Private jet to Tromsø

Tromsø lies about 350 km north of the Arctic Circle and is the largest city in northern Norway. Most private flyers come for the northern lights, which can be seen from late August to early April, and for the polar night, when the sun stays below the horizon from late November to mid-January. Others come for the Arctic University of Norway and the Norwegian Polar Institute, for ski touring in the Lyngen Alps in spring, or use the city as the last stop before Svalbard.

Business jets land at Tromsø Airport Langnes, on the same island as the centre and about 10 minutes from the hotels by car. There is no separate private terminal: the airport's handling agents meet the aircraft, every flight needs a slot, and in winter de-icing and snow on the runway are part of every plan. A private flight makes sense here for two reasons: the arrival can be timed to the few hours of winter daylight, and if clouds hide the aurora the return can move by a day without rebooking anything. As a broker, we look first at operators with Scandinavian winter experience.

Send the route, the dates, the number of passengers and the nights you plan to stay. A consultant replies with aircraft that suit an Arctic winter, the slot and the price:

Why fly privately to the Arctic

How long it takes to fly to Tromsø

Phenom 300 times from the price tables, with taxi, climb and descent included:

• Helsinki: 1:56 h, Oslo: 1:59 h, Stockholm: 2:02 h
• Copenhagen: 2:38 h, Hamburg: 2:57 h, Berlin: 3:06 h
• Amsterdam: 3:15 h, Frankfurt: 3:30 h, London Farnborough: 3:33 h
• Munich and Vienna: 3:42 h, Paris Le Bourget: 3:47 h, Zurich: 3:53 h
• Geneva: 4:06 h, Milan Linate: 4:10 h, Nice: 4:28 h

The distances are longer than the map suggests: about 2,290 km from London, 1,600 km from Copenhagen and still 1,100 km from Oslo. From Madrid and Larnaca a light jet needs a fuel stop, so those rows start with the Praetor 500. On flights of three to four hours a midsize or super midsize jet saves 10-15 minutes and gives more cabin and hold space for winter clothing. A same-day return from western Europe means 7 hours or more in the air plus the turnaround, a very long duty day for the crew, so we normally plan at least one night.

Tromsø private jet prices

Every price is for the whole aircraft, one way, plus handling, de-icing, airport fees and passenger taxes, with an aircraft available near the departure airport. The flight time column refers to the first priced aircraft in each row.

From the main European cities

The Nordic capitals start at EUR 13,500 in a Phenom 300. Frankfurt and London cost EUR 19,000, and Munich, Vienna, Zurich, Geneva and Milan stay between EUR 19,500 and EUR 21,000, so for a group of six the difference between departure cities matters less than the choice of aircraft.

From Bergen, Scotland and Iceland

Many trips combine the Arctic with the Norwegian west coast, Scotland or Iceland. Light jets and the Gulfstream G280 cover all these routes non-stop:

Arctic connections

Short hops link Tromsø with Svalbard, the Lofoten airport at Evenes and Lapland across the Swedish and Finnish borders. A turboprop is the most economical choice:

From the Gulf and New York

For clients from the Gulf and North America, all three types below fly to Langnes non-stop:

The price depends on flight time and on bringing the aircraft to you; on a route this long the positioning share is noticeable when no aircraft is based nearby. Passenger taxes follow the departure country: about EUR 420 per passenger on a jet from France, and EUR 200 per passenger on flights to or from Italy, as every Italian airport is more than 1,500 km away. Austria adds EUR 12 per passenger. Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands tax departures, and the UK charges Air Passenger Duty on aircraft over 5.7 t, at the standard rate of the distance band for most jets and at the higher rate for aircraft of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats. Sweden has no passenger tax. Norway taxes departures from its airports, the flight home included, and any other amount is 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

Budget for a complete trip

Per-person fares

The whole aircraft is chartered, so the cost per seat falls quickly with more passengers. Taxes are added per head:

Your own estimate

Enter the route, dates and group size in the calculator, and we send an estimate to your e-mail. Mention the number of nights, so we can compare waiting with two one-way flights.

Langnes airport and the northern alternates

Tromsø Airport Langnes (TOS, ENTC) is run by Avinor on the western shore of the island of Tromsøya, about 3 km from the centre in a straight line. Its single runway, 18/36, is about 2,450 m long and 45 m wide, with category I instrument landing systems in both directions. The landing distance depends on the direction: about 2,400 m on runway 36 and about 2,000 m on runway 18. On snow or ice the operator recalculates landing and take-off performance for each flight, and the margin is smaller for heavy jets than for light ones.

Every IFR and VFR flight needs a slot from Airport Coordination Norway, and the handling request is sent separately. Widerøe Ground Handling and Aviator handle private aircraft and provide de-icing; Sundt Air Executive Handling also works business flights. There is no FBO building with its own lounge, but the car can be brought to the aircraft. The tower is staffed around the clock, while refuelling outside the airport's opening hours costs extra. Aircraft of 2,500 kg or more may not overfly the built-up part of Tromsøya at low height.

In strong south-westerly and westerly winds, wind shear and turbulence can occur on short final to both runways, and a tailwind limit applies to jets on a snow-covered runway. The operator always plans an alternate airport and extra fuel, and in a storm forecast we suggest leaving a day earlier when the programme allows.

Alternate airports in northern Norway

The nearest jet airports are military or regional fields about two hours or more away by road. Distances are straight-line from Langnes:

Aircraft for an Arctic flight

With more than three hours in the air, the washroom, legroom and luggage hold count for more than on short routes. Parkas, boots and camera bags fill a light jet hold quickly, so for four or more people we often suggest a midsize jet. Light aircraft have the widest performance margin on a snowy runway, while heavy jets are checked by the operator for each date.

Want to check which aircraft fits your group and dates? Leave your number and a consultant will call you back.

Polar night, midnight sun and events

Snow deeper than 25 cm lies on the ground for about 160 days a year. Most enquiries come from October to March, with peaks around New Year and in February. September and early April are quieter, and the aurora can be just as visible in clear weather.

From the airport to the city and the aurora camps

Empty Legs to and from Tromsø

Aircraft that bring aurora groups north often fly back empty, and come up empty again to collect them. These legs are sold at a discount. Typical directions:

An Empty Leg runs on the operator's schedule, which fits a flexible holiday better than a fixed date. Send the direction and a range of dates to empty-legs@jets.flights, and we pass on suitable flights as they appear.

Taking a dog or cat to the Arctic

On a private jet the dog or cat travels in the cabin beside you, and the operator must approve it in advance. Some operators ask for a carrier or charge for cabin cleaning.

Documents, customs and Svalbard

Packing and paperwork checklist

• Passport for every passenger, essential if the trip continues to Svalbard.
• Passenger list with names, dates of birth and document numbers, sent the day before.
• Number of nights, so we can plan crew rest and the return slot.
• Winter clothing, boots, skis and camera equipment listed for the hold.
• Hotel and aurora tour bookings confirmed before the aircraft.
• Tapeworm treatment for the dog, recorded in the passport with date and time.
• Goods to declare and cash over NOK 25,000.
• Company name and VAT number for the invoice.

How to book a flight to Tromsø

1. Send the route, dates, number of passengers and nights in the Arctic, plus any onward plans to Svalbard or the Lofoten islands.
2. We check the slot at Langnes and the hotel situation for your dates, and suggest an arrival time that suits the daylight.
3. You receive 2-4 aircraft options from operators with winter experience, with cabin photos and the price for the whole aircraft, waiting nights included.
4. You sign the contract and pay; we book handling, de-icing, hangar if available, the crew hotel and a car with a local driver.
5. On the day, arrive 20-30 minutes before take-off. In Tromsø the car meets you at the aircraft.

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

Arctic flight questions

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

  • From the Nordic capitals a Phenom 300 starts at EUR 13,500 one way, from London at EUR 19,000, for the whole aircraft. Short hops from Evenes or Kiruna start at EUR 6,500 in a turboprop.

• • When can I see the northern lights?

  • From late August to early April, when the nights are dark enough. Clear skies are the key, so plan at least three nights.

• • Is there a private jet terminal at Langnes?

  • No separate FBO building. The airport's handling agents meet the aircraft, and the car can be brought to the steps.

• • How long is London - Tromsø non-stop?

  • About 3:33 h from Farnborough in a Phenom 300 and around 3:22 h in a Challenger 350, over roughly 2,290 km.

• • Can we fly there and back in one day?

  • From the Nordic capitals, yes. From western Europe the round trip takes seven hours or more in the air, too long a duty day for the crew, so we plan at least one night.

• • Does winter weather affect the flight?

  • Snow, ice and strong winds can delay departures or require an alternate airport. De-icing is standard in winter, and we keep a spare day when the schedule allows.

• • Is an ID card enough, or a passport?

  • From Schengen countries an ID card satisfies the operator, as there is no border check. For Svalbard, which is outside Schengen, every passenger needs a passport.

• • Can my dog come along?

  • Yes, in the cabin, with Norway's tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before arrival. Pets from the UK must enter Norway through Oslo Gardermoen first.

• • Are there Empty Legs to Tromsø?

  • Yes, mainly between Tromsø and Oslo, Stockholm, London and Germany in winter. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights with your dates.

• • When should the aircraft be reserved?

  • For Christmas, New Year and February, book the hotel and aircraft several weeks ahead. In September and October a few days' notice is often enough.