Private jet to Shanghai

China's commercial capital hosts the regional headquarters of many European manufacturers, banks and retailers, the financial district of Lujiazui and, every November, the China International Import Expo. Private flights bring executives to meetings and factory visits in the Yangtze delta, exhibitors to the trade fairs and spectators to the Formula 1 race in spring.

Two airports accept business jets from abroad, and choosing between them matters more than the aircraft type. Pudong, east of the city, works around the clock and has more parking, but has no dedicated business aviation terminal. Hongqiao, in the west, is close to the centre and has its own business aviation terminal with fast clearance, but closes at night and confirms parking late. Every flight needs a permit from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) with a sponsor in China. As a broker, we price both options with operators that fly to China.

Give us the address in the city, the number of nights and the group size, and we will tell you which airport fits and what it costs:

Reasons to fly privately to Shanghai

How long it takes to fly to Shanghai

Global 7500 times to Pudong from the tables below, non-stop unless noted:

• Helsinki: 10:22 h, Stockholm: 10:52 h
• Larnaca: 11:06 h, Istanbul and Warsaw: 11:10 h
• Copenhagen: 11:32 h, Budapest: 11:39 h, Vienna: 11:50 h, Prague: 11:52 h, Hamburg: 11:53 h, Athens: 11:55 h
• Munich: 12:12 h, Frankfurt: 12:19 h, Amsterdam: 12:23 h, Zurich: 12:33 h, Milan: 12:40 h
• Geneva: 12:51 h, London Farnborough and Paris Le Bourget: 12:52 h, Nice: 13:00 h
• Madrid: 15:42 h with one fuel stop

The route distance is about a fifth longer than the straight line. Closed and restricted airspace north of the direct line keeps European operators further south, so they cross Turkey, the Caucasus, the Caspian and Central Asia and enter China from the north-west. Heavy jets stop once, often at Baku or Almaty, where the stop takes about an hour. A Falcon 8X flies non-stop from Larnaca, Istanbul, Warsaw, Helsinki, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Budapest. Westbound flights home are usually longer because of headwinds.

Shanghai private jet prices

Each price is for the whole aircraft, one way, before the permit, parking, crew hotels, Chinese charges and passenger taxes. The flight time shown is that of the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs to Pudong

With one stop the Challenger 650 costs EUR 120,000 from Larnaca and EUR 135,000 from London, Paris, Geneva and Nice. The Falcon 8X is non-stop and the better buy from Larnaca, Istanbul and Warsaw at EUR 140,000; from central and western Europe it needs a stop, and the Global 7500 at EUR 165,000-180,000 is the non-stop option.

From other European cities

To Hongqiao

Hongqiao's stands can be too small for the largest cabins such as the Global 7500, so the table uses jets up to the Falcon 8X. Prices are almost the same as to Pudong:

Regional flights

Sectors from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong or the Philippines are international flights and suit light and midsize jets. The table shows arrivals at Pudong; the reverse direction costs the same:

From Dubai and Doha the Falcon 8X and Global 7500 fly non-stop, and the Challenger 650 stops once:

The fare covers flight hours and bringing the aircraft and crew to the departure airport; after the long sector from Europe the crew rests before the return, or a second crew flies along. Taxes on departure: from France a per-passenger tax on jets that rises with distance, about EUR 2,100 to China rather than about EUR 420 within Europe, while Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on sectors over 1,500 km and Austria EUR 12. The UK charges Air Passenger Duty at the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats, which includes every aircraft in the tables from Europe, and at the standard rate of the distance band on lighter jets. Germany and Norway levy departure taxes, the Netherlands taxes passengers on aircraft of 5.7 t or more and Sweden has no passenger tax. The permit, route navigation charges and airport fees in Shanghai are 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

Sample budgets

Price per person

The aircraft is chartered as a whole, so the cost per passenger falls with each seat filled. Passenger taxes are added:

Quick estimate

Try the calculator for your own route; mention the airport you prefer and the number of nights.

Pudong, Hongqiao and the business aviation facilities

Shanghai Pudong International (PVG, ZSPD) lies on the east coast, about 30 km from the centre, which takes up to an hour by car. Five runways from 3,400 m to 4,000 m and 24-hour operation make it the main gateway for flights from outside China. There is no separate business aviation terminal: passengers clear formalities in a VIP area while the crew passes through the main terminal, and a border officer boards the aircraft before anyone leaves it. Business jets may not depart between 07:00 and 09:00, the slot tolerance is up to 30 minutes, and parking is normally limited to two consecutive nights, with extensions on request. Passenger and crew details must be final by 04:00 UTC on the day before the flight; later changes are generally refused.

Shanghai Hongqiao International (SHA, ZSSS) is about 11-13 km west of the centre, roughly 25 minutes by car, next to the high-speed railway station and the exhibition centre. Its runways measure 3,400 m and 3,300 m, and its business aviation terminal clears passengers in 15-20 minutes. The limits are stricter: no runway movements from 00:01 to 06:00, border control for business flights from 08:00 to 22:00, parking officially up to 72 hours and often confirmed only the day before arrival. International arrivals have at times been suspended during works on the customs facilities, so we confirm the airport for your date. Flights between the two airports are not permitted, so the choice is made for the arrival and again for the departure.

Hangzhou and Nanjing for longer stays

When neither Shanghai airport can keep the aircraft for the whole stay, it drops the passengers and flies empty to another airport of entry, returning on the day of departure. Even a fuel-only stop in Shanghai requires border clearance, and visa-free handling for such a stop is requested at least 48 hours ahead.

Which aircraft to choose

Light and midsize jets would need several landings from Europe, each written into the Chinese permit, so they are used only in the region. For the long sector compare heavy jets with ultra long range jets. If you plan a Global 7500 or a VIP airliner, we route it to Pudong from the start.

Not sure which airport suits your programme? Leave your number and a consultant will call you back.

The Shanghai calendar

April to May and October to November are the most pleasant months; winter is cool and damp but rarely freezing.

Getting into the city

The car with driver is booked together with the flight. Tell us which airport and handler you use, because the two lie on opposite sides of the city.

Empty Legs to and from Shanghai

Operators sell positioning flights without passengers at a reduced price. Typical directions around Shanghai:

The date is set by the operator, and the Chinese permit, the slot and, at Pudong, the passenger list closed a day ahead still apply. Send your route and dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Taking a pet to Shanghai

China's customs administration sets the rules, and an EU pet passport alone is not enough:

• One dog or one cat per traveller, declared to customs on arrival.
• An ISO 11784/11785 microchip; if the chip does not meet the standard, bring your own reader.
• A rabies vaccination and a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from a laboratory recognised by Chinese customs, drawn no earlier than on the day of the second vaccination and valid for one year.
• A health certificate from a state veterinarian with the vaccination and test data; only originals are accepted.
• With papers missing, 30 days of quarantine or return; both Pudong and Hongqiao have quarantine stations.

Entry rules and permits

China is outside Schengen and the EU customs union, so customs checks apply on arrival and again on your return to Europe.

Checklist

• Passports for everyone and the visa-free conditions checked for each nationality.
• The sponsor's invitation for the CAAC application.
• The airport decision: Hongqiao for daytime short stays, Pudong for night arrivals and large jets.
• The final passenger list before 04:00 UTC on the day before the flight if you land at Pudong.
• The number of nights, to plan parking or a move to Hangzhou.
• Car with driver booked with the handler's name.
• Chip, certificate and antibody result ready if an animal comes along.

Booking in five steps

1. Send the address in Shanghai, the dates and the number of nights, the passengers and the sponsor.
2. We recommend Hongqiao or Pudong and offer a one-stop heavy jet and a non-stop long-range jet.
3. After signature the handler files the CAAC permit and requests the slot; for Hongqiao we keep a Pudong fallback, because Hongqiao confirms stands late.
4. Parking is booked or the move to Hangzhou is planned, and the passenger list is finalised.
5. On arrival an officer boards the aircraft, and the driver waits at the business aviation terminal or the Pudong VIP area.

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

Shanghai private jet FAQ

• • What does a private jet to Shanghai cost?

  • A Challenger 650 with one stop costs from EUR 110,000 one way from Helsinki; from Larnaca the fare is EUR 120,000 and from London EUR 135,000. A non-stop Falcon 8X costs from EUR 130,000 from Helsinki, and a Global 7500 from London EUR 180,000.

• • Hongqiao or Pudong?

  • Hongqiao is closer and has a business aviation terminal but closes at night and confirms parking late. Pudong works 24 hours and suits large jets and longer stays.

• • How long is the flight from London?

  • About 12:52 h non-stop in a Global 7500 on the southern route via Central Asia; with one stop in a Challenger 650 about 15 hours.

• • How long can the aircraft stay?

  • Usually two nights at Pudong and up to 72 hours at Hongqiao. For longer stays it waits in Hangzhou or Nanjing.

• • Do I need a visa?

  • Most European travellers can stay up to 30 days without a visa under a time-limited scheme; we check it for each passport before the flight.

• • How early should we book?

  • Two weeks is a safe minimum for the sponsor letter and the permit; for the Import Expo and the Grand Prix, several weeks.

• • Can we change passengers at the last minute?

  • At Pudong the list is locked at 04:00 UTC the day before, and later changes are generally refused.

• • Can we bring a pet?

  • Yes, one dog or cat per traveller with chip, vaccination, health certificate and an antibody test from a laboratory recognised by China.

• • Are Empty Legs available?

  • Mostly from Seoul, Osaka, Hong Kong and Manila, and sometimes long-range legs to or from Europe. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.

• • Is a same-day return possible?

  • Not from Europe; from Seoul or Osaka it can work at Pudong, which is open around the clock.

• • How much luggage can we take?

  • Long-range jets carry a full group's suitcases plus sample cases for a fair; tell us the volume when you book so the operator can plan weight.