Private jet to Yemen

Yemen lies under one of the strictest airspace bulletins of EASA, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency: operators under its rules are advised not to fly in the Sanaa flight information region at any altitude. The only exception is a group of maritime routes east of airway B400, where caution is advised, and it carries no landing rights. European governments advise against all travel to the country, and most European embassies in Sanaa have suspended their services.

We therefore do not quote charters to Aden, Sanaa, Seiyun, Mukalla or Socotra. The private flight ends at an open airport across the water or next door: Djibouti, about 250 km from Aden, Salalah in Oman, closest to the east of the country, or Dubai. Every request that names a Yemeni airport is still checked: the airspace status on the date, an operator that would accept it, its insurer and the permits decide, and you get a clear answer either way.

Name the Yemeni city you need to reach, the dates and the group size; a consultant comes back with the closest airport we can quote, a suitable aircraft and its price.

Where the private flight ends

The last stretch into Yemen is a scheduled or humanitarian flight that we do not operate or sell; the traveller books and insures it. Yemenia, the national airline, has flown from Aden to Djibouti and other cities in the region, but its timetable changes often, and a refundable ticket plus one spare day protect the plan.

Flight prices

One-way prices for the whole aircraft; handling, airport charges, permits and passenger taxes come on top. Each time shown belongs to the first aircraft of its row. The crossing into Yemen and the stay are paid separately.

To Djibouti

Vienna - Djibouti is the shortest sector at 6:27 h and EUR 44,000 in a Praetor 600; from London the same aircraft needs 7:55 h and costs EUR 54,000. A Challenger 650 adds two seats and more room for baggage at EUR 68,000 from London.

To Salalah and Dubai

Between the airports

Salalah from Vienna costs EUR 45,000, close to the Djibouti price, while London - Salalah reaches EUR 55,000 and 8:09 h, near the limit of a Praetor 600, so strong headwinds can mean a fuel stop. Between the airports, Dubai - Salalah takes 1:36 h for EUR 14,500 and Dubai - Djibouti 2:56 h for EUR 21,000; such regional sectors may fall to a Gulf or local operator, which we settle before booking.

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 trips worked through

Price per person

Divided by the number of travellers, the same charter looks like this:

Calculator

The calculator prices the flight to Djibouti, Salalah or Dubai; add your final destination in the comment.

Airports in Yemen and around it

The Yemeni airports are listed for reference; none of them is quoted while the EASA bulletin covers the country, and we have not been able to confirm handling, fuel or war-risk insurance for a business jet at any of them.

Djibouti has no separate business aviation terminal: local agents arrange the permit, fuel and handling, and a landing request is normally answered within 24 to 48 working hours. Salalah is an Omani airport of entry; an arrival outside its standard hours is requested together with the Omani landing permit, which takes a few working days.

Aircraft for these distances

• Djibouti and Dubai: a super midsize Praetor 600 flies non-stop from the main hubs; a Challenger 350 stops for fuel on the way to Djibouti from every hub north of the Alps and from Madrid, and on the way to Dubai from London, Paris, Amsterdam or Madrid.
• From London to Salalah, or with a full cabin: a Challenger 650 or a long-range jet such as the Falcon 7X.
• Short legs between Dubai, Salalah and Djibouti: a midsize jet is enough.

The year in the region

From November to March the coast of the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf states are at their most comfortable, and Dubai has its busiest season. From June to September Aden and Djibouti are very hot and humid, while Salalah has the khareef, the monsoon season of drizzle and fog that brings visitors from the Gulf. Ramadan and the two Eids follow the lunar calendar and come earlier each year. The best chance of an Empty Leg is on the Dubai - Europe axis: towards Europe in April and May, towards the Gulf in October and November.

Visas, documents and taxes

Each departure country applies its own passenger tax. From France it is about EUR 1,015 per jet passenger, more than the roughly EUR 420 of a European flight, because the tax follows distance; flights to or from Italy beyond 1,500 km pay EUR 200 per passenger; Germany and the UK levy departure taxes as well, with no British APD on aircraft under 5.7 t and the higher rate only for 20 t or more with fewer than 19 seats. The quote itemises all of them.

Pets

Once the operator has agreed, a dog or cat can travel in the cabin as far as Djibouti, Salalah or Dubai. Djibouti wants a rabies vaccination given 21 days or more before the trip, a government vet's health certificate dated within 10 days of arrival and, for dogs, an import permit. Oman requires a veterinary import permit, a microchip, a rabies vaccination and an antibody test, and the UAE an import permit arranged online. We do not plan animals onward into Yemen.

Empty Legs

Empty flights back to Europe come mostly from Dubai, where many aircraft finish their trips; from Djibouti and Salalah they are rare. Flexible dates raise the chance of a match. Our Empty Legs desk at empty-legs@jets.flights matches your route and dates when such a leg comes up.

How the booking goes

1. Send the final destination in Yemen, the dates and the number of travellers.
2. We choose Djibouti, Salalah or Dubai and check the permit lead times; any request for a Yemeni airport is checked against the bulletin.
3. Our offer names the operator, the aircraft model and the price for each option.
4. Once you choose, the operator's contract is signed and paid by transfer or card, and the permits are filed.
5. Shortly before take-off we recheck the airspace notices, the handling and the slot.

Questions about private flights and Yemen

• • Can you fly us to Aden or Sanaa?

  • Not as a charter quote. The EASA bulletin for the Sanaa region covers every altitude, and European operators and their insurers keep to it. We fly to Djibouti, Salalah or Dubai and check any request for Yemen on the date.

• • Which airport is closest?

  • Djibouti, about 250 km from Aden across the Gulf of Aden. For Mukalla and Socotra, Salalah in Oman is closer.

• • What does the flight cost?

  • From EUR 44,000 one way for the whole aircraft, Vienna - Djibouti or Milan - Dubai in a Praetor 600. From London the Praetor 600 costs EUR 54,000 to Djibouti and EUR 55,000 to Salalah before handling, charges and taxes.

• • How long does the flight take?

  • From London 7:55 h to Djibouti and 8:09 h to Salalah in a Praetor 600; from Vienna 6:27 h to Djibouti. Yemen is 3 h ahead of London in winter and 2 h in summer.

• • Do I need a visa?

  • Yes, for Yemen through a Yemeni embassy, and for Djibouti as an e-visa or on arrival. Oman admits EU and UK citizens for short tourist stays without a visa, and the UAE needs none in advance.

• • How do people continue into Yemen?

  • By scheduled or humanitarian flights that other companies operate, booked and insured by the traveller. Timetables shift at short notice, so keep a day in hand.

• • Can our dog come?

  • As far as Djibouti, Salalah or Dubai, if the operator agrees and each country's import papers are ready. We do not plan animals onward into Yemen.

• • How early should we book?

  • Allow about a week. The Omani permit takes a few working days, and the Djibouti permit is filed once the aircraft and crew are confirmed.