Private jet to Miami

South Florida is where many Europeans spend the dark months: dry, warm weather from December to April, the art fairs of Miami Beach, the boat show and the marinas of Fort Lauderdale, and the private houses of Palm Beach an hour up the coast. The city is also the business hub for Latin America and the Caribbean, so clients often arrive from Europe, spend a week and then fly on to Nassau, Mexico or Bogotá before the crossing home.

The distance from western and central Europe is about 6,700-8,400 km, longer than to New York. A long-range jet such as the Gulfstream G550 or Global 7500 flies it non-stop in 8-10 hours; a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 costs less but stops once for fuel, usually in the Azores. Business jets normally land at Opa-locka Executive, a field without airline traffic about 17 km north of the centre, where five handlers have private terminals and US customs clears arrivals. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators in Europe and the United States and plan the stop, the airport and the entry formalities in one quote.

Tell us the route, the dates, the number of passengers and where in South Florida you are going, and a consultant will reply with aircraft, the arrival airport and the price.

Why fly privately to South Florida

Flight times to Miami

Non-stop times for a Global 7500, taken from the price tables below and including taxi, climb and descent:

• Lisbon: 7:55 h, 6,669 km
• Dublin: 7:56 h, London Farnborough: 8:22 h, Madrid: 8:23 h
• Paris Le Bourget: 8:40 h, Amsterdam: 8:46 h
• Geneva: 9:03 h, Hamburg: 9:06 h, Frankfurt: 9:07 h
• Zurich: 9:12 h, Nice: 9:14 h, Milan Linate: 9:21 h, Munich: 9:26 h
• Rome: 9:47 h, Vienna: 9:48 h
• Larnaca: 11:58 h, 10,321 km

A Gulfstream G550 needs about 15-25 minutes more on each route. A Challenger 650 makes one stop, which takes about an hour on the ground and brings the London trip to 10:20 h. The figures assume still air; westbound, a headwind over the North Atlantic usually adds time, and the flight back to Europe is correspondingly shorter. From Madeira the distance is only 6,115 km, so even a super midsize Praetor 600 reaches Florida without stopping.

Private jet prices to Miami

All prices are for the whole aircraft, one way to Opa-locka Executive, plus handling, US border fees and passenger taxes, and assume an aircraft available near the departure airport. Miami International or Fort Lauderdale cost about the same. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

With a fuel stop, the Challenger 650 costs from EUR 89,000 from Lisbon or Dublin and EUR 93,000 from London or Madrid. A non-stop Gulfstream G550 on the same routes costs EUR 100,000-105,000. The difference between Lisbon and Vienna is 1,700 km of extra flying, which adds about a fifth to a quarter to the price depending on the column.

From other European cities

From Portugal, the Atlantic islands, Spain, Scotland and the north-east of Europe, the lowest fare is a super midsize Praetor 600, non-stop from Madeira and with one stop from the other cities. The Falcon 900EX flies non-stop from Porto, Madeira, Tenerife and Edinburgh, and the Global 6000 from every city in the table:

Regional flights: Caribbean, Latin America, North America

Short legs from the islands, New York, Toronto and Latin America are flown by light and midsize jets. The table shows flights into Opa-locka; the reverse direction is priced the same way:

Long-haul from the Middle East

From Tel Aviv the Gulfstream G550 and Global 7500 fly non-stop in just over 12 hours. From Dubai, 12,611 km away, both make one stop, and the Challenger 650 would need two:

Prices follow flight time, plus a fixed share for bringing the aircraft and crew to the departure airport. Passenger taxes depend on the country of departure: a tax per passenger on a jet leaving France that is set by distance and is higher across the Atlantic than within Europe, and EUR 200 per passenger on any flight from or to Italy, since every sector here is longer than 1,500 km. Austria charges EUR 12 per passenger. The UK charges Air Passenger Duty at the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which includes the Challenger 650, Gulfstream G550 and Global 7500. Germany, Norway and the Netherlands (on aircraft of 5.7 t or more) also tax departing passengers, and Sweden has no passenger tax; anything else is listed in the quote. US customs and inspection fees are added on arrival.

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 aircraft is chartered as a whole, so a full cabin cuts the cost per seat sharply. Taxes and fees are added per head:

Online calculator

Enter the route, date and number of passengers, and the calculator sends an estimate to your e-mail.

Opa-locka, Miami International and other airports

Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF, KOPF) lies in the north of Miami-Dade County, about 17 km from the city centre and 12 km from Miami International. It has no scheduled flights. The main runway is 2,439 m, long enough for a Global 7500, with a second runway of about 2,070 m and a short third one. Five handlers share the field: Atlantic Aviation, Signature, Jet Aviation, Fontainebleau Aviation and the JHSF Private Terminal.

Opa-locka is a customs landing rights airport. US officers work from 09:00 to midnight every day, and landing permission is requested between 1 and 24 hours before arrival. The control tower is open from 07:00 to 23:00, and at night only the main runway can be used, with an hour's prior permission. A crossing that would land after midnight goes to Miami International, where customs works around the clock, so departures from Europe are timed to reach Opa-locka in the afternoon or early evening.

Miami International, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach

Miami International Airport (MIA, KMIA) is 10 km from the centre and has four runways of 2,621-3,967 m. Business aircraft use the General Aviation Center served by Signature, customs works around the clock, and arrivals need permission requested three hours ahead. Aircraft with a wingspan over 78 ft (23.8 m) cannot use that ramp, so a large long-range jet may park elsewhere on the field. Distances below are straight-line from Opa-locka:

Palm Beach International, about 90 km north, has a 3,048 m runway, private terminals of Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature, and US customs, so it takes a long-range jet straight from Europe; we price it separately on request. On the way out, a heavy jet usually refuels at Santa Maria in the Azores, whose 3,048 m runway takes any business jet.

Which aircraft for the trip

Golf bags, dive gear and suitcases for a winter stay need space: the Gulfstream G550 has a 6.4 m³ hold, the Global 7500 5.5 m³, the Challenger 650 3.3 m³. Most long-range holds can be reached in flight. For the hops around Florida and to the islands, light jets and turboprops are cheaper than keeping the long-range jet, and a US operator flies the passengers who join you there.

Want to compare a one-stop heavy jet with a non-stop long-range cabin? Leave your number and a consultant will call you back.

When to go: dry season, events and hurricanes

The year splits into a dry, busy winter and a hot, humid summer with the risk of storms. These recurring events fill hotels, aircraft and parking:

For Art Week, Christmas and the Grand Prix weekend, book the aircraft and the handler 3-4 weeks ahead. In hurricane season we follow the forecasts with the operator and move the departure in good time rather than wait for a storm.

From the airport to the beaches and the marinas

Empty Legs to and from Miami

An Empty Leg is a flight that the operator must make without passengers. South Florida is one of the densest business aviation areas in the world, with aircraft moving constantly between the islands, the north-east and Europe:

Around Art Basel and the Grand Prix weekend, demand is so high that empty sectors disappear within hours. The operator sets the date and time, and the US entry rules apply as on any flight. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and a range of dates.

Flying with a dog or cat

The dog or cat flies in the cabin with you, and the operator must approve the animal before booking. Entry rules for the United States:

• Every dog needs a receipt for the CDC electronic dog import form, completed online before arrival and valid for six months.
• Dogs arriving from the EU, the UK and other low-risk countries must be at least six months old, have a microchip readable by a universal scanner and look healthy.
• Cats are not covered by the CDC dog form but must arrive healthy and may be examined.
• For the return to the EU: microchip, rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport. The United States is on the EU list, so no blood test is required.
• Up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial trip.

Nine or ten hours in the air is a long time for an animal. A long walk shortly before boarding helps, and a few operators add a cabin cleaning charge after an animal has flown.

Documents and rules for the United States

Before departure: checklist

• Passports valid for the whole stay, plus an approved ESTA or a US visa for each passenger.
• Full names, dates of birth, nationalities and passport numbers at least a day before departure.
• The arrival address: Miami Beach, Brickell, a marina, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach.
• The return date, or whether the aircraft should fly home and come back for you.
• Golf bags, dive equipment or large suitcases, which decide the size of the hold.
• For a dog: the CDC form receipt and the microchip and rabies records.
• For a company booking: the company name and VAT number for the invoice.

How to book a private jet to Miami

1. Send the dates, the number of passengers and their nationalities, the address in South Florida and any legs to the islands or Latin America.
2. We check the operator's Visa Waiver Program status and each passenger's documents, then the customs hours at the arrival airport.
3. You receive 2-4 options: a heavy jet with an Azores stop and a non-stop long-range jet, with times, airport and the price for the whole aircraft.
4. After the contract and payment, the operator files the manifest and the landing request; we book the handler, the car and any helicopter or yacht transfer.
5. Be at the private terminal 20-30 minutes before take-off. In Florida, officers clear you in the private terminal and the car is waiting outside.

Our team

Charlotte McKinney

Commercial Director

charlotte.m@jets.flights

Henry Richter

Head of Aviation Department and Data Protection Officer

henry.r@jets.flights

Emma Miller

Director of Development

emma.m@jets.flights

Liam Bishop

Senior Aviation Consultant

liam.b@jets.flights

Oliver Davis

Aviation Consultant

oliver.d@jets.flights

Anna Laurent

Aviation Consultant

anna.l@jets.flights

Questions about private flights to Miami

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

  • A Challenger 650 with one fuel stop costs from EUR 89,000 one way from Lisbon or Dublin and EUR 93,000 from London. A non-stop Gulfstream G550 costs from EUR 100,000, and taxes, handling and US fees are added.

• • Can a private jet fly non-stop from Europe to Miami?

  • Yes, the Gulfstream G550 and Global 7500 fly from every European hub in the table without landing, and the Global 6000 from cities such as Barcelona, Edinburgh or Warsaw. Heavy jets like the Challenger 650 stop once, normally in the Azores.

• • Which airport do business jets use?

  • Mostly Opa-locka Executive, 17 km north of the centre, with five private terminals and customs from 09:00 to midnight. Miami International, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach are the alternatives, depending on the address and the arrival time.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • About 8:22 h in a Global 7500 and 8:38 h in a Gulfstream G550 in still air, and 10:20 h in a Challenger 650 with a stop. Westbound winds can add time; the flight home is shorter.

• • Is an ESTA enough?

  • Only if the operator has signed the Visa Waiver Program agreement. Otherwise every passenger needs a US visa, so we check the operator before we offer the aircraft.

• • Can we fly during hurricane season?

  • Yes. The season runs from June to November with a peak in September, so we agree a flexible return date and move the flight early if a storm approaches.

• • Can my dog come to Florida?

  • Yes, in the cabin. Dogs need the CDC import form receipt, a microchip and must be at least six months old; cats only need to arrive healthy.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Miami?

  • Yes, especially across the Atlantic at the start and end of the winter season and on short legs from New York, Toronto and the islands. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • Can the same jet take us to the Bahamas?

  • Yes. Leaving the United States needs its own manifest, and the Bahamas apply their own entry rules. A Citation CJ3 to Nassau is priced from EUR 8,000 in the table.

• • How much luggage fits for a winter holiday?

  • The Gulfstream G550 hold of 6.4 m³ takes suitcases and golf bags for a full cabin; a Challenger 650 with 3.3 m³ suits about six to eight people with normal luggage.

• • When should we book?

  • For Art Week in December, Christmas and the Grand Prix weekend in May, 3-4 weeks ahead. In summer a few days are often enough, once the documents are in place.