Private jet to Samedan and St. Moritz

Engadin Airport at Samedan serves St. Moritz, Pontresina and Celerina in the Upper Engadine valley of Graubünden. The runway lies on the flat valley floor about 5 km from St. Moritz, so the drive from the aircraft to a hotel above the lake takes around 10 minutes. At 1,707 m above sea level it is the highest airport in Europe used by business jets, and there are no scheduled flights: the apron belongs to private jets, helicopters and light aircraft.

The altitude shapes every booking. Thin air lengthens the take-off run, the instrument approaches end with a steep visual segment, the runway has no lights, and both pilots need the airport's own briefing and test. So the first questions are about the number of passengers, the weight of bags and skis, and the arrival time, and only then about price. Most guests come for the ski season, the Snow Polo World Cup, White Turf and the holidays at Christmas and New Year; in summer the valley draws hikers, cyclists and families. As a broker we pick operators whose crews are cleared for the valley and quote Zurich as a fallback in the same offer.

Send the route, the date, the number of passengers and the number of pairs of skis through the form, and we will check aircraft, crews and arrival times:

Why fly privately to the Engadine

Flight times to the valley

Times for a Citation CJ3 from the main hubs, as in the price tables, taxi, climb and descent included:

From Frankfurt allow 1:03 h, from Amsterdam 1:32 h and from Hamburg 1:36 h. On sectors this short a midsize jet saves only a few minutes: the Citation XLS+ needs 1:42 h from London against 1:48 h for the CJ3. What really sets the schedule is the clock at the far end. Leaving London at seven in the morning puts you in the valley before ten local time, while a departure in the late afternoon in December arrives too late for a runway that closes at dusk.

Prices for private flights to Samedan

All prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, plus handling, de-icing, airport fees and passenger taxes, assuming an aircraft is available near the departure airport. The flight time refers to the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs

The cheapest jet sectors come from the neighbours: a CJ3 from Milan Linate or Zurich costs EUR 7,500, from Munich or Geneva EUR 8,000. From London the CJ3 costs EUR 11,000. The Pilatus PC-24 handles short and high runways with more margin and costs EUR 13,000 on the same route. The flight from Zurich is a domestic Swiss sector, so it can only be flown by an operator entitled to carry passengers within Switzerland.

Short hops from Italy and southern Germany

From the Italian lakes, Venice, Tuscany and Stuttgart the distance suits a turboprop, which costs less and needs little runway:

The PC-12 from Lugano at EUR 6,000 is the lowest price on the page, and from Rome the turboprop takes 1:40 h against 1:17 h in a jet. Lugano is another domestic Swiss sector, with the same operator rule as Zurich.

From northern Europe, Berlin and the British Isles

The Challenger 350 is at the upper end of what operators bring into the valley, and only after a performance check for the day. From Stockholm, 1,522 km away, it needs 2:24 h and costs EUR 22,000.

Long-haul: via Zurich

Large long-range jets rarely land at Samedan: the runway, the climb out of the valley and the small apron all count against them. The usual plan is a non-stop flight to Zurich, then a helicopter, a car or a light jet for the last stretch. Prices to Zurich:

Prices move with flight time, the position of the nearest free aircraft with a cleared crew, and the season: between Christmas and New Year and at weekends in February few such aircraft are free. Switzerland charges no passenger tax on arrival, but Samedan adds a small fee for each departing passenger, and from November to April the airport fees include snow clearing. Flights from the UK pay Air Passenger Duty at the standard rate of the distance band (the higher private-jet rate applies only to aircraft of 20 t or more, and a PC-12 under 5.7 t is exempt), flights to or from Italy EUR 100 per passenger, flights from France about EUR 420 per passenger on a jet and flights from Germany a departure tax. All of it is itemised 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

A private jet is chartered as a whole, so the cost per seat falls with each passenger. Remember that on this route weight, not seats, sets the limit, and six people with skis may already need the PC-24 or a midsize jet:

Calculator

Enter the route, date and number of passengers; add the number of pairs of skis in the comments, and say whether Zurich is acceptable as a fallback.

Engadin Airport and the alternatives

Engadin Airport (SMV, LSZS) is run by Engadin Airport AG, which does the handling itself and also books cars, catering and hotels, so the driver who meets you is arranged by the same company that parks the aircraft. The runway is about 1,800 m long, ample at sea level but less so at 1,707 m, where engines give less thrust and every take-off is calculated for the day's weight and temperature. There is no ILS: the instrument approaches use satellite navigation and end with a visual segment on a slope of about 4.4 degrees, steeper than at most airports.

For the faster approach categories, which include most jets, the runway closes to arrivals when visibility is below 5 km or the cloud base below 2,200 ft, and nothing lands below 1,500 m visibility or a 500 ft ceiling. Opening hours are 08:00 to 19:00 local time in summer and 08:00 to 30 minutes after sunset in winter, with no night flights at all. Both pilots must have completed the airport's online briefing and passed its test within the last 24 months and carry the certificate on board. The briefing also sets rules on introduction flights with an instructor experienced in mountain flying and on recent experience at the field, and the aircraft must belong to an accepted noise class. Not every operator has such crews, which is why aircraft for the valley are often positioned from Zurich, Munich or northern Italy.

In the week of the World Economic Forum in January, a restricted airspace with a radius of 25 nautical miles around Davos also covers Samedan; prior permission and a special briefing then become mandatory. Operators from outside the EU and Switzerland also need a Swiss permit for charter flights, requested at least 72 hours before the first flight; one permit covers up to three flights within three months.

Fallback airports

Every crew carries fuel for an alternate, usually Zurich or Milan. These airports are used when the weather, the hour or the aircraft rule out the valley:

Which aircraft can land in the valley

Some heavy jets also land at Samedan after a separate performance check, often with reduced weight, and only with an experienced crew. For more than ten passengers it is usually simpler to fly a heavy or long-range jet to Zurich and continue by helicopter. Ski bags, boots and winter clothing fill a hold before the seats are full: tell us the number of skis and the approximate weight of the bags, because at this altitude it decides between a light and a midsize jet.

Would you like to discuss the aircraft, the weather or the crew rules? Leave your number and a consultant will call you.

When to fly: the Engadine calendar

Winter brings most of the traffic, with a second, quieter season in summer:

For Christmas, New Year, the polo and White Turf, book the aircraft and the transfer several weeks ahead. A week in March is usually cheaper and the days are longer, which gives more room for the arrival time.

From the runway to St. Moritz and the resorts

The car waits at the aircraft, so give us the hotel or chalet address with the booking. From mid-December to mid-May helicopters from Zurich or Milan can land at the heliport in St. Moritz-Bad, a few kilometres from the airport. In winter the mountain roads from Zurich and Milan add snow to the drive time, and for a group of eight it is better to order two cars, because skis and luggage often need their own.

Empty Legs to and from the Engadine

Because the apron is small, many aircraft leave empty soon after dropping their passengers and come back on the day of departure. Both of these positioning flights can be sold as Empty Legs at a fraction of the normal price. Typical directions:

An Empty Leg must still fit the airport's daylight hours and the performance limits, so the number of passengers and bags is fixed in advance. Send the direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights and we will forward matching flights.

Flying with a dog or cat

Your dog or cat travels in the cabin beside you, not in the hold, and the operator must approve the animal before the booking. On entry from the EU, Switzerland applies rules that match the EU ones:

• Microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel when it is the first one.
• EU pet passport or the equivalent document.
• Up to five dogs, cats or ferrets per person on a private trip.
• No tapeworm treatment needed to enter Switzerland.

Flying on to the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway, dogs need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival, and the UK admits pets only through approved routes and handlers. A helicopter transfer from Zurich may have stricter rules for large dogs than the jet operator, which we check when booking.

Documents, customs and taxes

Before departure

• Valid passport or ID card for every passenger, children included.
• Names, dates of birth and document numbers sent at least the day before.
• Number of pairs of skis, boots and the approximate weight of all bags.
• Arrival time with a margin before sunset in winter and before the afternoon wind in summer.
• Agreement in advance on Zurich or Milan as the fallback, with a car or helicopter on standby.
• Length of stay, so we can request a stand or plan two one-way flights.
• Pet documents and, for dogs, a check of the Swiss rules on cropped ears and tails.
• Hotel or chalet address for the driver.

How to book

1. Tell us the departure airport, dates, preferred times, passengers, skis and the address in the valley.
2. We check the aircraft's performance at 1,707 m with the operator and confirm that both pilots hold a valid Samedan certificate.
3. You receive 2-4 options with operator, model, cabin photos and price, plus a plan B via Zurich or Milan with the transfer.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; we confirm the arrival time, the stand or the return of the aircraft to base, and the car.
5. On the day the crew watches the weather in the valley; if it closes, the aircraft lands at the alternate and the car or helicopter is already arranged.

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 St. Moritz

• • How much does a private jet to St. Moritz cost?

  • For the whole aircraft, one way, a Citation CJ3 costs EUR 7,500 from Milan Linate or Zurich and EUR 8,000 from Munich or Geneva. From London it costs EUR 11,000. A PC-12 from Lugano costs EUR 6,000. De-icing, airport fees and taxes are added in the quote.

• • Why can't every jet land at Samedan?

  • At 1,707 m the air is thin, so aircraft need a longer run, and the weight on the day decides whether take-off and landing are possible. Both pilots must also hold the airport's briefing certificate.

• • Can I land in the evening?

  • No. The runway has no lights, and in winter the airport closes 30 minutes after sunset; in summer it closes at 19:00. For a late arrival we plan Zurich and a car or an overnight stay.

• • What happens if the weather closes the airport?

  • Most jets need 5 km visibility and a cloud base of 2,200 ft. Below that the aircraft diverts to Zurich or Milan, and we arrange the road or helicopter transfer.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • About 1:48 h from Farnborough in a Citation CJ3 and 1:42 h in a Citation XLS+, non-stop.

• • How far is the airport from St. Moritz?

  • About 5 km, roughly 10 minutes by car. Celerina and Pontresina are even closer, and Davos is about an hour away.

• • Can the aircraft stay during my holiday?

  • Only if the airport has a free stand. In high season the aircraft usually flies home and returns, which often costs less than parking.

• • How much luggage and how many skis can we take?

  • It depends on the aircraft and the temperature on the day. Give us the number of skis and the approximate weight of the bags, and the operator calculates the take-off; a PC-24 or a midsize jet gives more room.

• • Do I need a passport?

  • From Schengen countries there is usually no check, but carry a passport or ID card. From the UK, passports are checked, and Swiss customs are available at the airport during opening hours.

• • Can my dog come along?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with a microchip, rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport. Dogs with cropped ears or tails are generally not admitted to Switzerland.

• • Are there Empty Legs to the Engadine?

  • Yes, mostly short flights to and from Zurich, Milan, Munich and Geneva, because aircraft often leave the small apron empty. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • How early should I book for Christmas or White Turf?

  • Several weeks ahead, because only some operators have cleared crews and the apron fills quickly. Outside the peak weeks a flight can often be arranged within a day or two.