Private jet to Malta

The Maltese archipelago lies in the middle of the Mediterranean, 93 km south of Sicily, and has three inhabited islands: Malta itself, Gozo and tiny Comino. One airport serves all of them. It sits between Luqa and Gudja, about 6 km from Valletta, and it is open day and night with no curfew. English is spoken everywhere and is one of the two state languages beside Maltese, the currency is the euro, and the clock is the same as in Rome or Paris.

Private flyers come for business as much as for the sea: financial services, online gaming and the ship and aircraft registers keep law firms and company offices busy all year. In summer the islands fill with families, yachts and divers, and in October the Rolex Middle Sea Race starts from Grand Harbour. The planning points here are slots and parking in summer, the onward trip to Gozo and a tapeworm rule for dogs that most EU countries do not have. As a broker, we source the aircraft from operators across Europe and arrange all three in one quote.

Send the route, dates and number of passengers through the form, and we will reply with aircraft options and prices.

Why fly privately to the islands

Flight times from the European hubs

Times in a Phenom 300 light jet from the price tables, including taxi, climb and descent:

Every European hub in the tables is within reach of a light jet without a stop. From Sicily the hop takes under an hour in a Pilatus PC-12: 0:53 h from Catania and 0:46 h from Comiso. From Copenhagen allow 3:26 h and from Stockholm 4:00 h in a light jet, from Dubai about 5 h in a heavy jet. On hot summer days the operator checks the take-off weight for the flight home, so with a full cabin on a long route we often suggest a midsize jet.

Private jet prices to Malta

Each price is for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft available near the departure airport. Handling, parking and passenger taxes are added in the quote. The flight time refers to the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs

Rome is the closest city in the table: a Phenom 300 costs EUR 11,500 and takes 1:25 h. From Milan and Nice the same aircraft costs EUR 13,500 and EUR 13,000, and from London EUR 18,000. A Challenger 350 with a stand-up cabin and a larger hold costs EUR 27,000 from London.

From Sicily, southern Italy, Tunisia and Greece

Short sectors, often the first or last leg of a Mediterranean trip, suit a turboprop for up to six passengers:

Catania, Comiso and Lampedusa are less than an hour away, and a PC-12 costs EUR 6,500 from all three. Between Malta and Italy or Greece only an EU operator may carry passengers, so a UK or Swiss operator cannot fly the leg from Catania. Tunisia is outside the EU and Schengen, so passports are checked at both ends. For a longer stay see our pages on Sicily and Italy.

From northern Europe, Ireland and Poland

From Stockholm and Dublin the light jet needs close to four hours. The Praetor 500 cuts about 13 minutes and carries more luggage, at EUR 25,000 from both cities.

Long-haul flights

The main runway takes every long-range type, and all three aircraft below fly these routes non-stop:

Prices depend on the flight time, the position of the nearest free aircraft and the season. From June to September and during the Middle Sea Race week, aircraft and parking are in demand, and a jet that cannot stay flies away empty between the two legs. At Luqa, handling and airport charges, which are 25 % higher at night, are listed in the quote. The departure country may add its own tax: Italy EUR 100 per passenger on every route to or from Italy, about EUR 420 per passenger on a jet from France (about half on a turboprop) and EUR 12 from Austria, and UK Air Passenger Duty, which is not charged on aircraft under 5.7 t.

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

The price covers the whole aircraft; shared among the group, it looks like this:

Online calculator

Enter the route, date and number of passengers, and the calculator sends an estimate for Luqa by e-mail within minutes.

Malta International Airport and the VIP terminal

Malta International Airport (MLA, LMML) is the only airport in the archipelago for aircraft, run by the company of the same name. It has two runways: 13/31, over 3,300 m long with an instrument landing system, and 05/23 of 2,373 m. Both take everything from a Pilatus PC-12 to a VIP airliner. The airport is open 24 hours with police and customs, but every private flight needs a slot, given together with a parking stand, and handling by an authorised agent is mandatory.

Private passengers do not use the airline terminal. The airport's VIP terminal is a separate building beside the apron with its own security, baggage handling and passport control, a lounge and private suites. DC Aviation Malta and Executive Aviation Malta run lounges open around the clock, and Medavia also handles business aircraft. Passengers arrive about 30 minutes before departure, and a car takes them to the aircraft.

Where the aircraft waits in summer

For a day trip or a short stay the aircraft can stay at Luqa if the stand is confirmed with the slot. In July and August stands are often taken, and the aircraft drops the passengers and waits elsewhere, or flies home and comes back:

Distances are straight-line from Luqa. A flight to these airports takes 40-60 minutes in a jet, and the quote shows the positioning legs. For a week or longer, two one-way flights are usually cheaper than waiting.

Which aircraft to choose

Diving gear, sailing bags and golf bags fill a hold faster than suitcases. With six people and sports equipment, midsize jets are the safer choice. Tell us the number and type of bags with the request.

Want to discuss parking, Gozo or the dog's paperwork? Leave your number and a consultant will call you.

When to fly: the year on the islands

The airport works all year, so the season mostly affects parking, hotels and prices. The best months are May, June and September: the sea is warm, there are fewer crowds, and stands at Luqa are easier to get. Empty Legs are most frequent on summer weekends, when aircraft drop families and fly home, at the end of the season in September and October, and after the start of the Middle Sea Race.

For July, August and the Middle Sea Race, confirm the aircraft, slot and stand several weeks ahead. In winter a trip can often be arranged within a day or two.

From the airport to Valletta, Sliema and Gozo

Driving is on the left and traffic between the airport and Sliema is heavy, so most guests take a car with driver. Gozo has no airport for aircraft: the heliport at Xewkija is used mainly by the air ambulance. The ferry from Ċirkewwa to Mġarr runs day and night and takes about 25 minutes, and a fast ferry from Valletta takes about 45 minutes. A helicopter transfer can be requested, but it depends on an operator being available, so we confirm it with the flight. A private boat is another option.

Empty Legs from and to Malta

Many aircraft cannot stay at Luqa after a drop-off, and their flight home without passengers is offered at a lower price. Typical directions:

Such a leg runs only if the original charter does, so it suits travellers with some room in their dates. Send your direction and possible days to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we let you know when a matching flight appears.

Flying with a dog or cat

A dog or cat stays in the cabin with you once the operator has approved it. Malta applies the EU rules, with one addition for dogs:

• Microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel when it is the first one.
• EU pet passport; pets from Great Britain need an animal health certificate issued by a government-authorised vet.
• Up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial trip.
• Tapeworm treatment for dogs, given by a vet 24-120 hours before arrival.

Malta also asks owners to notify the arrival of the animal in advance through its online form, which is easy to forget, so we add it to the checklist. In July and August the apron at Luqa gets very hot, so with an animal on board we plan arrivals in the morning or evening. If the trip continues to the UK, the dog needs a second treatment within 1-5 days of landing there and must travel on an approved route with an approved handler.

Documents, rules and taxes

Checklist before departure

• Valid passport or ID card for every passenger, children included; from the UK, a passport valid three months beyond the date you leave Schengen.
• Full names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent no later than the day before.
• Final address: Valletta, Sliema, a yacht in Grand Harbour or a house on Gozo.
• How long you stay, so we can request a stand or plan two one-way flights.
• Diving gear, golf bags and other sports equipment declared in advance.
• For a dog: the vet appointment 24-120 hours before landing and the advance notice of the animal.
• Company name and VAT number for the invoice.

How to book

1. Send the departure airport, dates, passengers, luggage and the address on the islands.
2. We request the slot and the stand together, and plan positioning to Sicily or home if the aircraft cannot stay.
3. You receive 2-4 aircraft options with operator, model, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; we confirm the slot, the VIP terminal or FBO, catering and the car, boat or helicopter.
5. On arrival you pass through the VIP terminal or the FBO lounge, and the car is waiting outside.

Questions about private flights to Malta

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

  • From Sicily or Lampedusa a turboprop costs from EUR 6,500 one way. From Rome a Phenom 300 costs EUR 11,500 and from London EUR 18,000, for the whole aircraft plus handling and taxes.

• • Can a light jet fly non-stop from northern Europe?

  • Yes. A Phenom 300 flies from every hub in the tables without a stop, 3:18 h from London and 4:00 h from Stockholm. With a full cabin on a hot day a midsize jet gives more margin.

• • Is there a VIP terminal at Luqa?

  • Yes. The airport's VIP terminal is a separate building with its own security and passport control, and the FBOs DC Aviation Malta and Executive Aviation Malta are open around the clock.

• • Can we fly to Gozo?

  • Not by plane. Jets land at Luqa, and Gozo is reached by car and the 25-minute ferry from Ċirkewwa, by fast ferry from Valletta, by private boat or by helicopter when an operator is available.

• • Can the aircraft stay on the island?

  • For short stays, usually yes, if the stand is confirmed with the slot. In summer stands are few, so the aircraft waits in Sicily or flies home and comes back.

• • Can we land at night?

  • Yes. The airport is open 24 hours with no curfew, but airport charges are 25 % higher at night, from 20:00 in summer and 19:00 in winter.

• • What does my dog need for Malta?

  • A microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, an EU pet passport or, from Great Britain, an animal health certificate, and tapeworm treatment by a vet 24-120 hours before landing. Cats need no tapeworm treatment.

• • Do I need a passport?

  • From Schengen countries there is no passport check, but the operator needs a valid passport or ID card for each passenger. From the UK a passport is required.

• • Is there a time difference?

  • Malta is one hour ahead of London all year, the same time as Rome, Paris and Berlin.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Malta?

  • Yes, mostly on summer weekends towards Italy and France, after the Middle Sea Race start and at the end of the season. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and dates.

• • How far ahead should we book?

  • For July, August and the Middle Sea Race, several weeks ahead, because stands are limited. In winter a day or two is often enough.