Private jet to Mexico

Mexico is one of the longest private flights from Europe: Cancún and Tulum on the Caribbean are 7,500-9,200 km from most European hubs, Toluca for the capital and Los Cabos at the tip of Baja California 8,900-9,900 km. Clients fly there for winter sun on the Riviera Maya, the villas and golf courses of Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, meetings in Mexico City and Monterrey, and onward trips to Miami, Los Angeles or Central America.

Three things set the country apart. The main airport of the capital is closed to most private flights, so business jets use Toluca, west of the city. A foreign charter needs a permit from the Mexican civil aviation authority, AFAC, filed at least 10 working days before departure by an operator that already holds a standing Mexican authorisation. And the cabotage rules are enforced strictly: between two Mexican airports a foreign jet may carry only the passengers it brought from abroad or takes abroad, and only when the permit covers that leg; anyone who joins in Mexico flies with a Mexican operator. As a broker, we choose among operators that have the permits and plan the dates around them.

Send the destination, the dates out and back and the number of passengers in the form; a consultant replies with aircraft, the permit timetable and the price.

Why fly privately to the Caribbean and Pacific coasts

Flight times and range

Non-stop times for an ultra long range jet, from the tables below, including taxi, climb and descent:

• Cancún: London 9:19 h, Madrid 9:21 h, Geneva 10:00 h, Hamburg 10:02 h in a Global 7500
• Tulum: Paris 9:46 h, Zurich 10:18 h, Nice 10:20 h
• Mexico City Toluca: London 10:25 h, Madrid 10:37 h, Milan 11:28 h
• Los Cabos: London 10:46 h; Puerto Vallarta: Amsterdam 11:02 h
• Monterrey: Frankfurt 10:34 h
• Lisbon and Dublin - Cancún: 8:52 h in a Gulfstream G650

A Global 6000 also flies most of these routes without landing, about half an hour slower, but from Milan, Amsterdam and Larnaca it has to stop. A Challenger 650 stops once, usually in the Azores or in Atlantic Canada. The stop takes about an hour, so the trip is about an hour and a half longer than in a non-stop Global 6000. Westbound winds lengthen the outbound sector, and on more than ten hours in the air the crew needs a long rest before the flight home.

What a private jet to Mexico costs

Each figure is a one-way price for the whole aircraft, based on a jet positioned near the departure airport. The AFAC permit, handling, parking, Mexican airport charges and passenger taxes come on top, and the time shown is that of the left-hand aircraft.

From the European hubs to six airports

The Challenger 650 with one stop is the lowest fare: EUR 100,000 from London or Madrid to Cancún and EUR 115,000 to Toluca or Los Cabos. A non-stop Global 6000 costs EUR 120,000 to Cancún from the same two cities. Where the Global 6000 has to stop, as from Milan to Toluca or from Amsterdam to Puerto Vallarta, the non-stop Global 7500 costs EUR 160,000 and EUR 155,000, a little less than the stopping aircraft.

From other European cities

Lisbon and Dublin are the closest departures at about 7,530 km from Cancún, so the Gulfstream G550 crosses non-stop for EUR 115,000. From Rome to Toluca, 10,292 km, the Gulfstream G550 still flies without landing in 12:20 h.

From the United States and inside the country

International legs from the United States can be flown by the same jet that crossed the Atlantic; between two Mexican airports it carries only the passengers it brought from abroad or takes abroad, with the leg in the permit, and other trips go with a Mexican operator. Prices apply in both directions:

Toluca - Cancún, Toluca - Los Cabos and Cancún - Puerto Vallarta are domestic: a separate trip or a guest joining in Mexico goes with a Mexican operator, which we book. A flight arriving from Central or South America or the Caribbean makes its first landing at Cozumel or Tapachula for inspection before continuing. Passenger taxes in Europe depend on the departure country: France about EUR 2,100 per jet passenger on a flight to Mexico, its top band, as the tax rises with distance from about EUR 420 within Europe; on flights from or to Italy the tax is EUR 200 per passenger, as every route exceeds 1,500 km; Austria charges EUR 12. The UK applies the higher rate of Air Passenger Duty to jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which covers every aircraft in the European tables. Germany and Norway charge departure taxes, the Netherlands taxes passengers on aircraft of 5.7 t or more, Sweden has none. Mexican airport and navigation charges and the permit appear 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 trips with the extras

Price per person

A charter costs the same whatever the number of passengers, so a full cabin brings the share per seat down sharply; taxes are added per person:

Calculator

Enter the route and date for a first estimate by e-mail; mention the Mexican airport in the comment, and a consultant adds the permit timetable.

Airports for business jets

The first landing must be at an international airport with customs and immigration. Private flights use general aviation terminals or FBOs, a handler is normally compulsory, and airlines have priority on the ramp. The airports that matter:

On arrival every passenger and crew member leaves the aircraft and the baggage is inspected; with complete papers this takes about 25-45 minutes. AFAC inspectors also carry out random ramp checks of foreign aircraft.

Which aircraft for the crossing

For ten hours or more, ultra long range jets give the most space to sleep, and the Global 7500 has four cabin zones. Golf bags for Los Cabos and diving gear for the Riviera Maya fit the 5.5 m³ hold of the Global 6000 and Global 7500 or the 6.4 m³ of the Gulfstream G550. The heavy jets in the tables cost less but stop once.

Want the non-stop and one-stop options side by side? Leave your number and a consultant will call you back.

When to fly: the Mexican year

December to April is the dry season on both coasts and the busiest time, with Christmas, New Year and Easter the hardest weeks to book; May, June and October have more free aircraft and parking, but fall within the hurricane season. Across the Atlantic Empty Legs are rare; between the United States and the resorts they are frequent all winter, but every foreign charter still needs the permit 10 working days ahead.

Empty Legs to and from Mexico

Because the permit needs 10 working days, a transatlantic Empty Leg has to be found early. Send the direction and the dates you could travel to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Flying with a dog or cat

There is no quarantine. The animal flies in the cabin beside you once the operator has approved it, and stays on board during a fuel stop. For Mexico:

• From Europe, carry a health certificate issued by a vet no more than 15 days before arrival, stating that the animal is healthy, vaccinated against rabies and treated against internal and external parasites; the papers needed are confirmed with SENASICA for the date.
• The vaccination record, in original; animals under three months need no rabies vaccination.
• SENASICA, the Mexican veterinary service, examines the animal at the airport for signs of disease, ticks and wounds; anything found is treated by a vet at the owner's cost before release.
• The carrier must be clean, without bedding or accessories; only food for the day of arrival is allowed, and no treats made from ruminant products.
• Returning to the EU, the animal needs its microchip, EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination; Mexico is a listed country for the EU, so no antibody test is required. Up to five pets per person.

Entry, permits and customs

Before departure

• Passport for every passenger, valid for the whole stay.
• Names, dates of birth and passport numbers at least two weeks ahead, for the AFAC permit.
• Fixed dates out and back, since the permit covers specific flights.
• Visitax paid online for a stay in Quintana Roo.
• For a pet: the health certificate no older than 15 days and the vaccination record.
• Invoice details: company name and VAT number.

How to book

1. Send the destination, the dates out and back, the number of passengers and any onward legs to the United States or within the country, at least three weeks ahead.
2. We choose an operator with a standing Mexican permit and compare a heavy jet with one stop against a non-stop long-range jet.
3. After the contract and payment, the operator files the AFAC application at least 10 working days before departure; we book parking, handling and the domestic legs with a Mexican operator.
4. Passenger data and any change of date go to us at once, so the permit can be amended in time.
5. On arrival everyone clears customs and immigration in the terminal; the car waits outside.

Questions about private flights to Mexico

• • How much does a private jet from Europe to Mexico cost?

  • A Challenger 650 with one stop costs from EUR 100,000 one way from London or Madrid to Cancún, for the whole aircraft. A non-stop Global 6000 costs EUR 120,000 on the same routes.

• • Where do private jets land for Mexico City?

  • At Toluca, west of the capital, open 24 hours with customs at any hour. The city airport is reserved almost entirely for airlines and state flights; the drive from Toluca takes 1-2 hours.

• • How far ahead must we book?

  • At least three weeks. The operator files the AFAC permit no later than 10 working days before departure, and in the high season parking must be secured too.

• • Can we fly non-stop from Europe?

  • Yes. A Global 7500 flies London - Cancún in about 9:19 h and London - Los Cabos in 10:46 h. A Challenger 650 stops once.

• • Cancún or Tulum?

  • Cancún for the hotel zone and Playa del Carmen, open 24 hours. Tulum airport, normally open from 07:00 to 19:00, saves over two hours of driving to Tulum.

• • Can the jet fly us from Cancún to Los Cabos?

  • Only with the passengers it brought from abroad or takes abroad, and only if the AFAC permit includes that leg. Anyone who joins in Mexico flies with a Mexican operator; legs to the United States can be flown by the same jet.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • No, EU and UK citizens enter without a visa for up to 180 days. Each passenger fills in the FMM migration form and keeps its stamped part.

• • Can my dog travel to Mexico?

  • Yes, in the cabin. From Europe it travels with a recent health certificate, rabies vaccination and parasite treatment, and SENASICA examines it on arrival. There is no quarantine.

• • What is the time difference?

  • Most of Mexico keeps no summer time. Cancún is 5 hours behind London in winter and 6 in summer, Mexico City 6 and 7, Los Cabos 7 and 8.

• • When is hurricane season?

  • From 15 May on the Pacific and from 1 June on the Caribbean, both until 30 November, with September usually the most active month. We agree a spare date for flights in those months.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Mexico?

  • Mostly from Miami, Houston and Los Angeles in winter. Across the Atlantic they are rare, and the permit means a leg must be found early; write to empty-legs@jets.flights.