Private jet charter in Albania
Few countries within three and a half hours of London are as little known to private travellers as Albania, which is part of the reason it keeps surfacing in our enquiries: a long Ionian and Adriatic coastline, UNESCO-listed hill towns such as Berat and Gjirokastër, a capital with a cable car on its doorstep, and a single airport that handles every serious business jet. Private Jets UK plans each charter around that airport, Tirana, because there is no second Albanian gateway to fall back on, and the work is mostly in the details around it: the permit for the aircraft, the handler, the stand and the long drive to the south. Our customers have access to 6,500 jets of all types and configurations available for rent. We will help you choose the best option based on your needs and objectives. Our catalog contains the models from the largest manufacturers: Gulfstream, Dassault, Embraer, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Learjet, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pilatus, HondaJet, etc. We have established partnerships with the world's largest airlines and VIP terminals, which means we can offer you favourable flight conditions and a high level of service. Our experts will manage the organization of your flight - starting with paperwork, agreements, etc., and ending with a transfer and meeting at the airport. Our company provides a full range of business aviation and concierge services. In Albania that means a landing permit requested ahead of time, a handler who knows the Tirana apron, and a plan for the last stretch, which is more often a long car ride than anything with wings.
At your request, the aviation consultants of Private Jets UK will help you choose the jet with the suitable technical parameters (production year, flight hours, and home base). The cost of the private jet charter in Albania depends on many factors, such as the model of the business jet, the number of passengers, departure and destination airports, type of flight, duration of parking, additional services, etc. Therefore, we calculate the price of each order individually taking into account your wishes. You can use an online calculator to get an instant charter quote. Please indicate your real contact details to get the final calculation.
You can calculate the cost of your flight in several ways:
- using an online calculator on the website (however, it shows only the approximate price);
- via Messenger (WhatsApp or Telegram);
- by landline or cell phone;
- via e-mail (jets@private-jets.co.uk).
Please note that the above-mentioned price is indicative only. It is calculated on this basis: a departure from Biggin Hill, a Cessna Citation CJ3+ to Tirana and two passengers aboard. If you want to get a personal quote, just fill out the online booking form below. Our aviation consultant will make the calculation within 20 minutes, and then contact you to specify the details of the flight.
How long does it take to fly to Albania?
Albania keeps Central European time, one hour ahead of Britain, so the clocks jump forward the moment you land. These are the sectors from London Biggin Hill on a Citation CJ3+, wheels up to wheels down, for the airports a private jet might actually be pointed at on this trip:
947 nautical miles, in Croatia, an Adriatic alternate on the way to Montenegroabout 2 h 50 min
989 nautical miles, in Montenegro, 63 nautical miles from Tirana by air and the usual alternateabout 2 h 55 min
1,045 nautical miles, the only Albanian airport that works as a business aviation gateway, with customs and a runway for anything up to a large cabinabout 3 h 05 min
1,131 nautical miles, in Greece, across the Corfu Channel from the southern Albanian coastabout 3 h 15 min
Three hours, and a long way from the coast
The shortest British run to Tirana is 1,045 nautical miles and takes 3 h 05 min, so a breakfast departure from Biggin Hill reaches the Albanian capital before lunch, local time. A day of meetings in Tirana with an evening flight home is quite realistic.
The same speed is no use for the Albanian Riviera. From Manchester the sector is 1,183 nautical miles and from Edinburgh 1,304, and in both cases a light jet starts to run short of range with a full cabin and headwind, which is why Scottish and Northern Irish clients are normally quoted a super-midsize aircraft. The beaches of the south lie three to four hours from the airport by road, and that is the stretch that decides how a trip is planned.
The exact flight time depends on the model of the business jet, as well as the speed of the tail or head wind. Our consultant will make a detailed calculation of the flight time for the chosen business jet.
Prices for the private jet flights to Albania
Typical charter prices from Britain to Tirana, cheapest first.:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| London Biggin Hill - Tirana 1,045 nm / 1,935 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 seats |
from £13,900 |
| London Gatwick - Tirana 1,047 nm / 1,939 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 seats |
from £13,950 |
| London City - Tirana 1,049 nm / 1,943 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 seats |
from £13,950 |
| London Farnborough - Tirana 1,071 nm / 1,983 km |
Phenom 300E up to 8 seats |
from £14,200 |
| London Luton - Tirana 1,075 nm / 1,991 km |
Phenom 300E up to 8 seats |
from £14,250 |
| Southampton - Tirana 1,083 nm / 2,006 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 seats |
from £17,800 |
| Birmingham - Tirana 1,139 nm / 2,109 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 seats |
from £18,600 |
| Bristol - Tirana 1,142 nm / 2,115 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 seats |
from £18,650 |
| Newcastle - Tirana 1,222 nm / 2,263 km |
Learjet 75 Liberty up to 8 seats |
from £19,150 |
| Leeds Bradford - Tirana 1,181 nm / 2,187 km |
Citation Latitude up to 9 seats |
from £23,650 |
| Manchester - Tirana 1,183 nm / 2,191 km |
Citation Latitude up to 9 seats |
from £23,700 |
| Edinburgh - Tirana 1,304 nm / 2,415 km |
Challenger 350 up to 9 seats |
from £26,000 |
| Belfast - Tirana 1,337 nm / 2,476 km |
Challenger 350 up to 9 seats |
from £26,550 |
Two things worth knowing about these figures
– Nothing in Albania is cheaper than Tirana. Dubrovnik is 98 nautical miles closer to Biggin Hill and Podgorica 56, so on a Citation CJ3+ they price about £1,150 and £650 lower. Both are in other countries, with a frontier and several hours of road between them and the Albanian coast, so we quote them only for a party that is doing Montenegro or Croatia as well;
– A light jet reaches Tirana from London non-stop with four passengers and modest luggage. Fill every seat, add golf bags or meet a strong headwind and the question of a fuel stop comes up, which raises the price and the flight time. We say so in the quote.
Private jet flights within Albania and to its neighbours
Flights inside Albania hardly exist. The country is small, the one international airport is in the middle, and Kukës and Vlorë have airports but neither is a business aviation gateway like Tirana, so the sector people ask for is the next border. Typical prices, cheapest first:
| Route | Aircraft | Flight time | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tirana - Podgorica 63 nm / 117 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 seats |
about 45 min | from £3,100 |
| Tirana - Dubrovnik 98 nm / 181 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 seats |
about 50 min | from £3,100 |
| Tirana - Pristina 95 nm / 176 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 seats |
about 50 min | from £3,100 |
| Tirana - Corfu 114 nm / 211 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 seats |
about 55 min | from £3,100 |
| Tirana - Bari 140 nm / 259 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 seats |
about 50 min | from £5,300 |
| Tirana - Thessaloniki 163 nm / 302 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 seats |
about 55 min | from £5,300 |
| Tirana - Athens 297 nm / 550 km |
Phenom 300E up to 8 seats |
about 1 h 10 min | from £5,700 |
| Tirana - Rome 350 nm / 648 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 seats |
about 1 h 20 min | from £7,200 |
| Tirana - Istanbul 422 nm / 782 km |
Citation Latitude up to 9 seats |
about 1 h 30 min | from £10,200 |
Two things worth knowing about the onward sectors
– Albania is outside Schengen, as are Montenegro and Kosovo, while Greece, Italy and Croatia are inside it. A leg to Corfu, Bari, Thessaloniki or Dubrovnik therefore ends in a Schengen arrival, and the way back begins with Albanian passport control again;
– The shortest sectors are billed at a minimum charge: Tirana to Podgorica, 63 nautical miles, costs the same on a turboprop as a leg twice as long. For a short hop a car or a helicopter often does better.
We can arrange the flights from any cities in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and European countries. Due to a large database of available business jets, we can help you find an optimal jet and crew. If you have any questions about the departure or the flight itself, you can ask them using the form below:
Prices depending on the type of business jet
We can clearly show the high dependence of the cost of the flight, on the type of aircraft - we have collected approximate data, at the price of 1 flight hour, for various types of business jets:
Online Calculator
If you want to make an urgent calculation of the cost of a private plane flight, use our online calculator. Just fill in all the fields of the form with a note that you are interested in a specific model of the aircraft and get the final price. NB! - the figures are sent to you by email or messenger, please carefully fill in the contact details to get the calculation.
All our calculations are as transparent as possible for you. After receiving the request, we will prepare a beautiful offer - where the costs and the final price will be clearly described. The exact price is agreed in advance and is written in the contract, so you can be sure of the final cost.
Private jets are ready to take off
Our database contains over 6,500 business jets (about 3,500 in Europe and 3,000 in the rest of the world) of different configurations and production years. The list of models is constantly updated. Unfortunately, we can't post a full list of available jets on our website due to confidentiality issues. Please contact the managers of the company for more accurate information. We will help you choose a suitable model taking into account your wishes. These are the typical choices for Albania:
Turboprops
Not for the flight from London, which would run to six hours or more, but for the hops to Podgorica, Dubrovnik, Corfu and Pristina, where the saving over a jet is large and the 2,746 metre runway at Tirana is far more than a turboprop needs.
Light jets
The class for most London bookings, with up to four people and ordinary bags. Three hours in a small cabin is long, so headroom and the baggage hold decide the choice.
Midsize
The natural cabin from Birmingham, Manchester and the north, and for a family that arrives with golf bags and beach kit before a long drive south.
Super-midsize and large
For Scotland and Northern Ireland, where the sector nears 1,300 nautical miles, for a delegation, and for a party that carries on to Istanbul or the Gulf. Tirana can take these aircraft, though anything above Code C needs the airport authority's approval for its stand.
Ultra-long range
Range this long is wasted on a three-hour sector, so these are rare on the British run and are quoted when the trip carries on to the Gulf or beyond.
For a Balkan booking the aircraft is often not in Britain at all but in Italy, Greece or the Adriatic ports, and that is where a better price tends to come from. We look at the whole map before a figure is sent.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight to Albania in 6 easy steps:
- Flight request - indicating the route and your preferences for the model of business jet and other points.
- Coordination of flight details - our consultant will contact you to offer the possible flight options and answer all your questions.
- Commercial offer - we will send you a final offer on a specific model taking into account all your wishes.
- Signing of the contract.
- Payment for the flight and booking a business jet.
- Departure at the agreed time and date. Assistance during the whole flight.
In addition to renting the private jets and arranging the flights, we provide concierge services, premium transfer, security, exclusive catering, etc. In business aviation we have learned to solve problems of any complexity, offering the service of the European level. Our experts will be happy to answer your questions and help you arrange your flight.
How to rent a business jet with a crew
5 main stages:
-
Sending an application
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Clarification of details and search for options
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Preparation and coordination of optimal options
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Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
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Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports in Albania
Albania has one airport that a business jet uses, so the decision is about the permit, the handler and the stand:
| Airport | Ground | How it operates |
|---|---|---|
| Tirana TIA / LATI |
Rinas, 7 nautical miles north-west of the capital, about 15 km and 27 minutes by road from the centre | The gateway for every business flight to Albania. One asphalt runway, 17/35, 2,746 by 45 metres, with a Category I ILS on runway 17 whose localiser covers a limited sector because of the terrain. The aerodrome, customs and immigration, air traffic services, fuelling and handling are all listed as open round the clock. Jet A-1 is supplied by arrangement with the fuel company. Directories list four handlers: Euro Jet, with a crew lounge beside the general aviation ramp, FCG OPS, CWY OPS and Evropa Jet Services |
| Kukës KFZ / LAKU |
Shtiqën, 3.5 km south of Kukës, in the north-east of the country | A 2,198 metre runway, 01/19, and an apron with room for three aircraft. It has found it hard to keep scheduled carriers and is not a business aviation gateway. We would use it only for a party bound for the north-east, after written confirmation that it can receive the aircraft and handle customs |
| Vlorë VLO / LAVL |
about 10 km north of Vlorë, on the Ionian coast | A 3,200 by 60 metre runway, 12/30, built for passenger and cargo traffic. Scheduled service has been slow to start, so we confirm that it is open to charter traffic and has customs before planning around it |
| Farkë heliport LAFK |
about 2 nautical miles south-east of central Tirana | A public-use heliport with one 30 metre asphalt pad, listed as open round the clock, and the start of helicopter transfers |
Four points settle most Albanian arrivals before the quote goes out:
Permission comes first
A private flight to or from Albania needs prior permission from the Albanian civil aviation authority, requested through its online traffic rights form. The AIP asks for at least two full working days, and the permission is valid for 24 hours from the estimated time, so a change of aircraft, route or date means a variation.
Tirana does not close
The aerodrome, customs and immigration and handling are listed as open round the clock. No daylight limit or night curfew is published, so a late departure is possible.
Handlers: pick one early
Euro Jet, FCG OPS, CWY OPS and Evropa Jet Services are all listed at Tirana. Handling is described as not mandatory, but we always use one for the stand, the fuel and the walk through the terminal.
Mind the stand
Apron 100 takes aircraft up to Code C and a 36 metre wingspan, and anything larger needs the airport authority's approval in advance. Two of the aprons require a follow-me vehicle.
Formal slots: the AIP and the directories differ
One directory says no slot is required at Tirana, while the AIP asks for slot applications at least 24 hours before the flight. We request a slot with the permit and get it confirmed in writing.
Arriving from Britain: passports, customs and permits
Albania is not in the European Union or in Schengen, and neither is Britain, so a flight from London lands as an ordinary international arrival. The pilot presents the passengers to the immigration officer or customs office on arrival and on departure, and the handler walks you through the terminal.
British citizens may visit Albania without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180, for tourism or business, and the passport must expire at least three months after the day you leave; a longer stay needs a visa or permit arranged in advanceevery passenger, children included
Albania sits outside Schengen, so days spent there do not count towards the 90 in the Schengen area, and the reversecounted separately
a traveller entering or leaving with cash, negotiable instruments, precious metals or valuables worth about £8,500 or more declares them on a customs form before passport control, with the purpose and supporting documentsdeclare it
The aircraft needs paperwork too
The first landing and the final departure must be at an international airport, which in practice means Tirana. The request carries the operator, aircraft, crew and passenger numbers, route, times and purpose of the flight, with the air operator certificate, airworthiness and registration certificates, insurance and noise certificate behind it. An aircraft stopping for less than two days also needs a certificate of ownership.
Coming home is a flight into Britain. A General Aviation Report goes to the border authorities not earlier than 48 hours and not later than two hours before departure, British and Irish citizens need no electronic travel authorisation, and most other nationalities who need no visa do.
Which airport for which part of Albania
The airport follows the address, and in Albania it is always the same one; what changes is the road. Much of the traffic is a director or investor in Tirana for a day of meetings, or a family flying out to the south, and for the latter the jet saves the long drive more than the flight. Distances by road from Tirana airport:
central Tirana is about 15 km and 27 minutes from the runway; the 4.7 km Dajti Express cable car starts about 15 minutes from the centre and rises in about 15 minutes to 1,050 metres, where snow settles from November to MarchTirana
the port city on the Adriatic is 37 km and about 36 minutes away, an easy beach day from the capitalTirana
Shkodër is 84 km and about an hour and three quarters away; the Albanian Alps beyond it, with Theth and Valbona, add hours of mountain road and are open to hikers from June to SeptemberTirana
the UNESCO-listed town of white Ottoman houses is 122 km and about an hour and 55 minutes by carTirana
Vlorë is 154 km and about two hours away, and the beaches of Dhërmi and Himara lie along the coast road to the south of itTirana
145 km and about two hours 45 minutes, on the Albanian shore of the lake it shares with North MacedoniaTirana
217 km and about three hours 15 minutes, the stone town of the south, also UNESCO-listedTirana
Sarandë is 251 km and about four hours away, so the far south is a helicopter or a long drive; Butrint, the archaeological site, lies beyond Ksamil, and a ferry crosses to CorfuTirana, or Corfu in summer
The Albanian year: when the coast is open and when the mountains are
Albania has a long beach season and a short mountain one, and they overlap only in June and September:
cold at height and mild on the coast, with coastal resorts mostly closed and snow on the upper slopes of Mount Dajtilow
early spring, with the coast at around 10 degrees in March and the sea still cold; the mountains are under snowmeltlow, then building
pleasant and quiet, good for touring, cycling and a first look at the south before the crowdsshoulder
warm, and among the best months for a Tirana and Riviera trip; the mountain trails open and the sea is warm enough for swimmingshoulder, warming
peak summer: very hot, with coastal temperatures that can pass 38 degrees, and the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year on the Rivierapeak
highs of about 23 to 28 degrees, warm sea, fewer people and lower prices; the beach resorts begin to closeshoulder
comfortable at first, then cooler and wetter from November, with snow only at heightlow
Waiting or flying home empty
For a stay of more than a few days it is usually cheaper to send the jet away and bring it back. From Farnborough to Tirana on a Phenom 300E that is £14,200 each way, about £28,400 for both sectors, and the quote sets that against the cost of a wait.
The Albanian calendar: festivals, holidays and the long summer
Public holidays and the summer lift the demand for seats and stands. The main dates, by usual month:
What a holiday does to a flight plan
No single event closes Tirana, but public holidays and August lift demand for aircraft on the London corridor, and the Eid dates move through the year. We check the calendar for the travel week before asking for the stand and the permit.
Flying to Albania with a dog or a cat
A dog or cat travels in the cabin with you. Albania sits outside the EU and Britain treats it as an unlisted country on the way home, so the preparation is counted in months and not days.
The one fact to read before you book
Going out, the Albanian foreign ministry describes an animal identified by a tattoo, an electronic chip or a register entry and carrying a passport issued by an official vet that confirms the rabies vaccination. Animals come in through a border inspection point where veterinary control checks the papers. Pet-travel sources differ on whether the certificate must be issued within ten days of entry and whether an import permit applies, so we confirm both with the Albanian veterinary authority and your vet before the date is fixed, and agree in writing where the animal is received.
Coming home is where the time goes. Albania is on neither of Britain's lists of approved countries, so the rule for unlisted countries applies: a rabies blood test taken at least 30 days after the vaccination, a laboratory result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, a wait of three months from the test, and a Great Britain health certificate issued within ten days of arrival. A dog also needs a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before landing in Britain, and an animal without the right papers can be quarantined for up to four months.
- An ISO-standard microchip, fitted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination and never after it;
- A rabies vaccination at 12 weeks of age or later, with at least 21 days before travel;
- The outward paperwork confirmed with the vet and the Albanian authorities;
- For the return, the blood test and the three-month wait, which decide how early a trip is booked;
- No more than five animals per traveller; more than that, or an animal travelling without its owner, is treated as a commercial consignment.
There is no vet on the airfield, so we book a practice in Tirana for the tapeworm treatment inside the 24 to 120 hour window and fit the flight home around it. Cats need the same list without the worming.
Requirements for birds, rabbits and the less usual species, along with the countries where the timeline runs to months, are set out on our flying with pets guide.
Empty Legs
An empty leg is a repositioning flight with nobody aboard, offered at a fraction of the usual price. Albania produces them because so many trips there are one-way: the aircraft drops its passengers and has no booking back.
Where Albanian empty legs come from
– The one-way family or business trip, when the aircraft drops its passengers at Tirana and goes home without them;
– The edges of the beach season, in May and again in late September, when operators move aircraft between Britain and the Adriatic;
– The days after a holiday week, when the party that arrived full has gone and the aircraft returns empty.
A client who can offer a few days has a far better chance of a match, though a leg can disappear when the original booking changes. Whatever is free is listed on our empty legs page. A selection of Albanian empty legs follows:
| Route | Aircraft | Capacity | Whole aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania (Tirana) - UK (London Biggin Hill) | Citation CJ3+ | 7 seats | £5,850 |
| UK (London City) - Albania (Tirana) | Citation CJ3+ | 7 seats | £5,850 |
| Albania (Tirana) - UK (London Luton) | Phenom 300E | 8 seats | £6,000 |
| UK (Southampton) - Albania (Tirana) | Citation XLS+ | 9 seats | £7,500 |
| Albania (Tirana) - UK (Birmingham) | Citation XLS+ | 9 seats | £7,800 |
| Albania (Tirana) - UK (Bristol) | Citation XLS+ | 9 seats | £7,850 |
| UK (Manchester) - Albania (Tirana) | Citation Latitude | 9 seats | £9,950 |
| UK (Edinburgh) - Albania (Tirana) | Challenger 350 | 9 seats | £10,900 |
How to read those figures
– Each price is for the whole aircraft rather than per seat. A Challenger 350 from Edinburgh to Tirana with nine aboard comes to roughly £1,210 a head;
– Albanian legs are fewer than on the busiest corridors and cluster at the edges of the summer, so an open return date helps.
Helicopter charter
The helicopter is not for the flight from Britain. It shortens the distances inside Albania, where the best places lie hours from the capital by road, and the public-use heliport at Farkë is the usual starting point. The sectors we are asked for:
the port and the beaches of the Adriatic coast, as a short hop in place of the roadabout 15 min
the old town on the hillside for lunch and a walkabout 30 min
the Riviera beaches without the long coast roadabout 50 min
the far south for Ksamil and Butrint, in place of four hours by carabout 1 h
the Albanian Alps for a day on the trail, with no mountain roadabout 40 min
the Albanian shore of Lake Ohridabout 35 min
The times are straight-line estimates at a cruise of about 115 knots, and the operator confirms the route for your date. The Albanian AIP allows civil aircraft to land away from registered sites only by prior arrangement with the landowner and the local authority, and an international leg still involves passport control.
Two points on Albanian rotary legs
Helicopters based in Albania are few, so availability is confirmed before the price, and in July and August the seats go first.
Flights from the UK to Albania
Biggin Hill, London City, Gatwick and Farnborough send most of the traffic on this corridor, with Luton, Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester behind them and Scotland and Northern Ireland at the long end; the price table higher up covers thirteen of those pairings. Our clients have access to all airports of the UK and Europe. Due to the unique partnership conditions, we can offer our clients the best prices for business aviation services. Our experts will consult you on the availability of private jets in a particular city and help you choose the best option.
List of TOP 25 business aviation airports:
| Airport | Country | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|---|
 London Heathrow Airport |
England | EGLL | LHR |
| Birmingham Airport |
England | EGBB | BHX |
| London Gatwick |
England | EGKK | LGW |
| London City Airport |
England | EGLC | LCY |
| London Luton |
England | EGGW | LTN |
| Edinburgh Airport |
Scotland | EGPH | EDI |
| Leeds Airport |
England | EGNM | LBA |
| Manchester Airport |
England | EGCC | MAN |
| London Stansted |
England | EGSS | STN |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport |
England | EGGP | LPL |
| Newcastle Airport |
England | EGNT | NCL |
| Bristol Airport |
England | EGGD | BRS |
| Glasgow Airport |
Scotland | EGPF | GLA |
| East Midlands Airport |
England | EGNX | EMA |
| Southampton Airport |
England | EGHI | SOU |
| Jersey Airport |
Channel Islands | EGJJ | JER |
| Cardiff International Airport |
Wales | EGFF | CWL |
| Inverness Airport |
Scotland | EGPE | INV |
| Bournemouth Airport |
England | EGHH | BOH |
| London Farnborough Airport |
England | EGLF | FAB |
| Oxford Airport |
England | EGTK | OXF |
| London Biggin Hill |
England | EGKB | BQH |
| Belfast Airport |
Northern Ireland | EGAA | BFS |
| Gibraltar Airport |
Gibraltar | LXGB | GIB |
| Aberdeen Airport |
Scotland | EGPD | ABZ |
Albanian charters from the booking notes: six typical trips
Six typical jobs put together from booking notes with the particulars changed, so none describes one named client or date.
TIRANA · A DAY OF MEETINGS
Three directors and an evening flight home
London Luton - Tirana, Phenom 300E, about 2 h 55 min · 3 pax
The meetings ran until seven, which would mean a hotel night at most airports. Tirana is listed as open round the clock, so the permit went in a week ahead and the aircraft left for Luton after dinner.
RIVIERA · THE LONG ROAD SOUTH
A family of six going to a villa near Dhërmi
Birmingham - Tirana, Citation XLS+, about 3 h 10 min · 6 pax
The flight took less time than the drive. The cars covered the 154 km to Vlorë in about two hours and the Riviera road took the rest, so the family asked for a helicopter on the return and we priced it in the same booking.
NORTH · THE ALBANIAN ALPS
Four hikers bound for Theth and Valbona
Edinburgh - Tirana, Challenger 350, about 3 h 25 min · 4 pax
A super-midsize cabin was chosen for a sector of more than 1,300 nautical miles and for the walking gear. The road to Shkodër was arranged from the terminal, with the trails open from June.
TWO COUNTRIES · TIRANA AND PODGORICA
A couple adding Montenegro to an Albanian week
London Gatwick - Tirana, Citation CJ3+, about 3 h 05 min · 2 pax
The couple began in Tirana and ended on the Montenegrin coast, so a short turboprop sector to Podgorica was quoted as a second leg, with passport control at each end.
WITH THE DOG · MONTHS OF NOTICE
A couple and a spaniel for a month in the south
Bristol - Tirana, Citation XLS+, about 3 h 10 min · 2 pax + 1 dog
Booking the aircraft took a day. Preparing the animal took four months, because Britain treats Albania as an unlisted country and the rabies blood test had to come first. The tapeworm treatment was booked in Tirana inside the 24 to 120 hour window.
EMPTY LEG · A MONDAY HOME
A flexible return from Tirana
Tirana - London City, Citation CJ3+ empty leg, about 3 h 05 min · 3 pax
The aircraft had brought a party in for the weekend and was going home empty. The client gave us a three-day window instead of a date, which is what makes these work, and paid about £5,850, a little under half of a fresh one-way charter, for a Monday departure.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Albania
1How long does it take to fly to Albania by private jet?
About 3 hours 5 minutes from London Biggin Hill to Tirana in a Citation CJ3+. From Manchester allow about 3 hours 10 minutes on a Citation Latitude and from Edinburgh about 3 hours 25 minutes on a Challenger 350. Albania is one hour ahead of Britain, so an eight o'clock departure lands shortly after noon local time.
2How much does a private jet to Albania cost?
From about £13,900 one way from Biggin Hill to Tirana on a light jet. A midsize cabin from Southampton starts at £17,800, and from Scotland allow £26,000 and more. Summer weekends and holiday weeks price above these figures.
3Which airport do private jets use in Albania?
Tirana (TIA / LATI) takes almost every business flight to Albania. It has a 2,746 metre runway with an ILS, and the aerodrome, customs, immigration and handling are listed as open round the clock. Euro Jet and FCG OPS are among the listed handlers. Kukës and Vlorë have airports, but we plan around Tirana.
4Do I need a visa or a permit to fly privately to Albania?
British citizens may visit Albania without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180, with a passport that expires at least three months after the day they leave. Albania is outside the EU and Schengen, so passport control and customs apply on arrival, and cash or valuables worth about £8,500 or more are declared. A private flight needs prior permission from the Albanian civil aviation authority, requested at least two full working days ahead, and we confirm in writing what applies to your flight.
5Can I take my dog or cat on a private jet to Albania?
Yes. The animal travels in the cabin with a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old and the veterinary papers confirmed with the Albanian authorities. The return to Britain is the long part: Albania is an unlisted country, so a rabies blood test taken at least 30 days after the vaccination and a three-month wait are needed, and a dog also needs a tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before landing in Britain.
6How far is the Albanian coast from the airport?
Durrës is 37 km and about 36 minutes from Tirana airport, Berat 122 km and about two hours, Vlorë 154 km and about two hours, Gjirokastër 217 km and about three hours 15 minutes, and Sarandë 251 km and about four hours. A helicopter covers Tirana to Sarandë in about an hour.