Private jet charter in Aruba
Aruba is the far end of a long reach from London: about 4,236 nautical miles, a good deal further than New York, with the whole of the open Atlantic in between. Private Jets UK plans these trips as a long crossing with a short, simple island at the end of it. 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. On Aruba that means one airport, one FBO and a short, simple transfer, and we will tell you plainly where the island's services stop.
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 Aruba 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 Challenger 605 to Aruba Queen Beatrix International with one technical stop in the Azores, 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 Aruba?
Only the long-range cabins cover the distance in one hop. A Challenger 605 or a Legacy 650, the sensible size for six to eight people, stops once, normally at Santa Maria in the Azores, which lies almost on the line from London. From Biggin Hill the two legs are 1,429 and 2,929 nautical miles, together 122 more than the direct 4,236, so the detour costs little. Aruba keeps the same clock all year, four hours behind Britain in winter and five in summer. The times below are westbound, against the usual headwind, and gate to gate without the stop:
4,358 nautical miles from Biggin Hill in two legs, with about an hour on the ground at Santa Mariaabout 10 h 40 min plus the stop
4,236 nautical miles from Biggin Hill, a heavy jet with the range to do it in one hopabout 10 h 20 min
4,204 nautical miles from Farnborough, a long-range jet at its normal cruiseabout 9 h 20 min
4,057 nautical miles, the shortest crossing from any British airfield we useabout 9 h 55 min
4,204 nautical miles with the jet stream behind the aircraftabout 7 h 55 min
The airport closes at night, so the arrival time matters
Queen Beatrix is listed with operating hours from 07:00 to 23:00 local time, and handler guidance says plainly that it is not a 24-hour airport, with overtime listed only for air ambulance flights. A jet that leaves Britain at lunchtime and loses an hour to headwinds can arrive after the field has closed. We therefore work backwards from a landing time well inside the open hours and name the departure time to match.
The way back is quicker, since the jet stream blows from west to east, but a day return from Britain is not realistic.
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 Aruba
Typical private jet charter prices from Britain to Aruba, listed cheapest first. The cheaper rows are large-cabin jets that stop once in the Azores and the dearer ones are long-range jets that cross without a stop, so the aircraft class decides the price here far more than the departure airfield does:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| London Biggin Hill - Aruba 4,358 nm / 8,071 km via the Azores |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £87,300 |
| London City - Aruba 4,364 nm / 8,082 km via the Azores |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £87,400 |
| London Luton - Aruba 4,362 nm / 8,078 km via the Azores |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £87,400 |
| London Stansted - Aruba 4,382 nm / 8,115 km via the Azores |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £87,750 |
| Edinburgh - Aruba 4,427 nm / 8,199 km via the Azores |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £88,650 |
| Newcastle - Aruba 4,434 nm / 8,212 km via the Azores |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £88,750 |
| Belfast - Aruba 4,057 nm / 7,514 km, non-stop |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £101,150 |
| Glasgow - Aruba 4,126 nm / 7,641 km, non-stop |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £102,800 |
| Bristol - Aruba 4,131 nm / 7,651 km, non-stop |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £102,900 |
| Manchester - Aruba 4,169 nm / 7,721 km, non-stop |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £113,400 |
| London Farnborough - Aruba 4,204 nm / 7,786 km, non-stop |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £114,300 |
| London Gatwick - Aruba 4,226 nm / 7,827 km, non-stop |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £120,250 |
| London Biggin Hill - Aruba 4,236 nm / 7,845 km, non-stop |
Gulfstream G650ER up to 14 |
from £135,850 |
Two things worth knowing about these figures
– The aircraft moves the invoice by tens of thousands. From Biggin Hill a Challenger 605 with the Azores stop starts at £87,300, a Falcon 900LX non-stop at £105,450 and a Gulfstream G650ER at £135,850, all to the same runway. The extra money buys hours, quiet and cabin height and not a different destination, and for four people with ordinary luggage the stop is a fair trade;
– A one-way price carries the aircraft's journey home, because the jet has to cross the Atlantic again whether it carries you or not. A return booking, or a flexible date that catches an empty leg, changes the arithmetic more than any negotiation can. Air Passenger Duty is shown as a separate line in the quotation.
Private jet flights from Aruba to its neighbours
Aruba is a single small island with one airport, so there are no flights within the country. The sectors people ask for once they are there are hops to the nearest islands, and one longer run to Florida for those who carry on to the United States:
| Route | Aircraft | Flight time | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba - Curaçao 67 nm / 124 km |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 45 min | from £3,100 |
| Aruba - Bonaire 109 nm / 202 km |
Citation CJ4 Gen2 up to 8 |
about 45 min | from £5,950 |
| Aruba - Sint Maarten 541 nm / 1,002 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 |
about 1 h 45 min | from £9,950 |
| Aruba - Miami 1,027 nm / 1,902 km |
Challenger 350 up to 9 |
about 2 h 45 min | from £21,050 |
Two things worth knowing about the onward hops
– Curaçao and Bonaire lie close, and scheduled flights serve both, so a private jet earns its place only when the timetable does not fit or the party is large. Each hop is still an international arrival with its own forms and officers, and Aruba's own departure formalities come first, so a day trip is planned like a border crossing and not like a taxi ride;
– The aircraft that brought you from London rarely makes these hops, since it is too large and too costly by the hour for a sector of 67 nautical miles. For regional legs we usually propose a locally based operator and confirm the permission in writing.
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:
The cost per hour indicated in the table is preliminary and does not constitute an offer or a commercial offer. Exact prices are available from the managers of the company.
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 Aruba:
Turboprops
The aircraft for the neighbouring islands and not for the crossing, which no turboprop can fly in a day. The Pilatus PC-12 is the usual choice for Curaçao and Bonaire.
Light jets
They suit the short hops to Curaçao and Bonaire with four to six people. From Britain no light jet attempts the crossing, so we do not offer it.
Super-midsize
Suited to the regional legs and to the run on to Miami, not to the Atlantic. The second leg from the Azores is 2,929 nautical miles, beyond what we plan for this class, so we do not quote it for London.
Heavy jets
The class behind most budget-conscious crossings: the Challenger 605 and Legacy 650 make one stop and carry a family with staff or a team in comfort. Aruba's runway takes them without restriction.
Ultra-long range
The only class that crosses in one hop, and the one we suggest for a short stay or a large party. A Falcon 900LX is the cheapest of these on the British run, with the Global and Gulfstream types faster and larger.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight to Aruba 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. 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
-
Clarification of details and search for options
-
Preparation and coordination of optimal options
-
Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
-
Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports in Aruba
Aruba has one airport, and that settles most of the planning. There is no choice of field on the island, no second strip for a jet and no alternate within reach for a heavy aircraft except Curaçao or Bonaire, so the quality of the arrangement with Queen Beatrix decides the trip. Two neighbouring islands complete the picture:
| Airport | Ground | How it operates |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Beatrix International AUA / TNCA |
about 4 km south-east of Oranjestad, a few minutes by car | The island's only airport and the only one a private jet from Britain will use. A single runway, 11/29, listed at roughly 2,800 metres (just over 9,000 feet), takes every aircraft type from a turboprop to an ultra-long-range jet. The general aviation terminal is run by the airport authority under the name JET-TNCA, and customs and immigration are cleared there. Listed hours are 07:00 to 23:00 local time, slots are listed as required and handling is mandatory |
| Curaçao International (Hato) CUR / TNCC |
67 nautical miles to the east of Aruba | The natural alternate and the next stop for a party that tours the Dutch Caribbean. Runway 11/29 is 3,410 metres, and a dedicated jet centre for private and VIP travellers is listed at the airport. The airport is described as receiving about 3,300 private jets and aeroplanes a year |
| Flamingo International, Bonaire BON / TNCB |
109 nautical miles to the east of Aruba | Runway 10/28 of 2,880 metres. General aviation parking lies at the start of the runway and is described as crowded, so larger aircraft that stay overnight may be sent to the main apron. Bonaire Jet Center, part of the CATS Group, was listed as a handler for private aircraft |
Four points settle most arrivals before a quote goes out:
Hours: 07:00 to 23:00 local time
The airport is not open round the clock, and handler guidance lists overtime only for air ambulance flights with prior notice. A private party plans to land and to leave inside the open hours, and fuel uplifts are possible only in those hours too.
Handling and slots: ask early
Handling is mandatory and slots are listed as required. A prior notice period of seven days is listed for clearances and slots, while handlers say they need at least two hours' notice of an estimated arrival, so we send the details as soon as the tail number is known.
The apron fills at peak times
The general aviation ramp is described as holding up to 45 aircraft depending on size, with extra space on the commercial apron only by arrangement. At Easter, in October, December and January it can run out, and the aircraft may then drop the party and fly away to park elsewhere.
Santa Maria: the usual stop
The Azores field is the logical stop on the way out, and the operator arranges the fuel and the handling there. We plan a turn of about an hour and give the crew a margin for the closing time at Aruba.
Fuel, catering and the weight of the aircraft
Jet A and AVGAS are listed at the airport, and the FBO lists catering on request, ground power, lavatory service and baggage handling. Parking fees are based on the maximum take-off weight of the aircraft, and handlers report that delays at the fuel pumps are possible around the middle of the day. All times here are Aruba local time, which is UTC minus four hours with no change for summer.
Arriving from Britain: passports, the ED Card and what to carry
Aruba is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but it is not part of the European Union or the Schengen area, and it has its own immigration and customs. A private flight from London arrives as an international flight, and everyone on board clears customs and immigration at the general aviation terminal, even on a technical stop.
British citizens may visit for up to three months without a visa, and the UK government says the passport must be valid for the whole stayevery passenger, children included
an online embarkation and disembarkation card, submitted within seven days of arrival for each traveller. It is mandatory for arrivals by private aircraft too, and the handler helps fill in the aircraft and crew detailsbefore departure
US$20 per visitor aged eight and over arriving by air, paid online with the ED Card, with exemptions for children under eight, same-day visitors and repeat visitors within a year. The published page does not single out private aircraftpaid online
the rules on goods brought in or out are strict, and anything prohibited, taxed or subject to duty has to be declareddeclare when in doubt
Paperwork, the handler and the way home
The ground handler completes the declaration for customs, immigration and quarantine on the operator's behalf, and the operator sends the passenger and crew details ahead. Landing, parking, security and passenger charges are billed by the airport and listed as separate lines in the quote. UK government advice also warns that EHIC and GHIC cards are not valid on Aruba, so travel health insurance is advisable.
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 do. A party that carries on to the United States through Aruba may use the US preclearance that the airport lists, which we confirm for a private aircraft with the FBO before the flight.
Which part of Aruba, and how far from the airport
There is one airport and the island is small, so the question is not which field but how the last few kilometres are done. The usual pairings:
the capital and its harbour lie about 4 km from the airport, and a transfer takes a matter of minutesQueen Beatrix
the two resort beaches on the west coast, where the beach hotels stand, lie on the far side of Oranjestad and are a short drive from the airportQueen Beatrix
the former refinery town and the beaches at the far end of the island, still within an easy drive of the airportQueen Beatrix
67 and 109 nautical miles to the east, the next stops for a party that tours the Dutch CaribbeanQueen Beatrix, then onward
Aruba: what our clients go for
Weather comes first. Aruba lies south of the main Atlantic hurricane belt, the sun shines on more days than on most Caribbean islands and the trade winds blow almost all year, which keeps the heat bearable at 27 to 32 degrees. People come for the beach hotels on Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, for a villa, or for a week of wind sport on the coast that faces the breeze.
The island has a Dutch layer that the visitor notices in the colours of Oranjestad, and in the king's birthday, which is celebrated on 27 April. The official languages are Dutch and Papiamento, and English is spoken everywhere in the tourist areas. Handlers accept cash in US dollars and in Aruban florins, so nobody needs to change money for the airport.
Private traffic here is mostly a matter of stopovers and short stays. The FBO describes the island as well placed in the Caribbean as a stopover between North and Latin America. Aruba is not a hub for business aviation in the way that Miami is, and if a party needs aircraft maintenance or a charter from a local operator, we say so before booking.
The year in Aruba: dry months, wind and the rainy tail of the year
Aruba has little seasonal drama, and the differences are in the wind and in how full the island is:
the dry season, with temperatures around 28 degrees; January is one of the busy months at the airport, and Easter brings family beach camping and a crowded rampdry, peak
the trade winds strengthen from May and stay strong into October, which is why the wind sports calendar sits in these months; the days are hotter, with the warmest weather in August and Septemberwindy, hot
the rainy season, though the whole year brings only about 18 inches of rain and the showers are short; October and December are both busy at the airportshowers
the Atlantic hurricane season, to which Aruba is largely immune because of its southern positionlow risk
Peak weeks are the dearest weeks
Easter, October, December and January are the months when handlers expect the parking to run out. The figures on this page describe an ordinary week, with a Falcon 900LX from Biggin Hill at £105,450 one way, and a holiday week is booked as early as the dates are known.
The Aruba calendar: carnival, wind and harvest
Aruba's dated events are community festivals more than international sporting dates, and they fill the island's hotels rather than the airport apron:
Flying to Aruba with a dog or a cat
Aruba is one of the harder destinations for a pet from Britain. The island's published import rules are written for animals arriving from the United States, and an animal from anywhere else is a matter for the Veterinary Service. We start that conversation before the aircraft is chosen.
The one fact to read before you book
The Aruban government's page on importing pets describes dogs and cats from the United States and states a residence rule: the animal must have lived continuously in the country of export for the six months before travel. The tourist board repeats it for low-rabies countries and adds that animals from South and Central America are barred. A written exemption from the residence rule can be issued by the Head of the Veterinary Service. For an animal from Britain we ask the Veterinary Service to confirm in writing that it will accept the animal, the certificate it wants and the permit it will issue, and we do not book the aircraft until that reply arrives.
On the way home the rule is British. A dog must be treated against tapeworm by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before landing in Britain, a pet travel document or certificate is needed, and an animal without the right paperwork can be held in quarantine for up to four months. Aruba does not appear by name on the British pages we rely on, so we confirm in writing which document applies to the return and which entry point the animal uses.
- A microchip, fitted before the rabies vaccination;
- A valid rabies vaccination. A first-ever injection is typically given at least 30 days before arrival, and puppies and kittens under 12 weeks are exempt;
- A health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival, in the form the Veterinary Service accepts for a British animal;
- An import permit issued by the Veterinary Service Aruba after it has checked the documents, printed and shown to customs on arrival, with the dog or cat declared to customs;
- Documents sent to the service at least two business days before travel, and a longer margin for an animal from Britain.
An animal that does not meet the rules may be refused, sent back or placed in quarantine at the owner's expense. Handlers add that on a technical stop a pet may have to leave the aircraft or may, at the discretion of customs and immigration, stay on board.
The general rules, 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. Aruba produces fewer than a busy European corridor, but a charter there is one-way by nature and the aircraft has to cross an ocean to get home or to find its next client.
Where Aruba empty legs come from
– The weeks around the peak months, when aircraft cross from Britain with a full cabin and head home empty, or are sent out empty to collect guests travelling the other way;
– The end of a Caribbean season, when aircraft are repositioned back towards Europe or North America and the legs are offered at the last minute.
A client who can offer a few days has a far better chance of a match, though the operator owns the date and a leg can disappear when the original booking changes. Legs from Aruba may also point to North America as well as to Britain and Europe, so a flexible destination helps. Whatever is free is listed on our empty legs page. A selection of Aruba empty legs follows:
| Route | Aircraft | Capacity | Whole aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aruba - UK (London Biggin Hill) | Challenger 605 | 12 seats | £36,650 |
| UK (London Luton) - Aruba | Challenger 605 | 12 seats | £36,700 |
| Aruba - UK (Edinburgh) | Challenger 605 | 12 seats | £37,250 |
| UK (Belfast) - Aruba | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £42,500 |
| Aruba - UK (Bristol) | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £43,200 |
| UK (Manchester) - Aruba | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £47,650 |
| Aruba - UK (London Farnborough) | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £48,000 |
| UK (London Gatwick) - Aruba | Gulfstream G550 | 16 seats | £50,500 |
How to read those figures
– Each price is for the whole aircraft rather than per seat. A Falcon 900LX leg of £42,500 with eight aboard works out at about £5,310 a head, and the whole leg costs about two-fifths of a fresh one-way charter on the same sector;
– Aruba legs are less regular than those on a busy European corridor, so an open date helps more than anything.
Helicopter charter
We have to be plain about this one. We have not found a helicopter charter operator on Aruba whose services we can confirm in advance, and the airport's aeronautical information lists a helipad that is available in principle only during daylight. A helicopter on the island is therefore a request, which we put to the local market for your dates, and not a service we promise on this page.
over open water, which calls for a twin-engine aircraft and a crew based in the regionabout 45 min
the longer of the two regional transfersabout 1 h 05 min
The times are straight-line estimates at a cruise of about 115 knots, and an operator confirms the route for your date. On so small an island a car does the job for most guests.
One point on rotary legs
A landing away from an airport or a listed helipad, whether at a beach club, a villa or a boat, needs a landing site agreed in advance with the authorities. We tell you what has been confirmed in writing before you plan around it.
Flights from the UK to Aruba
We fly this corridor from every British airfield in the list below, and 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 |
Aruba 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.
NEW YEAR · A FAMILY OF SIX
Two weeks at a beach hotel on Palm Beach
Biggin Hill - Aruba via the Azores, Challenger 605, about 10 h 40 min plus the stop · 6 pax
The family left in the morning so that the aircraft would land well before the airport closed for the night. The jet stopped at Santa Maria for fuel and an hour on the ground, went home empty, and the return was booked as a separate one-way.
A SHORT STAY · AN OWNER
A non-stop crossing for four people
Farnborough - Aruba, Global 6000, about 9 h 20 min · 4 pax
The owner wanted no stop and a long weekend on the island. The aircraft parked at the general aviation terminal, left again before the closing hour on the Monday, and the party cleared customs and immigration at the terminal on arrival.
CURAÇAO · A DAY ACROSS
Four guests and a lunch booking
Aruba - Curaçao, Pilatus PC-12 NGX, about 45 min · 4 pax
The party flew over in the morning and came back before the evening. Each border was a fresh international arrival, and the handler at Aruba arranged the departure formalities before the aircraft was boarded.
ON TO FLORIDA · THE NEXT SECTOR
A couple continuing to the United States
Aruba - Miami, Challenger 350, about 2 h 45 min · 2 pax
They landed after the crossing, cleared Aruban formalities and carried on the next morning. The airport lists US preclearance, and whether it could be used by a private aircraft was confirmed with the FBO before the schedule was fixed.
WITH THE DOG · A PERMIT FIRST
A couple, a labrador and a month in the sun
Biggin Hill - Aruba via the Azores, Challenger 605, about 10 h 40 min plus the stop · 2 pax + dog
The Veterinary Service was asked in writing before the aircraft was booked, because the published rules are written for animals from the United States. The permit came back in time, and the tapeworm treatment for the way home was given inside the window of 24 to 120 hours.
EMPTY LEG · A FLEXIBLE RETURN
A return to Edinburgh
Aruba - Edinburgh, Challenger 605 empty leg, about 10 h 50 min plus the stop · 3 pax
The client gave us a window of four days instead of a date, which is what makes these work, and paid about £37,250, well under half of a fresh one-way charter on the same sector, for a Thursday departure.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Aruba
1How long does it take to fly to Aruba by private jet?
About 10 hours 20 minutes non-stop from a London airfield in a Falcon 900LX, and about 10 hours 40 minutes in a Challenger 605 plus about an hour on the ground in the Azores. The way home is shorter with the jet stream behind the aircraft. Aruba is four hours behind Britain in winter and five in summer.
2How much does a private jet to Aruba cost?
From about £87,300 one way from Biggin Hill in a Challenger 605 with a stop in the Azores. A Falcon 900LX non-stop from Biggin Hill is about £105,450, and a Gulfstream G650ER about £135,850. Air Passenger Duty is charged per passenger on a departure from a British airport and is shown as a separate line in the quotation.
3Which airport do private jets use in Aruba?
Queen Beatrix International (AUA, TNCA), the island's only airport. The general aviation terminal, JET-TNCA, is run by the airport authority, and customs and immigration are cleared there. Listed hours are 07:00 to 23:00 local time, slots are listed as required and handling is mandatory, so a late arrival is not possible.
4What are the passport and entry rules for a private flight from Britain to Aruba?
British citizens may visit for up to three months without a visa, and the passport must be valid for the whole stay. Each traveller completes the online ED Card within seven days of arrival, including on a private aircraft, and visitors aged eight and over pay a US$20 sustainability fee online. Customs rules on goods are strict, and anything taxable or restricted must be declared.
5Can I take my dog or cat on a private jet to Aruba?
Only with the agreement of the Veterinary Service Aruba. The published rules cover animals from the United States, and for an animal from Britain we ask the service to confirm in writing what it accepts before booking. A microchip, a rabies vaccination, a health certificate issued within 14 days of arrival and an import permit are the usual elements, and a dog needs a tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before landing in Britain.
6When is the best time to fly to Aruba, and how early should I book?
January to April is the dry season, and the winds are strongest from May to October. Aruba lies south of the main hurricane belt. Handlers expect the parking to run out at Easter, in October, in December and in January, so book as early as the dates are known for those weeks.