Private jet to Rhodes

The largest island of the Dodecanese lies far to the east, closer to the Turkish coast than to Athens. Families come for the long beaches between Faliraki and Lindos, couples for the walled medieval town listed by UNESCO, and companies for incentive trips and conferences in the large resort hotels. The season is long, from spring to late October, and the island counts around 300 sunny days a year.

For private aviation Rhodes has one clear advantage over the Cyclades: Diagoras airport has a runway of about 3,300 m and works 24 hours, so a heavy jet with twelve or fourteen passengers can land on the island itself, late at night if needed. The difficulty lies on the apron. In summer only a few stands are available for business jets, and an aircraft normally drops its passengers and leaves. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators across Europe and plan from the start where the jet goes during your stay.

Tell us where you are staying on the island and for how long; the answer decides whether the aircraft waits or flies home in between.

Why fly privately to the island

Flight times

Citation CJ3 times taken from the hub table below:

• Larnaca: 1:14 h, Rome: 2:32 h, Vienna: 2:44 h
• Milan Linate: 3:05 h, Munich: 3:07 h, Nice: 3:12 h, Zurich: 3:18 h
• Berlin: 3:26 h, Geneva: 3:27 h, Frankfurt: 3:32 h, Hamburg: 3:48 h
• Brussels: 3:56 h, Paris Le Bourget: 3:58 h, Amsterdam: 4:02 h
• Madrid: 4:22 h, London Farnborough: 4:25 h

Rhodes is one of the longest sectors in the Greek islands from western Europe. From London or Madrid a light jet needs more than four hours and is close to the limit of its practical range with a full cabin, so for five or more passengers from the UK, the Benelux or Spain we recommend a midsize or super midsize jet: the Challenger 350 needs 4:01 h from Farnborough. From Tel Aviv the island is 1:26 h away in a Challenger 650, from Dubai 3:53 h.

Private jet prices to Rhodes

Every price covers the whole aircraft for a one-way flight; handling, airport charges and passenger taxes are added in the quote. The time shown is for the aircraft in the first price column.

From the European hubs

Larnaca is the closest hub, only 529 km away, at EUR 9,000 in a CJ3; London and Madrid are the most distant at EUR 19,500. For a family of six from Paris, the Citation XLS+ at EUR 23,000 offers a taller cabin and room for golf bags on a four-hour flight.

From eastern Europe, the Balkans and Scandinavia

From Istanbul the flight takes 1:11 h, but it arrives from outside Schengen and the EU customs union, so passport and customs checks take place on arrival at Diagoras.

Within Greece

Connections from the capital, Crete and northern Greece, for example after a business trip or before a holiday on the island:

Long-haul and the Middle East

The long runway means heavy and ultra long range jets fly in directly with full cabins. Only the Challenger 650 from New York stops for fuel:

Behind each figure are the hours in the air and a fixed amount for getting the aircraft and crew to the departure airport. July and August are the most expensive months; May, June and September are cheaper and the island is quieter. Passenger taxes vary by country: a jet leaving France pays about EUR 420 per passenger; flights to or from Italy pay EUR 100 per passenger up to 1,500 km and EUR 200 beyond, and Rome, 1,462 km away in a straight line, pays EUR 200 because Italy adds 95 km to the great-circle distance; Austria charges EUR 12 per departing passenger. Germany and the UK charge departure taxes, the UK depending on the aircraft weight and seats. Greek airport 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

Real trips, full costs

Share per seat

The aircraft is chartered as a whole, so a full cabin lowers the share per seat considerably. Passenger taxes come on top for each traveller:

Online estimate

Enter route, date and group size, and the calculator sends an estimate by e-mail.

Diagoras airport and its limits

Rhodes International Airport Diagoras (RHO, LGRP) lies on the north-west coast next to the village of Paradeisi, about 14 km south-west of Rhodes Town. It is one of the busiest airports in Greece in summer and is run by Fraport Greece. The single runway 06/24 is about 3,300 m long, so runway length never restricts the choice of aircraft.

Business jets use a VIP handling service and lounge separate from the main terminal, and handling by an approved agent is compulsory. The airport is open 24 hours all year and is slot-coordinated in the summer season, when the flight plan has to match the allotted slot.

Alternates and neighbouring airports

Distances are straight-line from Diagoras. The Turkish airports are outside Schengen and the EU customs union:

Which aircraft to choose

On a flight of four hours from western Europe the cabin height matters: about 1.45 m in a CJ3, 1.83 m in a Citation Latitude or Challenger 350. A Latitude holds about 3.6 m³ of baggage, enough for golf bags and a week of luggage for six. For groups of more than ten, heavy jets are a real option here, which is rare among Greek islands.

Want advice on the aircraft or the parking plan? Leave your number, and a consultant calls back to talk it through.

Best time to fly

The season runs from April to October; outside it the island is quiet but the Old Town stays open:

For July and August, book the aircraft several weeks ahead. In June or September aircraft are easier to find and the sea is still warm.

Transfers on the island

Empty Legs to and from Rhodes

Few business jets can stay on the island in summer, so many fly away empty after the drop-off and come back empty for the return. These sectors are sold at a discount. Typical directions:

Dates and times are fixed by the operator, which makes an Empty Leg a choice for a flexible plan. Tell us the direction and your dates at empty-legs@jets.flights, and we write as soon as a sector fits.

Pets on the flight

The dog or cat flies in the cabin with you once the operator has given its approval. On Rhodes the EU pet rules apply:

• Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) implanted before the rabies vaccination is given.
• Rabies vaccination from the age of 12 weeks; after the first dose the animal may travel once 21 days have passed.
• EU pet passport for animals from the EU; an animal health certificate from an authorised vet for those from Great Britain.
• At most five dogs, cats or ferrets per owner on a private trip.
• Tapeworm treatment is not needed for Greece.

July and August are hot even in the evening. With an animal on board we plan a morning or late arrival and an air-conditioned car, and we ask the hotel whether it accepts dogs before you book.

Entry rules and taxes

Checklist before the flight

• Valid passport or ID card for every passenger, children included; passports for anyone going on to Turkey.
• Names, dates of birth and passport or ID numbers of all passengers, no later than the day before.
• Hotel or villa address, which decides the length of the transfer.
• Suitcases, golf bags and pushchairs.
• Pet passport or health certificate, plus the antibody test result if the dog goes to Turkey.
• Preferred return time, so we can ask for an overnight stand if it is early in the morning.
• Invoice details if the trip is billed to a company.

Booking in five steps

1. Send the departure airport, dates, number of passengers and luggage, and where you will stay on the island.
2. We request the slot and check whether the aircraft can stay; for a single night with a late arrival and early departure we ask for an overnight stand.
3. You receive 2-4 options from light jets to large cabins, with the price for the whole aircraft and any empty legs during the stay.
4. With the contract signed and paid, we confirm the handler, the car, the helicopter or the boat to Symi.
5. Be at the departure airport 20-30 minutes before take-off. At Diagoras the handler meets you at the aircraft and the car takes you straight to the hotel.

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

Your questions about private flights to Rhodes

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

  • A Pilatus PC-12 costs from EUR 7,000 one way from Heraklion and EUR 7,500 from Athens. A Citation CJ3 costs EUR 9,000 from Larnaca and EUR 14,000 from Vienna, always for the whole aircraft. Handling and passenger taxes come on top.

• • Can a large jet land on Rhodes?

  • Yes. The runway is about 3,300 m, enough for every business jet including the Global 7500, so groups of 12-14 fly to the island directly.

• • Can we land on the island late at night?

  • Yes, Diagoras is open 24 hours all year. In summer every flight still needs a slot.

• • Can the aircraft wait on the island during our holiday?

  • In summer only in some cases, as there are about three stands for business jets. For a week or more the jet usually flies home and comes back.

• • How many hours is it from London to Rhodes?

  • About 4:25 h in a Citation CJ3 and 4:01 h in a Challenger 350. For more than four passengers a midsize or larger jet is the better choice.

• • How far is Lindos from the airport?

  • About 50 km, 50-60 minutes by car and longer in July and August. Rhodes Town is about 20 minutes away.

• • Can we combine Rhodes with Turkey?

  • Yes, Dalaman and Bodrum are 72 and 101 km away. They are outside Schengen, so passports are checked at both ends.

• • Can my dog fly with us?

  • Yes. It travels in the cabin with an EU pet passport, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. If the dog comes to Turkey too, arrange the rabies antibody test in the EU before going, so the return is straightforward.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Rhodes?

  • Yes, especially in summer when jets leave the island empty after drop-offs. Ask at empty-legs@jets.flights with your preferred dates.

• • When is it hardest to get a flight?

  • In July and August. Book several weeks ahead, or travel in June or September.

• • Do we need passports from Germany or Italy?

  • There is no border check within Schengen, but the operator needs a valid passport or ID card for each passenger.