Private jet to Palermo

The capital of Sicily draws private flyers to the city itself rather than to a beach: long weekends, family celebrations, business meetings and the Arab-Norman churches and palaces listed by UNESCO. Jets land at Falcone Borsellino airport on the Punta Raisi headland at Cinisi, wedged between Monte Pecoraro and the sea about 35 km west of the centre by road. The drive along the coast motorway takes 35-50 minutes, so the car is booked together with the flight.

The main runway is 3,326 m long and takes every business jet up to the Global 7500. The airport is slot-coordinated, private aircraft must use a handler, and there is no separate terminal for business aviation: the handler takes passengers through the main building. In high summer aircraft usually get only a short stop on the apron. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators across Europe, book the slot and the handler, and plan the transfer to the hotel.

Tell us the route, the date, the number of passengers and the address in or around the city, and a consultant sends aircraft options with prices.

Why charter a jet to Sicily's capital

How long the flight takes

Times for a Phenom 300 unless stated, from the price tables below, including taxi, climb and descent:

• Naples: 0:57 h, Rome Ciampino: 1:04 h in a Citation CJ3
• Nice: 1:33 h, Milan Linate: 1:39 h
• Geneva: 1:55 h, Zurich: 1:58 h, Munich and Vienna: 2:01 h
• Frankfurt: 2:19 h, Madrid: 2:26 h, Paris Le Bourget: 2:28 h
• Brussels: 2:35 h, Berlin: 2:36 h, Amsterdam: 2:46 h, Hamburg: 2:49 h
• London Farnborough: 2:55 h, Larnaca: 2:59 h

The island is one of the longer sectors in Italy: from London and Hamburg it is close to three hours, a long sit in a low cabin. On these legs the Challenger 350 saves only a few minutes, but its stand-up cabin and larger hold make the difference for four or more people. From Dubai a Falcon 7X needs about 5:20 h non-stop, and from New York 8:43 h.

Private jet prices to Palermo

Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, plus handling, airport charges and passenger taxes, assuming an aircraft available near the departure airport. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

Nice and Milan are the closest hubs, at EUR 12,000 and EUR 12,500 in the light jet. London, Hamburg and Larnaca sit at EUR 16,500-17,000, and on these three-hour sectors the midsize jet costs only EUR 2,500-3,000 more.

From Italy, Sardinia and Malta

Many clients reach the city after a few days in Rome, Naples or Cagliari, or continue to Malta. On these short legs a turboprop is the cheapest choice:

By sea the alternative is the overnight ferry: about 10 hours from Naples and about 20 from Genoa. From Naples the jet needs under an hour.

Long-haul flights

With 3,326 m of runway, every long-range type lands without restriction. From the Gulf all three aircraft fly non-stop; from New York the Challenger 650 stops for fuel:

To Trapani on the west coast

For Trapani, Marsala, San Vito Lo Capo or the Egadi Islands, Trapani Birgi is closer than Punta Raisi. Its opening hours for private flights are confirmed for each date:

The price grows with flight time, plus a share for bringing the aircraft and crew to the departure airport: the closer the available aircraft, the smaller that share. For the flight home, aircraft are often found in Rome, Milan, Naples or Catania. Italy taxes each passenger of a private flight that departs from or lands in the country: EUR 100 up to 1,500 km and EUR 200 beyond, with the distance taken in a straight line plus 95 km. That is EUR 100 from Milan, Geneva or Munich and EUR 200 from London, Paris or Amsterdam. Flights within Italy also carry VAT. Departures from France add about EUR 420 per passenger on a jet, Austria charges EUR 12, and Germany and the UK have departure taxes. UK Air Passenger Duty does not apply to aircraft under 5.7 t such as the PC-12, the higher private-jet rate covers aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, and other jets pay the standard rate for the distance. Every amount appears 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

The aircraft is chartered whole, so the price per seat drops with each passenger. The Italian tax is paid per head on top:

Online calculator

The calculator gives a first estimate for your route and date and sends it by e-mail. Add the hotel address in the comment, and the car from Punta Raisi is included in the detailed quote.

Falcone Borsellino airport and the alternatives

Palermo Falcone Borsellino (PMO, LICJ), still widely called Punta Raisi, carries the names of two investigating judges killed by the Mafia. GESAP runs it. The main runway, 07/25, is 3,326 m long, and a crosswind runway, 02/20, measures about 2,070 m. It is an airport of entry with customs, so arrivals from the UK or outside Schengen clear the border on the spot.

There is no branded business aviation terminal. Handling is mandatory, and Fly Service works from the GESAP lounge in the main terminal; other handlers are listed and the operator states its choice. The airport is slot-coordinated, so the slot request goes in with the booking. Directories disagree on the opening hours, one listing 24 hours and another 05:00-23:00, so we confirm early and late movements in writing.

The site has one weather feature crews plan for. With Monte Pecoraro rising behind the runways and the sea in front, gusty wind can produce wind shear. The airport tracks it with radar and lidar and warns crews, and in strong gusts a landing may be delayed or diverted to the alternate the operator has named.

Trapani, Catania and the small city airfield

Distances in the table are straight-line from Punta Raisi:

Trapani Birgi is a military base shared with civil traffic: an Italian Air Force wing flies from it, and Airgest runs the civil side. Its published hours are a weekday window, so weekend or late arrivals are agreed in advance. By road, Trapani is about 83 km and an hour from Punta Raisi. For a tour of the whole island, which we cover on the Sicily page, the usual plan is to arrive here and leave from Catania, or the reverse.

Choosing the cabin

For a couple or a family of four with ordinary bags, light jets reach the city non-stop from anywhere in western Europe. From London or northern Germany, close to three hours in the air, a midsize cabin with a proper washroom is more comfortable for five or more. If the trip continues to Malta, Naples or Sardinia, one aircraft can stay with the group for every leg.

Want to talk through the aircraft, the airport or the dates? Leave your number and a consultant calls back.

When to go: Festino, summer heat and the quiet months

The city has one clear peak, the July feast of its patron saint, and a long hot summer. The rest of the year is easier for slots, hotels and aircraft:

For Festino week and August weekends, book the aircraft, slot and hotel several weeks ahead. On sirocco days plan walks for the morning and evening, and keep the middle of the day for the hotel or the beach at Mondello.

From Punta Raisi into the city and beyond

Monreale and Cefalù fit into one long day with a car and driver: Monreale in the morning, Cefalù in the afternoon. On a short stay we suggest one of the two, usually Monreale, as it is just above the city.

Empty Legs on Sicilian routes

Aircraft that bring guests to Sicily often fly back empty, and in summer the island sees many such sectors. Typical directions:

The operator decides the date and hour of an Empty Leg, so it suits a flexible plan. Send the direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we let you know when one matches. The Italian passenger tax is charged on these flights as well.

Travelling with a dog or cat

The pet flies in the cabin with you, not in the hold, once the operator has agreed. Italy follows the EU rules:

• Microchip to ISO standard, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel for a first vaccination, given at 12 weeks of age or older.
• EU pet passport; pets from Great Britain travel with an animal health certificate.
• Up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a non-commercial trip.
• No tapeworm treatment is needed for Italy.

Rules for dogs on the beaches, Mondello included, are set by the municipality and can change from season to season, so we check them with the hotel. Some operators want a carrier for take-off and landing or charge for cabin cleaning, so tell us the species, breed and weight when you book.

Passports, customs and taxes

Checklist for the day

• Passport or ID card for each passenger, children included.
• Names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent the day before.
• Hotel address in the old town, Mondello, Cefalù or on the west coast.
• Planned landing time, checked against the slot and the Festino dates.
• Number of suitcases, golf bags or other bulky items.
• Pet passport, microchip and rabies record.
• Invoice details: company name and VAT number.

How booking works

1. Send the route, date, preferred landing time, number of passengers and luggage, and the address in or near the city.
2. We check the slot and the airport hours, compare Trapani for the west coast and plan the car from the apron.
3. You receive 2-4 aircraft options with operator, model, cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, with taxes and the transfer listed separately.
4. After you sign and pay, we confirm the slot, the handler, parking or the return positioning, and the driver.
5. On the day, arrive 20-30 minutes before departure; in Palermo the handler meets you at the aircraft and takes you to the car.

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

Flying privately to Palermo: frequent questions

• • What does a private jet to Palermo cost?

  • A turboprop from Naples or Malta costs from EUR 7,000 one way for the whole aircraft. A Phenom 300 costs EUR 12,000 from Nice, while the fare from Geneva is EUR 13,000 and from London EUR 16,500. Handling and the Italian passenger tax are added.

• • How far is the airport from the centre?

  • About 35 km by road. The coast motorway takes 35-50 minutes depending on traffic; Mondello is about 30 minutes away.

• • Is there a private terminal?

  • No. A mandatory handler, for example Fly Service in the GESAP lounge, takes passengers through the main terminal to the car.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • From Farnborough 2:55 h in a Phenom 300 and 2:46 h in a Challenger 350, about 1,820 km.

• • Can wind affect the landing?

  • Sometimes. Strong gusts between Monte Pecoraro and the sea can cause wind shear, which the airport monitors. The crew may wait or divert, and we warn you if the forecast looks poor.

• • Can the jet stay while we are in the city?

  • Outside summer usually yes. In high season the apron often allows only a short stop, so the aircraft repositions to Trapani or home and returns for you.

• • Palermo or Catania?

  • Palermo for the city, Mondello, Cefalù and the west. Catania for Taormina, Etna and Syracuse; for a tour of the island, land at one and leave from the other.

• • Do we need passports?

  • Inside Schengen there is no check, but carry a passport or ID card. From the UK, passports are checked on arrival; EU citizens going on to Britain need an ETA, visa-waiver travellers to the USA an ESTA.

• • Can we bring our dog?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and an EU pet passport. Italy does not ask for tapeworm treatment.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Palermo?

  • Yes, mostly in summer between Sicily and Rome, Naples, Switzerland and northern Europe. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your direction and dates.

• • When should we book for Festino?

  • Several weeks ahead for 10-15 July, as hotels in the centre and the apron fill up. Outside July and August a flight can often be arranged within a day or two.