Private jet to Western Sahara

Western Sahara is a territory on the Atlantic coast of north-west Africa, bordering Morocco, Algeria and Mauritania. Its status is disputed, and the United Nations lists it as a non-self-governing territory. In practice, entry at Laayoune and Dakhla is handled by the Moroccan authorities, so Moroccan entry rules apply to a private flight. This page describes only the practical side of the trip.

Private flyers come mainly to Dakhla, on a narrow peninsula with a long lagoon known for kitesurfing and steady wind, and on business to Laayoune, the largest city. Both airports have passport and customs control, and Dakhla has a dedicated terminal for business and private aviation. As a broker, we compare aircraft from operators in Europe, the Canary Islands and Morocco.

Tell us the city, the dates and the number of passengers, and we reply with the route, the aircraft and the price.

Flight times

The territory is far from central Europe, but close to the Canary Islands:

• Gran Canaria - Laayoune: 0:58 h in a turboprop.
• Tenerife - Dakhla: 1:29 h in a turboprop.
• Madrid - Laayoune: 2:41 h in a Citation Latitude.
• Paris Le Bourget - Laayoune: 4:01 h in a Citation Latitude.
• London Farnborough - Dakhla: 4:43 h in a Citation Latitude.

From most European hubs Dakhla is beyond the comfortable range of a light jet with reserves, so the main table starts with midsize jets that fly non-stop. Some clients fly to the Canaries first and continue with a turboprop.

Prices for flights to Western Sahara

Each price is for the whole aircraft, one way, with an aircraft available near the departure airport, plus handling, the permit, airport charges and passenger taxes. The flight time is that of the first aircraft in the row.

From the European hubs

Madrid - Laayoune is the cheapest row at EUR 20,000 in a Citation Latitude. From Nice the same aircraft costs EUR 26,000, from Paris EUR 27,000, and from London to Dakhla EUR 29,000. A Challenger 650 for a group of up to twelve costs EUR 48,000 from London.

From Iberia and the Canary Islands

Gran Canaria - Laayoune costs EUR 6,500 in a Pilatus PC-12, and Tenerife - Dakhla EUR 9,000 in a CJ3. From Lisbon the turboprop needs 4:10 h to Dakhla, and a CJ3 costs EUR 15,000.

From Moroccan airports

Morocco handles flights from Marrakesh, Casablanca or Agadir to Laayoune and Dakhla as domestic flights. Whether a foreign aircraft may carry passengers on these legs is confirmed in writing by the operator; often a Moroccan operator flies them. Indicative prices:

Marrakesh - Laayoune takes 1:56 h by turboprop for EUR 8,500 (EUR 10,000 in a CJ3), and Agadir - Dakhla 2:30 h for EUR 10,000 (EUR 11,000 in a CJ3).

Airport, handling and permit charges are listed in the quote. The departure country adds its own tax: France about EUR 1,015 per passenger on a jet and EUR 675 on a turboprop, a rate that depends on distance (about EUR 420 within Europe); Italy EUR 100 per passenger up to 1,500 km and EUR 200 beyond, charged on flights to and from Italy; Austria EUR 12 (EUR 30 up to 350 km). Germany and Norway charge departure taxes. British Air Passenger Duty does not apply to aircraft under 5.7 t, jets of 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats pay the higher private-jet rate and other jets the standard rate for the distance. The Netherlands taxes passengers on aircraft of 5.7 t or more, and Sweden has no passenger tax.

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

Price per person

The aircraft is hired as a whole, so the share per seat falls with each passenger:

Calculator

Fill in the route, date and passenger count; the calculator returns an indicative price by e-mail.

Airports in Western Sahara

Both runways take every business jet. The handler confirms fuel, opening hours and parking for the date before the quote.

Which aircraft

• Canary Islands and Agadir: a Pilatus PC-12 or a Citation CJ3.
• From Madrid, Lisbon and Seville: a light or midsize jet, non-stop.
• From central and northern Europe: a Citation Latitude or one of the other midsize jets, non-stop.
• Groups and kitesurfing equipment: a Challenger 350 or Challenger 650 with a larger hold; boards are measured before the aircraft is chosen.

To discuss the route or the equipment, leave your number and a consultant will call you.

When to fly

The coast has a mild desert climate with very little rain, and the Atlantic keeps temperatures moderate all year. For kitesurfing the trade winds are strongest from spring to late summer; for other trips any month works. Empty Legs are rare and appear mostly between the Canary Islands and Morocco. As in Morocco, the clocks go back one hour for Ramadan, whose dates move with the lunar calendar.

Empty Legs

Aircraft that bring clients to Dakhla or Laayoune often return to the Canary Islands, Morocco or Europe empty, and aircraft based in Gran Canaria and Tenerife sometimes position across. They are rare, priced well under a normal charter, and the operator fixes the date. Send your dates to empty-legs@jets.flights.

Dogs and cats

Dogs and cats ride in the cabin with their owners, once the operator has approved them. Entry follows the Moroccan rules: microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, vaccination at least 21 days before travel and a health certificate from a vet shortly before departure; certain fighting dog breeds are banned.

Documents, rules and travel advice

Before departure

• Passports for everyone, valid at least 90 days after departure.
• Names and passport numbers for the permit, at least two working days ahead.
• Number and size of kitesurfing boards and bags.
• Hotel or camp address on the lagoon.
• The pet passport, with the antibody test already entered.

How to book

1. Send the dates, passengers, luggage and the place you are staying.
2. You receive aircraft options with operator and price, directly or via the Canary Islands.
3. You sign the contract with the operator, and the handler applies for the permit.
4. Passport details go to the handler, and the car to the hotel or camp is booked.
5. On arrival the handler takes you through passport and customs control.

Questions about private flights to Dakhla and Laayoune

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

  • From London a Citation Latitude costs EUR 29,000 one way, for the whole aircraft. From Tenerife a CJ3 costs EUR 9,000, and from Gran Canaria a turboprop to Laayoune EUR 6,500.

• • Can a light jet fly there from Europe?

  • From Lisbon and Seville, yes, as the Iberia table shows. From most other hubs the distance calls for a midsize jet, or a stop in the Canary Islands.

• • Is there a private terminal?

  • Dakhla has a dedicated terminal for business and private aviation. At Laayoune the handler takes passengers through passport and customs control.

• • Which entry rules apply?

  • The Moroccan rules: no visa for UK and most EU citizens for up to 90 days, and a passport valid at least 90 days after departure.

• • How long is the flight from Paris?

  • About 4:01 h to Laayoune in a Citation Latitude. From Madrid it is 2:41 h.

• • Can we bring kitesurfing equipment?

  • Yes. Tell us the number and size of the boards, and we choose an aircraft with a large enough hold.

• • Can my dog come?

  • Yes, in the cabin, under the Moroccan entry rules. Have the antibody test recorded before leaving the EU for an easy return.

• • Are there Empty Legs?

  • Rarely, mostly between the Canary Islands, Morocco and the two airports. Write to empty-legs@jets.flights.