Private jet to Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a republic of about 1.5 million people at the southern end of the Caribbean chain, just off the coast of South America. The two islands are very different destinations. Trinidad, with the capital Port of Spain, lives from oil, gas and petrochemicals, and many private flights to Piarco International carry executives, engineers and lawyers. Tobago, about 40 km long, is the island of reefs, rainforest and beaches, served by A. N. R. Robinson International at Crown Point.

The third reason to come is carnival, held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday; the islands are the home of steelpan, calypso and soca. In carnival week aircraft, hotels and handling in Port of Spain are booked long before the date.

Because of the permit lead time, send us the dates as early as you can, together with the island and the number of passengers.

Flight times from Europe and the region

• Falcon 8X without a stop to Port of Spain: Lisbon 7:26 h, Madrid 8:01 h, London Farnborough 8:37 h, Paris Le Bourget 8:48 h, Amsterdam 9:05 h, Zurich 9:16 h, Frankfurt 9:19 h, Munich 9:34 h
• To Tobago: London Farnborough 8:32 h, Geneva 8:57 h, Nice 9:00 h, Milan Linate 9:13 h
• Citation CJ3 within the region: Grenada 0:44 h, Barbados - Tobago 0:52 h, Saint Lucia 0:59 h, Georgetown 1:17 h, Antigua 1:31 h
• Miami 3:46 h, New York 4:59 h and Houston 5:38 h in a Praetor 500

Heavy and super midsize jets such as the Challenger 650 and Challenger 350 land once for fuel, usually at Santa Maria in the Azores, which lies close to the direct line; the stop adds about an hour and a half. The westbound flight meets the usual headwind, while the return with the jet stream is shorter. An arrival from Europe in the early afternoon local time feels like the evening to the passengers, so most business programmes start the next morning.

Prices to Piarco and Tobago

All figures are for the entire aircraft on a one-way flight, assuming a jet is free near the departure airport; permits, handling, the fuel stop and passenger taxes are charged on top. Flight times refer to the aircraft in the first price column.

From Europe

A Challenger 350 with a stop in the Azores costs EUR 76,000 from London to Port of Spain and EUR 75,000 to Tobago; a non-stop Falcon 8X is EUR 105,000 to either island. From Lisbon the Challenger 650 flies direct for EUR 69,000. The difference between the two airports is small, so the choice depends on where you are going: Port of Spain and the business district, or the Tobago beaches.

From the region and North America

From Grenada a Citation CJ3 costs EUR 7,500 and from Barbados to Tobago EUR 8,000; Georgetown in Guyana is 1:17 h away. Each of these is an international flight with formalities at both ends. The hop between Port of Spain and Tobago, 83 km, is a domestic flight, flown by a local operator in a turboprop; alternatively the jet from Europe lands directly in Tobago, which has its own customs.

Trinidad and Tobago charges departure taxes per passenger, which we list in the quote. Taxes at the European end vary: France scales its tax on jet passengers by distance, so this crossing costs more per head than the roughly EUR 420 of a flight inside Europe, and Italy charges EUR 200 per passenger on any flight of this length to or from Italy. UK Air Passenger Duty is levied at the higher rate on jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats and at the standard rate on lighter jets; Germany, Norway and the Netherlands (aircraft of 5.7 t or more) collect their own.

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

Two typical trips

The calculator gives a first figure for your own date:

Piarco, Crown Point and handling

Piarco International (POS / TTPP) lies in the east of Trinidad, about 21 km from Port of Spain along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. Its runway, 10/28, is 3,200 m long and takes any aircraft. Airport, tower, customs and immigration work around the clock, so a late arrival after the crossing is no problem. Private flights use the South Terminal, the former passenger building, which handles general aviation, cargo and helicopters and has been refitted for executive passengers; handling, fuel and catering are provided by authorised handling companies, named in the quote.

A. N. R. Robinson International (TAB / TTCP) at Crown Point, at the south-western tip of Tobago and about 11 km from Scarborough, has a 2,744 m runway with instrument approaches. Its international terminal handles general aviation, and the hotels of Store Bay and Pigeon Point are a few minutes away.

The Civil Aviation Authority lists the application for an international charter permit at least 14 days before the flight, and a private flight is checked separately, so the paperwork starts as soon as the dates are fixed. Helicopters at Piarco mainly serve the offshore oil and gas platforms, so a helicopter transfer is arranged as a separate charter with a licensed operator.

Aircraft for this route

To compare a direct jet with a one-stop option, leave your number:

Seasons and events

The dry season runs from January to May and is the main season for Tobago's hotels, diving and beaches. June to December is wetter; the country lies south of the main hurricane belt, although Tobago has been hit by storms in the past. Carnival, Easter and Christmas are the weeks when aircraft and handling are hardest to find. Empty Legs appear mostly after carnival and at the end of the dry season in May, when jets that brought winter visitors fly home.

Empty Legs from Port of Spain and Tobago

Jets that bring carnival guests, winter visitors to Tobago or a business team with a fixed return often fly back to Europe empty. Legs on this route are irregular and depend on the original booking, so a window of several days helps. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your direction and possible dates.

Travelling with a dog or cat

• An import permit from the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer is required; the conditions, including the lead time and whether a rabies antibody test is needed, depend on the category of the departure country.
• ISO microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, an export health certificate issued by a government vet within seven days before departure, and for dogs parasite treatment and a Brucella canis test.
• Arrival notified at least 24 hours ahead to the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory; entry through Piarco with inspection on arrival.
• Animals are expected to arrive on a direct flight without a stopover, so a non-stop jet suits best; a fuel stop needs written confirmation from the veterinary authority first.
• On board, the animal sits with you in the cabin after the operator has approved it. Trinidad and Tobago is on the EU list from which pets return without an antibody test; dogs returning to the UK need tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before arrival there.

Entry, customs and documents

Booking

1. Send the island, dates and passengers, ideally at least two weeks ahead because of the charter permit.
2. We compare a direct jet with a one-stop option and choose between Piarco and Tobago.
3. Our proposal compares aircraft by operator, flight time and total price.
4. After the contract and payment the operator files the permit, and the handler arranges fuel, parking and catering.
5. On arrival you clear customs in the terminal and the car takes you to Port of Spain or the hotel.

Trinidad and Tobago by private jet: questions

• • What does a private jet cost from Europe?

  • A Challenger 350 with a fuel stop costs EUR 76,000 from London to Port of Spain; a non-stop Falcon 8X costs EUR 105,000, for the whole aircraft one way. From Lisbon a Challenger 650 flies direct for EUR 69,000.

• • How far ahead must we book?

  • The charter permit is listed with an application at least 14 days before the flight, so two weeks or more is safest; for carnival, much earlier.

• • Can we land at night?

  • At Piarco, yes: the airport, customs and immigration work 24 hours.

• • Can we fly straight to Tobago?

  • Yes. Robinson International at Crown Point has a 2,744 m runway and an international terminal, and a non-stop Falcon 8X from London takes 8:32 h.

• • Do we need a visa?

  • Not for EU or UK citizens on a visit of up to 90 days. Show a return or onward journey and funds for the stay.

• • When is carnival?

  • On the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, in February or March. Book aircraft, hotels and handling as early as possible.

• • Can our dog come?

  • Yes, with an import permit from the Chief Veterinary Officer, a health certificate and the tests required for your country; a non-stop flight is preferred by the rules.

• • Are there Empty Legs?

  • Sometimes, after carnival, at the end of the dry season and after business trips with a fixed return. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.