Private jet to Sierra Leone

A private flight to Sierra Leone lands at Freetown International (FNA / GFLL) at Lungi, the country's only international airport, which lies on the north shore of the Sierra Leone River estuary and not on the capital's side. The runway is 3,200 m long with an ILS, so every business jet can use it, and a Praetor 600 flies there from Paris, Geneva or London without a fuel stop. The last part of the journey to Freetown is a water taxi of 30 to 45 minutes across the estuary.

Most people who charter to Sierra Leone travel for work: mining and energy companies, contractors, international organisations and government visitors. Scheduled routes from Europe connect in Brussels, Casablanca or Istanbul, so a private jet earns its place by the timing and by keeping a team together. The beaches of the Freetown peninsula draw a smaller number of leisure visitors in the dry season.

Send the dates and the number of passengers, and a consultant replies with the aircraft, the crossing plan and the price.

Arriving at Lungi

Prices for flights to Freetown Lungi

Prices are for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft available near the departure airport. Handling, landing, parking, the permit, passenger taxes and any crew nights are added in the quote. The flight time is that of the first aircraft in each row.

From the European hubs

The cheapest hub is Madrid at EUR 36,000 for 5:05 h in a Praetor 600. Nice costs EUR 41,000, Geneva EUR 43,000, Paris EUR 44,000 and London EUR 45,000 for 6:36 h. Vienna is the longest sector in the table, 7:00 h for EUR 48,000. A Challenger 650 costs EUR 58,000 from Paris and EUR 60,000 from London.

From Lisbon, Gran Canaria and Casablanca

From Lisbon a Citation Latitude flies without a stop in 4:47 h for EUR 30,000. Gran Canaria costs EUR 23,000 and Casablanca EUR 27,000 in the same aircraft.

From neighbouring capitals

Conakry in Guinea is 0:40 h away at EUR 7,500 in a Citation CJ3, and Monrovia in Liberia 1:04 h at EUR 8,500; both are also the usual alternates for Lungi. Dakar costs EUR 10,500, Abidjan EUR 11,500 and Accra EUR 13,500.

Long-haul

Johannesburg - Freetown Lungi is 7:18 h in a Falcon 7X at EUR 91,000, and Dubai 9:02 h at EUR 110,000, both non-stop.

European departure taxes are added per passenger. France levies a solidarity tax on each passenger that grows with the distance flown, so West Africa costs more than a European sector; a flight from Italy over 1,500 km pays EUR 200 and Austria EUR 12. Germany and the UK charge their own taxes, with UK aircraft under 5.7 t exempt from APD and the higher rate applied to aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats. Sierra Leonean charges are shown 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 trips

Price per passenger

With the whole aircraft paid for, more passengers mean a lower share each:

Calculator

Another departure airport or a return with nights in Freetown can be estimated in the calculator.

Airports in and around Sierra Leone

Lungi began as a British air base. Airport and tower are listed open around the clock, with fire cover of category 8 and jet fuel only. The Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority issues the permits and asks for applications 72 hours before the flight; a landing permit is typically valid for 24 hours and an overflight permit for 72 hours. The file holds the aircraft certificates and insurance, the schedule and routing, passport copies and a local receiving party. Crew visas are issued on arrival, usually for up to 14 days.

Apart from Lungi there are a few airstrips, such as Hastings and Kenema, but none with verified services for a business jet, so domestic legs are not offered.

Choosing an aircraft

• Up to eight passengers: a super midsize Praetor 600, non-stop from all hubs in the first table.
• Teams of up to twelve with equipment: a heavy jet such as the Challenger 650 or Legacy 650.
• More range and a larger cabin: a long-range jet such as the Falcon 7X.
• From Lisbon, Gran Canaria or Casablanca: a midsize jet such as the Citation Latitude.
• Hops to Conakry or Monrovia: a light jet such as the Citation CJ3.

Leave your number for a call back about the aircraft and the crossing.

When to travel

The dry season from December to April is the best time: the harmattan blows dust in from the Sahara, and February is the driest month in Freetown with about 6 mm of rain. From May to November it is wet, with about 4,400 mm a year in Freetown, about 1,190 mm in July and 1,080 mm in August; rough seas from May to October can delay or cancel the water taxis. Empty Legs are infrequent; the dry season gives the best chance of an empty return to Europe.

Korité, Tabaski and Mawlid move with the Islamic calendar, so the permit request and the crossing are planned around them.

From the airport to Freetown

Once in Freetown, the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary lies in the forest reserve of the peninsula, Bunce Island with the ruins of a slave fortress is reached by boat, and the peninsula has long beaches such as Lumley, Tokeh and River Number 2. The beaches have no lifeguards and currents are strong.

Visa, health and safety

Passports must be valid for six months. Arriving back in Europe, passengers clear immigration and customs at their first Schengen or UK stop, since the flight comes from outside the EU.

Flying with a dog or cat

The pet flies in the cabin with the operator's approval. The usual requirements are an import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture before arrival, an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given between 30 days and six months before arrival, and a health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry and endorsed by a government vet, with entry through Lungi and no quarantine when all is in order. We confirm these points with the Ministry in writing before the flight.

Empty Legs

Empty Legs to and from Lungi appear when a charter drops passengers and the aircraft does not wait, or when an aircraft repositions after a contract elsewhere in West Africa. They are infrequent and the date is fixed by the operator. Send your route and a window of a few days to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Booking steps

1. Send the dates, the passengers with nationalities and the purpose of the trip.
2. We find operators that accept Lungi and confirm their insurance and the customs hours with the handler.
3. You receive the options with aircraft, flight time and full price, including the crossing.
4. You sign the contract with the operator and pay; the permit, parking slot and health declarations are completed.
5. Before take-off we send the handler, water taxi and car details.

Questions about flying privately to Sierra Leone

• • How much does a private jet to Sierra Leone cost?

  • From EUR 36,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Madrid - Freetown Lungi in a Praetor 600. Paris costs EUR 44,000 and London EUR 45,000, plus charges and taxes.

• • How long is the flight?

  • 6:24 h from Paris, 6:36 h from London and 5:05 h from Madrid in a Praetor 600, without a stop.

• • Where do private jets land?

  • At Freetown International at Lungi, with a 3,200 m runway. The city is across the estuary, 30 to 45 minutes by water taxi.

• • Is there a VIP terminal?

  • Yes, the passenger terminal has a separate VIP terminal; access is arranged by the handler. There is no FBO lounge.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Yes. EU and UK citizens get an e-visa before travel or a visa on arrival, and complete a health declaration within 72 hours before the flight.

• • How early should we book?

  • At least three working days: the permit application goes in 72 hours before the flight, together with the parking slot.

• • Can we combine Freetown with Conakry or Monrovia?

  • Yes. Conakry is a 0:40 h hop and Monrovia 1:04 h, each with its own permit.

• • Can a dog come with us?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with an import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination and endorsed health certificate. Do the antibody test for the EU return before leaving.

• • Are there Empty Legs?

  • Occasionally, mostly empty returns to Europe in the dry season. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.