from Altenrhein, a little over an hour from Friedrichshafen and about 1:30 h from Zurich.

Prices for private flights to Liechtenstein

The figures are for the entire aircraft, one direction, before handling and passenger taxes; the car to Vaduz is a separate item. The flight time shown is for the first aircraft in the row.

To Altenrhein from the European hubs

The runway at Altenrhein is 1,455 m long, so light and midsize jets are the usual choice:

From Geneva, Milan, Munich and Frankfurt a Citation CJ3 costs EUR 8,000, from Paris EUR 9,500 and from London EUR 10,500. A Citation XLS+ with a taller cabin and a larger hold costs EUR 14,000 from London. Super midsize jets such as the Challenger 350 are not priced to Altenrhein: the runway is too short to count on them, and the operator would have to confirm the weight for each flight.

Larger jets via Friedrichshafen and Zurich

For bigger groups, longer stays or a late return, the jet lands at Friedrichshafen (2,356 m) or Zurich, where every business jet fits:

A Challenger 350 from London costs EUR 16,500 to Zurich or Friedrichshafen. The airport choice changes the drive more than the price: about 85 km from Friedrichshafen through Austria, about 115 km from Zurich.

Long-haul to Zurich

Long-range jets from the Gulf, Israel and the United States land at Zurich:

From New York the Challenger 650 stops once for fuel; the Falcon 7X and the Global 7500 fly non-stop in under 8 h. The figure follows the hours flown, how far the closest available aircraft has to come and the calendar: in the week of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, aircraft and parking across the region are scarce and prices rise. Passenger taxes depend on the departure country. Flights from the UK pay Air Passenger Duty (none on aircraft under 5.7 t, the standard rate on most jets here, the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats), departures from Germany, including the return from Friedrichshafen, a departure tax, and flights from Italy EUR 100 per passenger up to 1,500 km. Everything is itemised 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

Split between the passengers, the charter price gives these amounts per head:

Online calculator

Enter the departure airport, Altenrhein, Friedrichshafen or Zurich as the destination, the date and the number of passengers, and the estimate arrives by e-mail within minutes.

Airports for Liechtenstein

The principality has only a heliport. The jet lands in a neighbouring country, and the table shows which airport suits which trip:

Which aircraft for Liechtenstein

Range is never the issue here; the 1,455 m runway at Altenrhein decides. A summary by class:

Larger types can land at Altenrhein in some cases, but then the runway limits the fuel and the load, and the operator calculates each flight. For four people with briefcases a light jet is enough; ski bags and boots for a family need the hold of a PC-24 or a midsize jet.

Want to check the schedule against the opening hours at Altenrhein? Leave your number and a consultant will call you.

Customs, passports and money

Liechtenstein is in Schengen and in the European Economic Area, but not in the EU. With Switzerland it forms one customs and currency area, so prices are in Swiss francs and the border with Austria is a customs border.

When to fly to Liechtenstein

Most trips are business, so demand is spread over the year. The busiest week is the World Economic Forum in January; the easiest months are spring, early summer and autumn, when aircraft and parking are available at a few days' notice. Empty Legs from Zurich and Lake Constance are most frequent right after the Davos week and on Friday evenings, when jets that brought business travellers return to base.

From the airport to Vaduz

The driver waits during the meeting and takes the passengers back to the airport at the agreed time. In winter we book a car with winter equipment, and a larger vehicle for several pairs of skis.

Empty Legs to and from Lake Constance and Zurich

Empty Legs appear when a jet returns to base without passengers. Around Liechtenstein the typical patterns are:

Write the route and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and you will hear from us once a fitting leg comes up.

Travelling with a dog or cat

The EU lists Liechtenstein and Switzerland among the countries whose pet rules are equivalent to its own, so the same documents work as within the EU: a microchip, an EU pet passport and a rabies vaccination given after the chip, at least 21 days before travel if it is the first one. Up to five animals can travel per person. Neither Liechtenstein, Switzerland nor Germany requires a tapeworm treatment, and the return to the EU needs no blood test.

Animals coming from Britain need an animal health certificate dated within ten days of landing, as a British pet passport is not recognised. For the flight home, a dog gets its tapeworm dose one to five days before it lands in the UK (the same applies to Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway); on a trip of up to five days the British vet can give it before departure, if the return is within five days of the dose. Only approved routes and handlers can bring a pet into Great Britain.

Checklist before departure

• Passport or ID card for every passenger.
• Names and document numbers the day before.
• Meeting address and time, so the schedule fits the opening hours at Altenrhein.
• Goods to declare: watches, jewellery, samples, cash of EUR 10,000 or more when crossing into the EU.
• Skis and boots, with the number of bags.
• Pet documents, breed and weight.
• Company details for the invoice.

How to book

1. Send the departure airport, date, number of passengers and the address in Liechtenstein.
2. We compare Altenrhein, Friedrichshafen and Zurich against the group, the luggage and the time of the return.
3. You then get two to four options, each naming the operator and model, with photos and one price for the aircraft, and the car priced separately.
4. When the contract is signed and the invoice paid, we arrange handling, the customs notice, catering and the driver.
5. On arrival the car waits at the terminal and drives you to Vaduz.

Questions about private flights to Liechtenstein

• • Does Liechtenstein have an airport?

  • No, only a heliport in Balzers. Private jets land at St. Gallen-Altenrhein in Switzerland, about 50 km from Vaduz, at Friedrichshafen in Germany or at Zurich.

• • How much does a private jet to Liechtenstein cost?

  • The lowest table price is EUR 8,000 for a Citation CJ3 to Altenrhein, from Geneva, Milan, Munich or Frankfurt; from London the same jet is EUR 10,500. Both are one way for the whole aircraft, with the car and taxes extra.

• • Which aircraft can land at Altenrhein?

  • Light jets such as the Citation CJ3, Phenom 300 and Pilatus PC-24, and midsize jets after a performance check. Larger jets use Friedrichshafen or Zurich.

• • Can I fly in for a meeting and back the same day?

  • Yes. A morning arrival and an afternoon departure leave several hours in Vaduz. We plan around the lunch break from 12:00 to 13:30 and the evening closing time at Altenrhein.

• • What if my return is late in the evening?

  • Altenrhein can extend its hours for a fee. Otherwise the jet leaves from Zurich, where the last charter departure is at 21:45, or from Friedrichshafen.

• • Is there a customs check?

  • Yes. Liechtenstein is in the Swiss customs area, so customs clear at Altenrhein or Zurich, or at the Austrian border if you land at Friedrichshafen.

• • Do I need a passport?

  • From a Schengen country there is no passport control, but the operator requires a passport or ID card. Flights from the UK clear the border at Altenrhein or Zurich.

• • Which currency is used?

  • The Swiss franc. Liechtenstein is not in the EU, although it belongs to the European Economic Area.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Yes. With a chip, a valid rabies vaccination and the EU pet passport it flies in the cabin; no tapeworm treatment or blood test is needed for the trip from the EU.

• • When is it hardest to find an aircraft?

  • In the World Economic Forum week in Davos in January. Book a week before or after if the date is flexible.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Liechtenstein?

  • Mostly to Zurich and Lake Constance, after the Davos week and after business day trips. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.