Private jet to Phuket

Thailand's largest island lies on the Andaman Sea, and for European private flyers it is mostly a winter trip: from November to April the west coast has a calm sea and little rain, while at home the days are short. Along the routes European operators fly, the island is 9,600 to 11,500 km from the main hubs of the continent. A long-range or ultra long range jet covers that in one go, and a heavy jet does it with a single fuel stop in the Gulf or in India.

Business aircraft land at Phuket International on the northern tip of the island, open round the clock, and passengers use the Siam Land Private Jet Terminal instead of the busy main building. Most clients are families on a two-week holiday, groups sharing a villa and owners who go straight to a yacht in Phang Nga Bay. The slot and the parking for the aircraft are requested days ahead, and from December to February that has to happen as soon as the flight is confirmed.

Send the hotel or villa, the dates and the number of passengers. The address decides how long the drive will be, and the dates decide how early we file for the slot.

Why charter a jet to the Andaman coast

Flight times from Europe and the region

Times to Phuket taken from the price tables below, non-stop in a Global 7500 unless stated:

• Larnaca: 9:17 h, Istanbul: 9:52 h, Athens: 10:23 h
• Vienna: 11:10 h, Munich: 11:36 h, Hamburg: 11:43 h, Milan Linate: 11:51 h, Frankfurt: 11:52 h, Zurich: 11:54 h
• Nice: 12:05 h, Geneva and Amsterdam: 12:09 h, Paris Le Bourget: 12:25 h, London Farnborough: 12:38 h, Madrid: 13:14 h
• Challenger 650 with one fuel stop: 13:17 h from Vienna, 14:51 h from London Farnborough
• Bangkok Don Mueang: 1:25 h, Kuala Lumpur: 1:26 h, Singapore Seletar: 1:47 h in a Phenom 300
• Malé: 4:12 h in a Phenom 300, Dubai: 6:40 h in a Praetor 600

These times follow the routing that European operators use around closed airspace, over Turkey, the Middle East or Central Asia and then across India, which is roughly a tenth longer than the straight line. A heavy jet with one fuel stop needs about two hours more than the Global 7500. Homebound, the flight runs into the jet stream and usually takes longer. The operator confirms the real time with the flight plan for the day.

Private jet prices to Phuket

All prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, to Phuket International, plus slot, parking, handling, airport charges and taxes. They are calculated for an aircraft positioned close to the departure city. The flight time column refers to the first aircraft in each row, and "1 stop" means a fuel stop on the way.

From the European hubs

The cheapest way to the island is a Challenger 650 with one stop: EUR 120,000 from Vienna and EUR 135,000 from London. Without a stop, the Gulfstream G550 starts at EUR 140,000 from Vienna. From London, Paris and Madrid the G550 also needs fuel on the way, so the Global 7500 at EUR 175,000 from London is the non-stop choice there. From Larnaca and Istanbul, less than 8,500 km away, the G550 costs EUR 120,000 and EUR 125,000.

From other European cities

Warsaw and Budapest are the closest of these cities. The Falcon 8X and the Gulfstream G650 fly non-stop from all of them except Brussels, where the Falcon 8X lands once for fuel.

From Asia, India and the Gulf

Many clients add a few days in Bangkok or Singapore, or arrive after meetings in Dubai. Regional aircraft are based nearby, so these sectors are priced with smaller cabins:

Cells marked "on request" are beyond the non-stop range of that aircraft. The Bangkok leg is a domestic flight, so a Thai operator flies it; the other sectors are international and can be flown by the aircraft you arrived in.

On a sector of ten hours or more, flight time makes up most of the price, and a one-way charter also pays for the empty return, because an aircraft that brings guests to Thailand seldom has anyone to fly back. For a stay of one or two weeks we usually quote two one-way flights with the aircraft going home in between, and compare that with parking on the island plus crew hotels. Overflight permits, the charges at the fuel stop and the Thai per-passenger charges are listed in the quote. Departure taxes depend on the country: France charges jet passengers a tax that rises with distance, from about EUR 420 within Europe to about EUR 2,100 on this route, Italy EUR 200 on flights from or to Italian airports at this distance and Austria EUR 12. Germany, Norway and the Netherlands have their own departure taxes, and the UK charges APD, at the higher rate for private jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which covers every aircraft in the first two tables.

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 table splits the whole-aircraft price between 4, 8 or 12 travellers; per-passenger taxes and Thai charges are added to each share:

Online calculator

Enter the route and dates, and a first estimate arrives by e-mail. In the comment, say if the aircraft should wait on the island and if the trip continues to another country.

Phuket International and the airports around it

Phuket International (HKT, VTSP) is run by the state-owned Airports of Thailand and sits beside Mai Khao beach on the northern tip of the island, about 30 km from Phuket Town. Its single runway, 09/27, is 3,000 m long and 45 m wide, which takes every business jet and airliner type we quote. The airport, customs, immigration and health control work 24 hours.

Private flights use the Siam Land Private Jet Terminal, which has its own building and hangar, and park on apron E. A handler is compulsory. The slot is approved by the airport's coordination committee, and the actual time may differ from it by two hours at most. If the aircraft is to stay overnight or longer, the operator tells the airport at least three working days before arrival, with passenger, aircraft and flight data. Aircraft cannot manoeuvre on the stand under their own power: they are towed and pushed back, so the handler needs a tug and tow bar that fit the type. Jet A-1 comes from hydrant and trucks, and before a non-stop flight to Europe the aircraft is filled up just before departure.

The aviation authority issues permits from Monday to Friday and is closed at weekends and on public holidays such as Songkran, which matters for a flight booked on a Thursday for Saturday. Demand for the apron grows from October and peaks from mid December to February, and at Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year an aircraft is sometimes allowed only to drop passengers and leave.

Other airports for the trip

Distances are straight-line from Phuket International:

At Krabi, customs and immigration work from 08:30 to 16:30 or on request, so handling and hours are confirmed for the specific date. Samui has a short runway and limited hours; a large jet that cannot stay there can wait at Phuket instead.

Which aircraft for a flight to Thailand

On a route of ten to twelve hours, range comes before cabin size, and the number of beds matters more than on any European trip:

Tell us how many passengers want to sleep: the number of beds differs between aircraft of the same type, and we check each cabin before quoting. Dive equipment and golf bags travel in the hold, but their size and weight count for a non-stop flight with full tanks. The catalogue shows all ultra long range jets and heavy jets.

Not sure whether a fuel stop suits your group? Leave a phone number and a consultant calls you back.

When to go: monsoon, festivals and peak weeks

The monsoon divides the year, and a few holidays decide when slots and parking run short:

For a family trip, November and March to early April offer the best balance: the weather is dry, and both the apron and the hotels have room.

From the airport to beaches, villas and marinas

The airport is in the far north, while most hotels and villas lie further south. Transfers are booked with the flight:

For private villas off the main roads we ask for the exact location in advance, because airport drivers do not know every property.

Empty Legs to and from Phuket

In the dry season many aircraft bring guests from the region and fly back empty, and long sectors to Europe appear around the holidays. Typical directions:

The operator sets the date and time, and the flight must still fit an approved slot, so an Empty Leg suits a window of a few days. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with the direction and dates, and we tell you when a matching leg appears.

Flying to Thailand with a dog or cat

• Import permit from the animal quarantine station at the arrival airport, here Phuket, applied for about 30 days before travel and valid for 60 days.
• ISO microchip, minimum age of four months and rabies vaccination at least 21 days before the application; dogs also need distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis vaccines, cats panleukopenia.
• Health certificate issued by a government vet shortly before departure; with complete papers there is no quarantine in Thailand.
• Return to the EU: Thailand is not on the EU list of countries exempt from the antibody test, so a rabies antibody test is needed at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before re-entry, plus the EU pet passport.
• A dog flying home to Ireland, Malta, Finland, Norway or the UK is treated against tapeworm 1-5 days before landing there; the UK also admits pets only via approved routes and handlers.
• The pet travels in the cabin beside you, up to five animals, once the operator has approved it in advance.

Documents, permits and local rules

The country page on Thailand covers Bangkok, Koh Samui and Chiang Mai. For a trip that also includes Penang or Langkawi, see Malaysia.

Before departure: checklist

• Passports valid for six months for every passenger.
• TDAC arrival card completed within three days before landing.
• Names, dates of birth and passport numbers for the landing permit, at least a week ahead in high season.
• Hotel name or exact villa location for the driver.
• Number of suitcases, golf bags and sets of dive gear.
• Whether the aircraft waits on the island, flies home or continues to another country.
• Pet import permit, microchip, vaccinations and health certificate.

How to book a private jet to Phuket

1. Send the departure airport, dates, number of passengers and the hotel or villa; mention a yacht or an onward flight.
2. We compare a heavy jet with one fuel stop against a non-stop long-range aircraft, and parking on the island against a positioning flight home.
3. You receive 2-4 options with operator, model, cabin photos, flight time and the price for the whole aircraft, with slot, parking and crew costs shown separately.
4. You sign the contract and pay; we pass the passenger data to the operator for the Thai landing permit, the slot and the parking notice.
5. Before departure you receive the crew contact, the terminal details and the driver's name; the car waits at the Siam Land terminal.

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 flying privately to Phuket

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

  • From the main hubs of western and central Europe a Challenger 650 with one fuel stop costs from EUR 120,000 (Vienna) to EUR 140,000 (Madrid) one way for the whole aircraft. Non-stop, a Global 7500 costs from EUR 155,000. Within the region a light jet from Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur starts at EUR 11,500.

• • Which aircraft fly to the island without a stop?

  • The Global 7500 from every hub in our tables, and the Gulfstream G550 and G650 from most of central and eastern Europe. Heavy jets such as the Challenger 650 land once for fuel.

• • How long is the flight?

  • Non-stop in a Global 7500 about 11:10 h from Vienna, 12:09 h from Geneva and 12:38 h from London Farnborough. With one fuel stop in a Challenger 650, add about two hours.

• • Where do private jets park and clear customs?

  • At Phuket International, on apron E next to the Siam Land Private Jet Terminal, where passengers pass customs and immigration. The airport works 24 hours.

• • Can the aircraft wait for us during the holiday?

  • Yes, if the operator notifies the airport at least three working days before arrival and a stand is free. Around Christmas and New Year parking is scarce, so for two weeks we also price the aircraft flying home and coming back.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Most EU and UK citizens need no visa for a tourist stay, although Thailand changes the permitted number of days from time to time. Everyone needs a passport valid six months and the online TDAC arrival card.

• • How far ahead should we book?

  • At least a week for the landing permit and slot, and several weeks for the period from mid December to February. The authority does not work at weekends, so a Friday request for Sunday is difficult.

• • Can we fly on to Koh Samui or Bangkok in the same jet?

  • Usually not: domestic legs are reserved for Thai operators, and we book one for you. Singapore, Bali, Kuala Lumpur and Malé are international and can be flown by the same aircraft.

• • How much luggage can we take?

  • Heavy and long-range jets carry luggage for a full cabin on a two-week holiday. Tell us the number of suitcases, golf bags and dive sets so the operator can check the weight for a non-stop flight.

• • Can our dog fly with us?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a Thai import permit from the quarantine station at Phuket airport, microchip, vaccinations and a health certificate. For the return to the EU the dog needs a rabies antibody test months in advance.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Phuket?

  • Yes, mostly short legs from Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in the dry season, and occasional long sectors from Europe around Christmas and New Year. Send your dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.