Private jet to Mauritania

Mauritania stretches from the Atlantic coast deep into the Sahara, between Morocco, Algeria, Mali and Senegal. Private flights go almost only to two cities on the coast: the capital Nouakchott, with the ministries and company offices, and Nouadhibou in the north, the port for fishing and for the iron ore brought by rail from the mines inland.

Most travellers are executives and engineers from mining, fisheries and offshore gas, diplomats and staff of development agencies, usually on visits of a few days. A smaller number come for Banc d'Arguin National Park on the coast between the two cities, where large flocks of migratory birds spend the winter.

Send the purpose of the trip, the dates and the number of travellers, and a consultant replies with the aircraft and the price.

What we check before quoting

Prices

Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft available near the departure airport, plus handling, landing and parking charges, the permit and passenger taxes. The flight time is that of the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

Lisbon - Nouakchott is the shortest sector at 3:30 h and EUR 24,000 in a Citation Latitude, and Madrid costs EUR 27,000. From London and Paris the same aircraft costs EUR 32,000 for a little over five hours, and from Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Munich EUR 33,000. Nouadhibou is closer to Europe: Madrid - Nouadhibou costs EUR 25,000 and Paris EUR 30,000.

From the Canaries and the neighbouring countries

Gran Canaria - Nouakchott costs EUR 10,000 in a Pilatus PC-12 and EUR 11,500 in a Citation CJ3, and Gran Canaria - Nouadhibou EUR 9,000 in the PC-12. Dakar is 1:22 h away in the PC-12 at EUR 7,500, and Banjul in Gambia EUR 8,000. Marrakesh - Nouakchott costs EUR 14,500 in the CJ3.

Domestic legs such as Nouakchott - Nouadhibou or Nouakchott - Atar are not flown by a foreign operator. A local operator can quote them, and each one is checked against the travel advice for the area.

Passenger taxes depend on the departure country. France charges a per-passenger solidarity tax that rises with distance, so Nouakchott pays about EUR 1,015 against about EUR 420 for a European sector; Italian sectors beyond 1,500 km pay EUR 200 per passenger. Austria charges EUR 12 per passenger, the Netherlands taxes departures in aircraft of 5.7 t or more, and Germany and the UK have departure taxes; in the UK aircraft under 5.7 t pay no APD and the higher rate applies only from 20 t with fewer than 19 seats. Mauritanian 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

Two trips worked through

Price per person

The aircraft is booked as a whole, so each extra traveller lowers the share per seat:

Calculator

The calculator gives an indicative price to Nouakchott or Nouadhibou; add the nights on the ground in the comment.

Airports in Mauritania

Neither airport has a private terminal or an FBO lounge. Local handlers, booked through international flight support companies, arrange fuel, parking, catering and crew hotels, and meet the passengers at the aircraft or in the terminal; how immigration is handled for a private arrival is confirmed with them in writing. Crew visas are usually issued on arrival for up to 72 hours. The road from Nouakchott-Oumtounsy to the city centre is about 25 km, so allow extra time before a meeting.

Which aircraft

• Up to eight passengers from Europe: a midsize jet such as the Citation Latitude, non-stop from every hub in the table.
• More cabin space for up to nine: a super midsize jet such as the Challenger 350.
• Groups of up to twelve: a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650.
• From the Canaries, Dakar or Banjul: a turboprop such as the Pilatus PC-12 or a light jet such as the Citation CJ3.

Leave your number, and a consultant will call to go through the permit, the visas and the schedule.

When to fly

The best months are November to March, when Nouakchott has warm days and cool nights and migratory birds winter at Banc d'Arguin. The hot season lasts from May to October; the little rain the capital gets falls in August and September, and the heat peaks in September and October. Dust carried by desert winds can lower visibility on some days in the dry season. Empty Legs are rare all year; the most likely is the empty return of an aircraft after a drop-off.

Ramadan and the two Eids move about eleven days earlier every year. Offices slow down during Ramadan and close on the holidays, so permits and visas take longer around them.

Visas, documents and local rules

Mauritania is outside the EU and Schengen: on the return, passport control and customs take place at the first Schengen or UK airport.

Flying with a dog or cat

The pet travels in the cabin with the operator's approval and enters through Nouakchott-Oumtounsy, where the airport vets are told in advance, so the first landing with an animal is planned there rather than in Nouadhibou. It needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given between 30 days and 12 months before entry and a health certificate from a vet issued within 10 days of entry and endorsed by the government veterinary service. We confirm the requirements in writing before the flight.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs to and from Mauritania are rare. They come from a charter that does not wait in Nouakchott, so the aircraft returns to Europe empty, or from an aircraft repositioning after a job in West Africa or the Canaries. Send your direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights; a few days of flexibility raise the chance of a match.

How to book

1. Send the purpose, the dates, the passenger names and nationalities.
2. We confirm the airport, the operator and the aircraft and check the trip against the travel advice.
3. You receive aircraft options with operator, model and price.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; passengers apply for the e-visas and we file the permit.
5. Before departure we confirm the permit, the handler, the cars at the airport and the visas for every passenger.

Questions about private flights to Mauritania

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

  • From EUR 24,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Lisbon - Nouakchott in a Citation Latitude. London and Paris cost EUR 32,000 in the same aircraft, plus charges and taxes.

• • How long is the flight?

  • 3:30 h from Lisbon, 5:18 h from Paris and 5:26 h from London in a Citation Latitude, without a stop.

• • Which airport should we use?

  • Nouakchott-Oumtounsy for the capital and Nouadhibou for the port and the north. Both have customs and immigration.

• • Is there a VIP terminal?

  • There is a VIP reception area in the terminal at Nouakchott but no private terminal. The handler meets the aircraft and escorts the passengers.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Yes, an electronic visa applied for online before travel; visas are not issued on arrival.

• • How early should we book?

  • As early as possible: every passenger needs an approved e-visa before departure, and the landing permit usually takes 48 to 72 hours.

• • Can we bring wine for a dinner?

  • No. Bringing alcohol into the country is forbidden, also on a private aircraft.

• • Can our dog come?

  • Yes, in the cabin with the operator's approval, entering through Nouakchott with a microchip, a rabies vaccination and a health certificate. For the return to the EU, do the antibody test before departure.