Private jet charter in Bahamas
A private jet from London to the Bahamas is a sector of roughly eight and a half hours, flown without a stop by only a small group of aircraft, and that single fact shapes the booking before anything else is discussed. 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. For 15 years of successful work, we have established partnerships with the world's largest airlines and VIP terminals, which means we can offer you the most favorable 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. For the Bahamas we put Gulfstream, Bombardier Global and Falcon aircraft on the run from Farnborough, Luton and Stansted, and we quote a technical stop in the Azores, Bermuda or Gander whenever a smaller heavy jet is the sensible size for the party.
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 the Bahamas 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 based on the following data: departure from London Farnborough Airport, a Gulfstream G550, two passengers. 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 the Bahamas?
Nassau is 3,907 nautical miles from Farnborough, almost a thousand more than New York, so the Bahamas belongs with the genuinely long sectors rather than with the Caribbean island hops that people picture. Gate to gate, non-stop, in a Gulfstream G550 at its normal cruise and with no allowance for wind:
3,907 nautical miles from Farnborough and 3,918 from Lutonabout 8 h 20 min
3,789 nautical miles, about 118 fewer than from Farnboroughabout 8 h 05 min
3,702 nautical miles, the shortest crossing from any British airport we useabout 7 h 55 min
3,826 and 3,827 nautical miles into the Abacos, the Bahamian fields nearest to Britainabout 8 h 10 min
3,886 nautical miles to Grand Bahama and the northern islandsabout 8 h 15 min
3,912 nautical miles to George Town and the caysabout 8 h 20 min
3,947 nautical miles, the furthest of the islands from London and the closest to Floridaabout 8 h 25 min
Westbound is the slow direction, and the clock gives some of it back
The jet stream runs from west to east across the Atlantic, so the outbound crossing meets it head on and the return rides it. Expect the way home to be shorter by half an hour to an hour, and more than that in winter. The Bahamas keep Eastern time, which is five hours behind London for most of the year and four for the few weeks when the two sides change their clocks on different dates. Leave Farnborough at eight in the morning and you touch down in Nassau a little before noon local time. It is still a long day, and nobody sensible books a day return to the Bahamas.
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 the Bahamas
Typical private jet prices from Britain to the Bahamas, listed cheapest first. Every line is a non-stop in a heavy or ultra-long-range jet, since that is the only class that makes the crossing in one hop, and every airport on the list is one the aircraft can actually use:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| Belfast - Nassau 3,702 nm / 6,856 km |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £92,650 |
| Glasgow - Nassau 3,752 nm / 6,949 km |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £93,850 |
| Manchester - Marsh Harbour 3,754 nm / 6,952 km |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £93,900 |
| Edinburgh - Nassau 3,789 nm / 7,017 km |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £94,700 |
| London Farnborough - Nassau 3,907 nm / 7,236 km |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £97,550 |
| London Luton - Freeport 3,896 nm / 7,215 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £106,250 |
| London Farnborough - Nassau 3,907 nm / 7,236 km |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £106,550 |
| Manchester - Nassau 3,838 nm / 7,108 km |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £109,650 |
| London Farnborough - Exuma 3,912 nm / 7,245 km |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £111,650 |
| London Stansted - Nassau 3,941 nm / 7,299 km |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £112,450 |
| London Farnborough - North Eleuthera 3,857 nm / 7,143 km |
Gulfstream G650ER up to 14 |
from £124,200 |
| London Luton - Nassau 3,918 nm / 7,256 km |
Gulfstream G650ER up to 14 |
from £126,050 |
| London Stansted - Bimini 3,980 nm / 7,371 km |
Gulfstream G650ER up to 14 |
from £127,950 |
| London Farnborough - Nassau 3,907 nm / 7,236 km |
Global 7500 up to 14 |
from £135,500 |
Two things worth knowing about these figures
– The aircraft decides the price far more than the airport does. Farnborough to Nassau costs £97,550 in a Falcon 900LX and £135,500 in a Global 7500, a gap of about £38,000 for the same crossing; choosing Bimini over Marsh Harbour in a G650ER moves the figure by only about £3,700;
– A one-way price here carries the aircraft's journey home. The jet has to come back across the Atlantic whether it carries you or not, so a single outbound flight is priced close to half of a return trip rather than as a bargain. That is why a fortnight's stay booked as a return, or a flexible date that catches an empty leg, changes the arithmetic more than any negotiation can.
Air Passenger Duty is charged on top, per passenger
Duty applies to every passenger leaving a British airport, and Nassau sits in the band of 2,001 to 5,500 miles from London. A business jet of 20 tonnes or more with fewer than 19 seats, which describes most of the aircraft on this page, pays the higher rate, about £1,100 for each person on board. Eight passengers on the outbound flight add about £8,800 to the invoice. The return leg from the Bahamas is not a British departure and carries no duty. The rates are reset by the Treasury each April, so we state the figure in the quotation rather than in the headline price.
Private jet flights within the Bahamas and from Florida
Once the aircraft has crossed, the work changes scale. Florida is a short hop away and the islands are shorter still. These are the sectors we quote most often from Nassau and from the Florida fields:
| Route | Aircraft | Flight time | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nassau - North Eleuthera 52 nm / 96 km |
PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 35 min | from £3,100 |
| Nassau - Marsh Harbour 94 nm / 174 km |
PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 40 min | from £3,100 |
| Nassau - Bimini 110 nm / 204 km |
PC-12 NGX up to 9 |
about 45 min | from £3,100 |
| Miami (Opa-locka) - Nassau 167 nm / 309 km |
Citation Mustang up to 4 |
about 50 min | from £4,200 |
| Fort Lauderdale Executive - Nassau 169 nm / 313 km |
Citation M2 up to 7 |
about 45 min | from £4,850 |
| Palm Beach - Freeport 79 nm / 146 km |
Citation M2 up to 7 |
about 35 min | from £4,850 |
| Nassau - Freeport 117 nm / 217 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 |
about 40 min | from £5,300 |
| Nassau - Exuma 129 nm / 239 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 |
about 40 min | from £5,300 |
| Palm Beach - Nassau 180 nm / 333 km |
Citation CJ3+ up to 7 |
about 45 min | from £5,300 |
| Miami (Opa-locka) - Exuma 289 nm / 535 km |
Phenom 300E up to 8 |
about 1 h | from £5,700 |
| Palm Beach - Exuma 308 nm / 570 km |
Phenom 300E up to 8 |
about 1 h | from £5,700 |
Two things worth knowing about the island sectors
– Distance hardly matters at this scale. Nassau to North Eleuthera is 52 nautical miles and Nassau to Bimini 110, yet a Pilatus quotes the same £3,100 for both, because the price floor is set by the aircraft and its positioning rather than by the miles;
– Florida to Nassau is the standard way to rebuild a trip. Land the transatlantic aircraft at Nassau, send it home, and use a light jet from Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach for the island legs and the return to the United States.
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:
Non-stop or with a fuel stop: which aircraft can cross
The sector from London to Nassau is about 3,907 nautical miles, and published range figures flatter it. A brochure range assumes a handful of passengers, still air and no diversion, whereas a party of eight in January meets a westbound wind, a reserve for the alternate airport and a full load of luggage. The aircraft that cross comfortably have a stated range well over four thousand nautical miles. The rest need to land somewhere on the way.
published ranges from 6,000 to 7,500 nautical miles, with margin for the wind and the alternatenon-stop from anywhere in Britain
ranges of roughly 4,000 to 4,750 nautical miles, so the sector sits near the edge in winternon-stop in settled weather, a stop as plan B
published ranges of about 3,800 to 4,000 nautical miles, which is less than the sector plus reservesone technical stop
ranges nowhere near the distance, which means two stops and a very long daybetter positioned from Florida
no business case for the Atlantic at all, but exactly the right size for Florida and for the islandsisland sectors only
Where the aircraft stops matters as much as whether it does. The figure on the right is what each route adds to the direct distance:
3,088 nautical miles from Farnborough, then 836 on to Nassau, 3,924 in alladds about 17 nm
2,111 nautical miles from Farnborough or 1,949 from Edinburgh, then 1,864 to Nassauadds about 68 nm from London
2,566 then 1,425 nautical miles; the fallback when Gander is outadds about 84 nm
1,400 nautical miles to Santa Maria, then 2,860 on to Nassau; the choice for the shortest-legged aircraftadds about 353 nm
1,067 then 3,277 nautical miles; a northern stop that points the wrong way for the Bahamasadds about 437 nm
Bermuda lies almost on the direct line
The direct line from London to Nassau passes close to Bermuda, which is why a stop there costs a mere 17 nautical miles. The catch is a first leg of 3,088 nautical miles, which suits a Challenger or a Legacy at its limit and nothing smaller. The Azores cut the longest leg to 2,860 nautical miles, at the price of 353 extra miles on the clock. Gander looks like a detour, yet for a Scottish or Northern Irish departure it adds only about 24 to 37 nautical miles. We quote a stop as a separate line, since the landing, handling and fuel bills at the stop do not belong in a per-hour rate.
Florida is not a fuel stop
Palm Beach is 180 nautical miles from Nassau and Fort Lauderdale Executive 169. Landing there on the way out wastes a sector, because the Bahamas are closer and the jet has already crossed the ocean. Florida earns its place at the other end of the trip, where a light jet takes the island legs and the journey into the United States.
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
Turboprops
For the island sectors out of Nassau and nothing else. They cannot cross the Atlantic, but they cope with the short strips of the Out Islands.
Light jets
The Florida class. Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Palm Beach to Nassau is under an hour, and the same aircraft reaches Freeport, Exuma and the Abacos.
Midsize and super-midsize
Too short in range for the crossing from Britain, but the usual choice for a party flying down from the east coast of the United States.
Heavy jets
The class that crosses with one fuel stop, and in good conditions without one. Large cabins and a proper galley make the sector bearable.
Ultra-long range
What the Bahamas run is built around: non-stop from Britain with margin to spare.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight in the Bahamas 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. For over 15 years of experience 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
-
Clarification of details and search for options
-
Preparation and coordination of optimal options
-
Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
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Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports in the Bahamas
The Bahamas are about 700 islands and more than 2,000 cays, but only a handful of airfields can take a private jet from Britain and clear it through customs. The list below is short on purpose. Anywhere else in the chain you arrive by a second, smaller aircraft after clearing at one of these:
| Airport | Ground | How it operates |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau Lynden Pindling NAS / MYNN |
10 miles west of downtown | The default arrival and the busiest private aviation field in the islands, with a 3,330 metre runway, customs and immigration in the FBO and US preclearance for airline passengers. Open round the clock and slots are not required. The island is 166 nautical miles from Miami |
| Grand Bahama International FPO / MYGF |
4 km north of Freeport | The northern gateway for Grand Bahama and Lucaya, with a 3,359 metre runway and one FBO. Handling is mandatory, and the tower keeps shorter hours than the field |
| Exuma International GGT / MYEF |
George Town | The airport of entry for the Exuma chain, with a 2,134 metre runway and an Odyssey Aviation FBO. Weekday hours, with anything outside them by arrangement |
| Marsh Harbour MHH / MYAM |
Great Abaco | Leonard M. Thompson International, with a 1,859 metre runway, customs on the field and an unattended tower. Weekday daytime hours, closing at sunset |
| Treasure Cay TCB / MYAT |
northern Abaco | The longer of the two Abaco runways at 2,134 metres, and an airport of entry with customs. Weekday hours with other times on request |
| North Eleuthera ELH / MYEH |
inland, north Eleuthera | A 1,835 metre runway and customs, but no control tower and no runway lights, so no landing after dark. The jumping-off point for Harbour Island and Spanish Wells |
| South Bimini BIM / MYBS |
Bimini | A 1,951 metre runway and customs, but no fuel, so the aircraft must arrive with enough to leave again. Known for fishing, shark diving and the SS Sapona wreck |
| Out Island strips GHB, TYM, ASD, TBI and others |
small settlements | Daylight fields with limited services and often no fuel. The aircraft clears customs at an airport of entry first and reaches them by a second sector |
Four points decide most of how a Bahamas arrival is planned:
Nassau first, island second
Nassau is the default arrival: a 3,330 metre runway, customs and immigration inside the FBO, and no slots. For a distant cay, the best answer is usually the long-range jet to Nassau and a smaller aircraft from there, with the island leg quoted separately. For a stay in Nassau or on Paradise Island, none of this applies.
Landing permit before the quote
A charter flight needs a Bahamian landing permit; a private flight without payment does not. The official lead time is four business days and the office works weekdays from nine to five, so a Saturday departure requested on Friday afternoon depends on a favour. Permits are tied to the aircraft, so a new tail number means a fresh application.
Nassau: the Odyssey FBO
Private aircraft use the Odyssey Aviation FBO on Coral Harbour Road, with customs, immigration, private lounges and crew sleeping rooms in one building. Downtown Nassau is about 10 miles away, Baha Mar 5 and Atlantis 14, so allow 25 to 45 minutes by road. The tower works round the clock and catering goes through the concierge desk.
Freeport: agree late arrivals
Grand Bahama International has a 3,359 metre runway, fire category 7 and one FBO, Grand Bahama FBO Services, with customs and immigration on site. Tower hours are 0600 to 2200 local, with extensions on request, so a late arrival is a conversation. Palm Beach is 79 nautical miles away, which makes Freeport the natural entry for Lucaya.
Hours, slots and fuel differ from one airfield to the next:
published hours of 0900 to 1900, with overtime by arrangementask ahead for a late arrival
customs only on weekdays and in daylight, with overtime arranged a day aheadnot for a night landing
daylight only with no runway lights, so overtime is normally impossibleplan to land before sunset
not required at Nassau or Freeport, though ramp space is tight in the peak weeksparking is the constraint
shortages occur at holiday periods and the Out Islands can run lowconfirm uplift before departure
The airports in detail
Exuma: George Town and the cays
Exuma International has a 2,134 metre runway and Odyssey Aviation as its FBO. The listed hours run on weekdays from 1400 to 2200 UTC, roughly nine to five in winter, with anything else by request. It is the gate for George Town and for the Family Island Regatta in April, and the cays beyond are reached by a smaller aircraft or a seaplane.
Abaco: Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay
Two airports of entry share the Abacos. Marsh Harbour, officially Leonard M. Thompson International, has a 1,859 metre runway and an unattended tower, and runs on weekdays from midday UTC until sunset. Treasure Cay has the longer runway at 2,134 metres and a weekday timetable. Between them they cover the boating islands of Hope Town, Man-O-War Cay and Tahiti Beach. Neither has US preclearance.
US preclearance and customs: what it means for you
Passengers flying on from the Bahamas to the United States meet one of the more useful features of the islands, because the American border can be crossed before the aircraft leaves. It is easy to misunderstand, so here is what it does and does not do.
Preclearance for an onward flight to the United States
A preclearance treaty between the two countries, in force for decades, puts American immigration and customs officers inside the departure airport at Nassau and at Freeport, so a passenger is cleared before boarding and lands in the United States as though on a domestic flight. For private aircraft the procedure works by appointment: the handler requests a slot, the crew files the passenger manifest at least an hour before the processing time, and once everyone is cleared the aircraft door stays shut until departure. The aircraft must land at the airport named on the manifest, and it must be one that accepts preclearance arrivals, otherwise the clearance is void and you go through customs again. Handling agents list Nassau and Freeport among the locations for private flights, but whether a slot exists on the day is something we confirm in writing before we quote a connection.
What preclearance does not change
- It does not replace a visa or an approved ESTA. Every non-American passenger needs one of them for the United States, whatever the border arrangement;
- It does not apply to a flight going home to Britain, which clears Bahamian departure formalities and British customs on arrival in the usual way;
- Nothing in it is automatic. Fly from Nassau to Palm Beach without an appointment and you simply clear customs on landing, which takes twenty to forty minutes at the FBO.
no visa is required, and the immigration officer fixes the length of staypassport valid six months beyond departure
immigration expects a return or onward ticket, and we make sure the itinerary documents onea standing requirement
completed online for each flight, even with nothing to declarethe FBO helps on arrival
about £23 for each person aged six or over on a private aircraft, pilots includedUS$29 as published
We deal with the Bahamian side through the FBO, the British side through the departure airport, and the American side through the preclearance appointment or the customs desk at the Florida FBO, whichever is in use.
When to go: peak season, hurricanes and events
The climate is warm and winterless, with the hottest and coldest months only about 7 degrees Celsius apart on most islands, so the season is set by the calendar of the people who come. Two things drive what a charter costs and what is available.
The peak is Christmas to the middle of April
The busy window runs from about 20 December to 19 April, and again around American Thanksgiving. Ramp space at Nassau and the smaller fields is tight during those weeks, and some operators begin asking for high-season parking as early as July. Some hotels at the smaller destinations must be prepaid with no refund, and fuel can be short over the holidays. A trip over Christmas is a booking to make months ahead, not weeks.
Hurricane season is the quiet one
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the peak around 10 September and most of the activity between mid-August and mid-October. September is a quiet month for visitors, but a storm can close an airport or move an aircraft at short notice. We follow the forecast from the day of booking and agree the position on cancellation before you commit, so that nobody has to decide in a hurry what a storm costs.
The events are the other pull. These are listed by their usual month so that you can plan around them:
Which island for which kind of trip
The country has sixteen major islands and a long list of places that can only be reached by boat or small aircraft. The choice usually comes down to one of these:
the capital, Atlantis with its five hotels and the marina, and Baha Mar on Cable Beach with the Grand Hyatt, SLS and RosewoodNassau, Odyssey FBO
the northern gateway, with Port Lucaya Marketplace, Lucayan National Park and mangrove kayakingFreeport
swimming pigs on Big Major Cay, Thunderball Grotto, Compass Cay and the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, with Musha Cay, a privately owned 700 acre island about 85 miles south-east of Nassau that takes one party of up to 24 at a timeExuma or Staniel Cay
pink sand beaches, a 110 mile ribbon of island and the New England style streets of Dunmore TownNorth Eleuthera
a sailing and boating chain with Hope Town, Man-O-War Cay and Tahiti BeachMarsh Harbour or Treasure Cay
the island nearest Florida, known for big game fishing, shark diving and shipwrecksBimini
the largest island, with blue holes, a barrier reef and national parkssmall strips, from Nassau
Mount Alvernia, the highest point in the country, and Inagua with more than 80,000 flamingossmall strips, from Nassau
Flying to the Bahamas with a dog or a cat
The Bahamas take pets by permit, and that is the easy half. The hard half is the journey home, because Britain treats the Bahamas as an unlisted country, and an animal that arrives back without the right preparation faces a wait of three months.
The one fact to read before you book
Coming home from the Bahamas needs the full rabies sequence rather than the simple certificate. The animal must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the vaccination, tested by an approved laboratory for an antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml, and then you must wait three months from the date of the sample before it travels to Britain. A British pet health certificate issued within the ten days before travel is required, because pet passports and Animal Health Certificates are not accepted from an unlisted country. Do the blood test in Britain before you leave, since the three months starts from the sample date and the result stays valid while the rabies vaccination is kept up to date. Otherwise a ten-day trip can turn into a three-month one. Dogs also need tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before entering Britain.
- An import permit from the Bahamian Department of Agriculture in Nassau, which travels with the animal, applied for well ahead;
- A minimum age of six months for dogs and cats;
- A rabies vaccination, given between 30 days and ten months before entry for a one-year vaccine, or within 34 months for a three-year vaccine;
- A government vet's health certificate with the Bahamian form IMP 1, completed within 48 hours of arrival, recording treatment for internal and external parasites;
- Entry by air through Nassau or Freeport only;
- An examination by a Bahamian vet within 48 hours of arrival, and a dog licence from the Department of Agriculture.
Several breeds cannot be imported at all, among them pit bull types, the Presa Canario, the Cane Corso and the Staffordshire terrier, and animals from Cuba and Haiti are refused. The Bahamas do not demand a microchip, but the British side does, so chip first and vaccinate second. A cat needs the same permit and the same rabies timeline.
the post-arrival examination is done by a vet in the Bahamas, and we book it in Nassau or Freeport before any onward leg to an Out Islandnot on the field
long enough that we plan water, a walk before boarding and a settled spot away from the galleyabout 8 h 20 min to 9 h
a tropical ramp in the summer months, so we ask the handler for shade at the stepswarm all year
a private jet takes the animal in the cabin, so a large dog travels exactly as a small one doescabin travel
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
Another way to fly cheaper is to use Empty Legs. This service allows you to save on regular charter rates. As you know, part of the flights is one-way (for example, when the passenger flies from England to the Bahamas). After the flight, the jet returns to its home base (for example, to London Farnborough airport) empty. Such flight is called "Empty Legs". Empty leg flights can be as cheap as 50-75% off the standard charter price. This option is profitable for both the passengers and the charter companies. The clients can enjoy the services of business aviation at a very good price, while the airlines recoup part of the cost of fuel and jet maintenance.
It is almost impossible to find Empty Leg flights, as the information about them is stored in special databases available only to the aviation brokers and specialized companies. You should know that Empty Leg flights offer the same service as private jet charters. The passengers enjoy a 100% private jet flying experience. Services and flight conditions are discussed individually. We should note that our company cooperates with the world's largest home bases, so we can offer our clients a wide choice of return flights. Just send a request to our manager who will help you find the best flight options. Please note that Empty Leg flights are sold out very quickly. To avoid such a problem, you can leave us a deposit, and we will contact you as soon as the flight of your choice becomes available. For additional information, check with the operators.
This is what empty legs on the Bahamas run typically cost. The figures show the usual level rather than a live list, since a leg lasts only until somebody claims it:
| Route | Aircraft | Capacity | Whole aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahamas (Nassau) - UK (Belfast) | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £38,900 |
| UK (Edinburgh) - Bahamas (Nassau) | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £39,750 |
| UK (London Luton) - Bahamas (Freeport) | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £44,600 |
| Bahamas (Nassau) - UK (London Farnborough) | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £44,750 |
| UK (Manchester) - Bahamas (Nassau) | Gulfstream G550 | 16 seats | £46,050 |
| Bahamas (Exuma) - UK (London Stansted) | Gulfstream G550 | 16 seats | £47,350 |
| Bahamas (Nassau) - UK (London Luton) | Gulfstream G650ER | 14 seats | £52,950 |
| UK (London Farnborough) - Bahamas (Marsh Harbour) | Global 7500 | 14 seats | £55,800 |
How to read those figures
– Each price is for the whole aircraft rather than per seat. A G550 from Manchester at £46,050 carrying sixteen works out at around £2,900 a head, for a flight that would cost £109,650 as a fresh charter;
– Empty legs in both directions turn up, and the homeward ones are the usual way an aircraft that took clients out to the islands comes back across the Atlantic empty;
– On a crossing, flexibility pays more than usual. A client who can move a departure by a few days sees far more of these than one who cannot.
Helicopter and seaplane transfers
Between the islands the aeroplane that matters is rarely a jet. The seaplane is the Bahamas' own form of transport, and the helicopter plays a smaller part than most people expect:
several seaplane operators fly out of Nassau to Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Andros, the Berry Islands, Rose Island and the Exumas, in amphibious Cessna Grand Caravans among others30 to 45 minutes from the nearer islands
there is no separate airport; seaplanes land on the water near Nassau and the resorts, and a water taxi from Nassau to the island takes about 10 minutesabout 10 minutes by water taxi
scheduled and charter seaplane routes link Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach with the northern islandsone to two hours
a plane-to-boat transfer lets a guest fly straight to a chartered yacht in a secluded anchorage after clearing customs at the airportby arrangement
helicopter charters from Florida to Nassau and Freeport are advertised, and the Nassau FBO coordinates onward flights to the Exuma Cays and Harbour Islandpriced per sector
Two points on getting around the islands
– Seaplanes suit the cays and the yachts, helicopters the short hop, and a light jet or turboprop any island with a proper runway. We say which is which, because the cheapest option is not always the one that suits the trip;
– Out Island flights depend on daylight and on weather, so a transfer planned for late afternoon has little margin for delay.
Flights from the UK to the Bahamas
The most popular routes to the Bahamas run from London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Belfast, with Farnborough and Luton the airports that most of the long-range aircraft use. However, this is only a small part of the flights operated by our company. 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 |
Frequently asked questions about flying to the Bahamas
1How long does it take to fly to the Bahamas by private jet?
About 8 h 20 min non-stop from Farnborough to Nassau in a Gulfstream G550 or a Global jet, and 9 h 00 min in a Falcon 900LX. Edinburgh and Belfast are 8 h 05 min and 7 h 55 min. Heavy jets that need a fuel stop add roughly an hour on the ground. The return leg usually takes half an hour to an hour less, because it rides the jet stream.
2How much does a private jet to the Bahamas cost?
From about £97,550 one way from Farnborough to Nassau in a Falcon 900LX, £111,550 in a Gulfstream G550 and £135,500 in a Global 7500. Belfast to Nassau starts around £92,650. Air Passenger Duty of about £1,100 per passenger is added on the outbound flight.
3Can a private jet fly non-stop from the UK to the Bahamas?
Yes, in an ultra-long-range jet such as a Global 6000, Gulfstream G550, G650ER or Global 7500. The sector is about 3,907 nautical miles. Smaller heavy jets such as the Challenger 605 and Legacy 650 need one technical stop, usually in Bermuda, Gander or the Azores.
4Which airports do private jets use in the Bahamas?
Nassau Lynden Pindling takes most of the traffic, with Freeport, Exuma International, Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay, North Eleuthera and South Bimini as the other airports of entry. Nassau is open round the clock, and Freeport works long hours with the tower extended on request. Smaller strips on the Out Islands are daylight only and are reached by a second aircraft.
5Can I clear US customs in the Bahamas before flying on to America?
Yes, in principle. The United States has officers at Nassau and Freeport, so passengers can be cleared before departure and land in the United States as on a domestic flight. For a private aircraft it works by appointment, with the manifest filed at least an hour ahead, and the arrival airport must accept preclearance flights.
6Can I take a dog or cat to the Bahamas on a private jet?
Yes, with an import permit from the Bahamian Department of Agriculture, a rabies vaccination and a health certificate completed close to travel. The journey home is harder, because Britain treats the Bahamas as an unlisted country and requires a rabies blood test and a three-month wait, so the test should be done before you leave.