Private jet charter to Somalia
Aircraft cross Somalia every day, which is why the first question on most enquiries is the same: can a charter from Britain land there? This page answers it in two parts. One part is what Private Jets UK does not arrange. The other is the flight we do arrange, to the three cities from which Mogadishu and Hargeisa are reached by scheduled services. 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. For Somalia that means a plain statement of the limits before any quote.
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 towards Somalia 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 London Biggin Hill, an Embraer Praetor 600 to Addis Ababa with no technical stop 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.
What a private jet can and cannot do for Somalia
Private Jets UK does not arrange charters that land at Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Berbera or any other airfield in Somalia, including the territory of Somaliland. That follows from the positions published by the bodies that advise the traveller and regulate the aircraft, and it is set out here so that nobody pays for a quote that cannot be flown.
Why a British-arranged charter does not land there
– The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except for the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, and advises against all but essential travel to those three. It gives the threat from terrorist groups and continuing violence as the reason, and mentions fighting between al-Shabaab and the Somali government close to Mogadishu;
– The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has issued a conflict zone bulletin for the Mogadishu flight information region. It assesses the risk of operating and overflying below flight level 260 as high, citing terrorist organisations with confirmed anti-aviation weaponry, possibly shoulder-launched missiles, and ongoing military operations. It recommends that operators do not operate in Somali airspace at or below that level. Flight level 260 is about 26,000 feet, so every descent to a Somali runway passes through the whole band;
– Summaries of other authorities' positions put the American regulator's prohibition for US operators at the same level, and the United Kingdom's advice to its operators at 25,000 feet above the ground;
– A landing would also need a handler, fuel and insurance that can be named in writing. We have not been able to verify cover for a business jet, so we do not promise it.
That settles the apparent contradiction. Aircraft do cross the country above that level, and the bulletin, which concerns flight level 260 and below, does not treat crossing the top in the same way as landing. Scheduled airlines serve Mogadishu and Hargeisa under their own arrangements and risk acceptance. A private charter arranged from Britain is a different proposition, and we do not offer one.
any airfield, including Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Berberanot arranged
the bulletins concern the levels at and below flight level 260; whether to cross above them is the operator's decision, not the passenger'soperator decision
London to Addis Ababa, Djibouti or Nairobi, priced in the tables belowquoted
a scheduled service booked by the passenger, or a decision for the passenger and the insurer alonenot our charter
A second problem in the same airspace
Somalia says it controls the whole of the Mogadishu flight information region. Somaliland, which governs itself but is not internationally recognised, has declared its right to control the airspace above its own territory. An airline operations advisory group has reported that both sides have claimed authority over the region, that crews were given conflicting climb and descent clearances by a unit that was not the sector controller on the same frequency, and that at least ten such reports reached it over a single weekend. The same advisory group says Somaliland requires prior permission from its own civil aviation authority for every flight, while Somalia has told operators through a notice to follow its own aeronautical publication.
For a passenger that means two authorities may each claim to issue the permit for the same flight. We report this as published and cannot say how it develops, which is one more reason the page keeps to the gateways.
If your plans take you into Somalia against Foreign Office advice, that is a decision for you and your insurer, and travel insurance can be invalidated by it. The Foreign Office adds that its support is severely limited, with no in-person help from staff at the British Embassy in Mogadishu or the British Office in Hargeisa. Our part is the first and longest stretch, to a gateway that works.
How long does it take to fly towards Somalia?
The straight line from London to Mogadishu is about 3,882 nautical miles, a flight of roughly eight hours for a long-range cabin if an approach were available, and Hargeisa is 3,441. The times that matter are those to the gateways. Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya all keep the same clock, three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time all year, so there is no adjustment on the way. These are the sectors from London Biggin Hill on the lowest-priced aircraft that flies them, gate to gate:
3,304 nautical miles, the lowest-priced of the three, tied with Djiboutiabout 7 h 50 min
3,304 nautical miles, the closest to Hargeisa and Berberaabout 7 h 50 min
3,822 nautical miles, the natural approach to Mogadishu and the southabout 9 h
Why the planned distance is not the map distance
Operators choose tracks that stay clear of the airspace their insurers and regulators advise against, so a planned distance is usually longer than the great-circle line. We quote the planned distance.
A Praetor 600 has a range of about 4,000 nautical miles, which leaves a comfortable margin to Addis Ababa and Djibouti and a thin one to Nairobi at 3,822. A strong headwind or a full cabin can put a stop into the Nairobi plan on the day.
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 towards Somalia
Typical one-way prices from Britain, cheapest first, to the three gateways. A Praetor 600 reaches all three without landing; the larger cabins in the table fly the same sectors for more money and more space. Every figure is for the whole aircraft, with two passengers as the basis:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| London Biggin Hill - Addis Ababa 3,304 nm / 6,119 km, nonstop |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £52,300 |
| London Biggin Hill - Djibouti 3,304 nm / 6,119 km, nonstop |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £52,300 |
| London Biggin Hill - Nairobi 3,822 nm / 7,078 km, nonstop |
Praetor 600 up to 9 |
from £60,150 |
| London Luton - Djibouti 3,335 nm / 6,176 km, nonstop |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £67,500 |
| London Luton - Addis Ababa 3,337 nm / 6,180 km, nonstop |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
from £67,550 |
| Manchester - Addis Ababa 3,451 nm / 6,391 km, nonstop |
Legacy 650 up to 13 |
from £73,750 |
| Birmingham - Addis Ababa 3,401 nm / 6,299 km, nonstop |
Falcon 900LX up to 12 |
from £85,400 |
| London Farnborough - Djibouti 3,329 nm / 6,165 km, nonstop |
Gulfstream G450 up to 13 |
from £88,000 |
| Edinburgh - Djibouti 3,565 nm / 6,602 km, nonstop |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £102,200 |
| London Luton - Nairobi 3,858 nm / 7,145 km, nonstop |
Global 6000 up to 13 |
from £105,250 |
| London Farnborough - Nairobi 3,841 nm / 7,114 km, nonstop |
Gulfstream G550 up to 16 |
from £109,750 |
| Manchester - Nairobi 3,974 nm / 7,360 km, nonstop |
Gulfstream G650ER up to 14 |
from £127,800 |
| Edinburgh - Nairobi 4,117 nm / 7,625 km, nonstop |
Global 7500 up to 14 |
from £142,500 |
What these figures leave out
– The gateway moves the price more than the airfield you leave from. From London Biggin Hill a Praetor 600 reaches Addis Ababa and Djibouti for about £52,300 each and Nairobi for about £60,150. Addis Ababa anchors this page because it ties for the lowest price and its national airline is listed on both Somali routes;
– Handling and landing charges at the gateway, permits and the handler's fee for them are quoted on top. The figures are one-way and include the empty flight home.
From the gateway to Mogadishu and Hargeisa
Distances show why people choose one gateway over another. They describe scheduled flights that other companies operate, and we do not sell them. The listings we found are summaries from aggregator and reference sites, so check the timetable before you book:
139 nautical miles, and 131 to Berbera. Air Djibouti is listed at both Hargeisa and Mogadishunorthern approach
328 nautical miles, and 594 to Mogadishu. Listings show Ethiopian Airlines on both routesboth cities, one airline
563 nautical miles. Listings show Kenya Airways and Somali carriers on the routesouthern approach
Private jet flights between the gateways
Some parties split the journey between two cities. Addis Ababa to Djibouti is 312 nautical miles, Addis Ababa to Nairobi 653, Djibouti to Nairobi 892. The figures below show the scale of each hop and are not a firm price, because a regional leg is quoted by the operator who will fly it:
| Route | Aircraft | Flight time | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa - Djibouti 312 nm / 578 km |
Citation XLS+ up to 9 |
about 1 h 15 min | from £6,800 |
| Addis Ababa - Nairobi 653 nm / 1,209 km |
Citation Latitude up to 9 |
about 2 h | from £14,300 |
| Djibouti - Nairobi 892 nm / 1,652 km |
Challenger 605 up to 12 |
about 2 h 30 min | from £20,300 |
Each country issues its own permit for named airports and dates, so a loop of gateways is applied for as one itinerary. Whether the aircraft that brings you from Britain may also carry you between two foreign capitals is confirmed in writing for each trip; where it may not, a local operator flies the regional leg.
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 the gateways:
Long range and ultra-long range
The cabins that fly Britain to Nairobi without any question about the margin, with a flat bed for a sector of nine hours.
Large cabins
The right size for a party of ten. Addis Ababa and Djibouti are within their range without landing.
Mid-size and Praetor
The Praetor 600 is the lowest-priced aircraft we plan to Addis Ababa and Djibouti. Smaller cabins do not reach the gateways from Britain without landing.
Light jets and turboprops
Not for the journey from Britain. They suit short regional hops between the gateways, where the operator sets the rate.
For a sector of this length we look for an aircraft positioned in Britain or the Gulf with enough crew duty time, so the dates should reach us while they can still move.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight towards Somalia 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
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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 for Somalia: the gateways and the Somali fields
The first three rows are where our flights go. The last three are listed so that the picture is complete, and the hours are converted from the UTC times in the data:
| Airport | Ground | How it operates |
|---|---|---|
| Addis Ababa Bole HAAB / ADD |
about 6 to 8 km south-east of the city, at 2,334 metres above sea level | Two parallel runways, 07R/25L of 3,800 metres and 07L/25R of 3,700, with customs and immigration round the clock, no slot requirement and mandatory handling. Aviation data lists every flight as needing prior permission, and a landing permit is issued by the civil aviation authority, usually after about 72 working hours. S B Man & Co is listed as a handler. Our lowest price is built on it |
| Djibouti Ambouli HDAM / JIB |
about 6 km from the city | One runway, 09/27, of about 3,150 metres, open round the clock with customs on site, no slot requirement and handling that is not mandatory. It is shared with military users, and we found no dedicated business aviation terminal. A landing permit is reported to take 24 to 48 working hours and to be valid for 24 hours |
| Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta HKJK / NBO |
about 18 km south-east of the city, at 1,624 metres above sea level | One runway, 06/24, of 4,117 metres, open round the clock with customs. Slots are coordinated and handling is mandatory. G.A.S. Kenya, Africa Aviation Executive Services, Jetmate Aviation and FCG Ops Africa are listed among the companies that handle business aircraft. Permits take about 72 working hours and are valid for a window of 72 hours |
| Mogadishu Aden Adde MGQ / HCMM |
about 4 km south-west of the city | One runway, 05/23, listed at between roughly 3,200 and 3,600 metres in different sources. Operations are listed from 06:00 to 18:00 local time, with the tower open until 22:00. Customs, mandatory handling and required slots are listed, and the authority's prior permission applies. Foreign Office advice mentions rocket attacks on the airport among its examples. We do not arrange charters to it |
| Hargeisa Egal HGA / HCMH |
about 5 km south-east of the city, at about 1,360 metres above sea level | One runway, 06/24, of about 3,700 metres, with operations listed from about 06:15 to 18:00 local time, not round the clock. Customs is available and slots are listed as not required. The prior permission position is disputed, as described above. We do not arrange charters to it |
| Berbera BBO / HCMI |
on the coast of Somaliland | A runway of about 4,100 metres, listed in reference sources as public and military. We have not verified civil business aviation handling, fuel or customs there, and we do not quote sectors to it |
A permit in the gateway country
Djibouti reports 24 to 48 working hours, Ethiopia and Kenya about 72 working hours each. The longest lead time sets the date, and requests for a weekend are usually filed earlier in the week.
The onward step is not ours
A scheduled flight to Mogadishu or Hargeisa is booked and insured by the passenger. Schedules change at short notice, so allow a flexible ticket.
Entering Somalia and the gateways: visas, health and what to carry
The Foreign Office entry page for Somalia applies to British citizens on a full British passport who travel despite its advice:
A visa is required, including for Somaliland. For Mogadishu the Foreign Office says to apply for an eVisa before arrival. At Hargeisa the eVisa may be asked for at boarding but is not valid for entry, and a single-entry visa valid for one month is bought on arrivalbefore departure
Valid for at least six months after the date of arrival, in Somaliland as wellevery passenger
Declare goods that may be prohibited or taxable. Khat is legal in Somalia but taking it out is a criminal offence. In Somaliland, cash of 10,000 US dollars or more must be declaredat the airport
What the Foreign Office says about the country itself
It describes a very likely threat of terrorist attacks across Somalia, including Somaliland, with hotels, government buildings and transport hubs among the possible targets, and a high threat of kidnapping throughout the country, in which British nationals are seen as legitimate targets.
Support from the Foreign Office is severely limited. For urgent help in Somalia excluding Somaliland the contact is the British High Commission in Nairobi, and for Somaliland the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. The number for concern about a British national is 020 7008 5000.
For the gateways the position is simpler. Ethiopia issues an e-visa online and wants a passport valid for six months after arrival. Djibouti requires a visa, bought on arrival or online as an e-visa, and also a passport valid for six months. Kenya requires an electronic travel authorisation applied for online, ideally two weeks ahead, with a passport valid for six months. Confirm each on the Foreign Office page for that country before the flight.
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, and British and Irish citizens need no electronic travel authorisation for Britain. The first landing must be at an aerodrome that is regulated for customs, since a landing at an unregulated one carries a fine of £2,500.
Flying to the gateways with a dog or a cat
We do not fly animals to Somalia. The published rules for it are thin and partly contradictory, and Somaliland may apply its own procedures. A relocation company's guide lists a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 30 days before travel, an international veterinary certificate issued within about ten days of departure, and an import permit that may be needed. The same guide contradicts itself on quarantine, so we treat it as a reason to stop, not a route.
What the gateways ask for on the way in
Kenya asks for a 15-digit microchip, a rabies vaccination between 21 days and 12 months before entry, an inspection and parasite treatment within 48 hours of travel, an import permit in advance and entry through Jomo Kenyatta. Ethiopia asks for an import permit from its agriculture ministry, a rabies vaccination 30 days to 12 months old and entry through Bole. Djibouti asks for a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, a certificate from an official vet within ten days and a permit for every dog.
The published guidance is general, partly drawn from relocation companies, and the sources differ on details, so the entry airport and the paperwork are confirmed in writing for your dates before the animal is booked.
None of the three is, as we understand it, among the countries from which Britain accepts a pet on simpler terms. From such a country a dog or a cat needs a Great Britain pet health certificate and a rabies blood test, taken at least 30 days after the vaccination with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher, followed by a wait of three months from the sample date. A dog also needs a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival, and an animal that does not meet the rules can be quarantined for up to four months. Because the blood test stays valid while the vaccinations are current, the sample is best taken at home months before the trip.
Other destinations, and the general rules for travelling with an animal on a private jet, are set out on our flying with pets guide.
Empty Legs
An empty leg is a flight the operator has to make anyway, with the cabin vacant, and so it is priced low rather than flown for nothing. On a sector this long the saving in cash is large, and so is the catch.
Why empty legs towards Somalia are scarce
– An aircraft that delivers a party to a gateway usually leaves again at once, so the westbound legs are the useful ones;
– The aircraft is seldom in the right place: a leg from Nairobi to Manchester suits a client in Nairobi and not one in Djibouti;
– A permit goes with the date and the airport, so a leg that moves by a day can mean a new one.
Clients who offer a week instead of a day match most often. Whatever is free is listed on our empty legs page. A selection of empty legs to and from the gateways follows, at roughly 40 percent of a fresh charter:
| Route | Aircraft | Capacity | Whole aircraft |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK (London Biggin Hill) - Addis Ababa | Praetor 600 | 9 seats | £21,950 |
| Addis Ababa - UK (London Luton) | Challenger 605 | 12 seats | £28,350 |
| UK (Birmingham) - Djibouti | Challenger 605 | 12 seats | £28,900 |
| Djibouti - UK (Manchester) | Gulfstream G450 | 13 seats | £38,200 |
| Nairobi - UK (London Luton) | Falcon 900LX | 12 seats | £40,450 |
| Nairobi - UK (London Biggin Hill) | Global 6000 | 13 seats | £43,800 |
| UK (London Farnborough) - Nairobi | Gulfstream G550 | 16 seats | £46,100 |
The price covers the whole aircraft, not a seat: a Gulfstream G450 from Djibouti to Manchester with six aboard comes to about £6,350 a head.
Helicopter charter
We do not arrange helicopter charter in Somalia, and the bulletins above concern exactly the low levels at which a helicopter flies. At the gateways we have not verified a civil helicopter operator that we can name for a visiting party, and we say so rather than guess.
Flights from the UK towards Somalia
London sends most of the traffic on this route, with Manchester, Birmingham and the Scottish airfields behind it; the price table higher up covers thirteen pairings across Addis Ababa, Djibouti and Nairobi. 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 |
Charters towards Somalia from the booking notes: six typical trips
The six trips below are typical jobs assembled from booking notes with the details changed, so none of them is one named client or one date.
ADDIS ABABA · THE LOWEST-PRICED WAY IN
Two consultants with a fortnight of meetings
London Biggin Hill - Addis Ababa, Praetor 600 nonstop, about 7 h 50 min · 4 pax
They expected to need a stop on the way and did not. The aircraft landed at Bole, the permit had been filed a week ahead, and the onward tickets were booked by the client once the visas were in the passports.
DJIBOUTI · THE NORTHERN APPROACH
A delegation that needed to be near Hargeisa
London Farnborough - Djibouti, Gulfstream G550 nonstop, about 7 h 20 min · 8 pax
The party spent a night in Djibouti while the visas for the next stage were confirmed. The charter ended at the gateway, as agreed in the quote.
NAIROBI · A FAMILY TRIP
Three generations travelling to see relatives
London Biggin Hill - Nairobi, Gulfstream G650ER nonstop, about 8 h 10 min · 10 pax
The cabin was chosen for the length of the flight and for the margin, and the electronic travel authorisations were applied for first, because each one needs the passport number of every traveller.
A REQUEST TO LAND IN MOGADISHU
A client who asked for a charter to the capital
London to Nairobi, then a scheduled flight booked by the client · 3 pax
We explained the Foreign Office advice and the aviation bulletins and said plainly that we do not arrange a landing in Somalia. The client flew with us to Nairobi and made the onward decision there, on their own insurance and responsibility.
PETS · TWO DOGS TO DJIBOUTI
A relocation with two dogs
London Farnborough - Djibouti, Gulfstream G450 nonstop, about 7 h 45 min · 2 pax and two dogs
The import permit and the health certificates were arranged first. Coming home, the dogs needed the blood test and the three-month wait, so the sample was taken before the outward flight.
EMPTY LEG · HOMEWARD FROM NAIROBI
A flexible return after a long stay
Nairobi - London Luton, Falcon 900LX empty leg, about 9 h 05 min · 5 pax
Offering a week in place of a date is what made this one work. The client paid about £40,450, roughly 40 percent of a fresh one-way charter on the same sector.
Frequently asked questions about flying towards Somalia
1Can a private jet from the UK land in Mogadishu or Hargeisa?
Private Jets UK does not arrange charters that land in Somalia. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to the country except three regions of Somaliland, where it advises against all but essential travel, and the European safety agency recommends that operators do not operate in Somali airspace at or below flight level 260, a band every descent passes through. We fly to Addis Ababa, Djibouti and Nairobi instead.
2Can aircraft fly over Somalia if they cannot land there?
Yes. The bulletins address the levels at and below flight level 260, so the airspace above it is not covered by their recommendation. Whether an operator crosses the country is that operator's decision.
3How much does a private jet towards Somalia cost?
From about £52,300 one way from London Biggin Hill to Addis Ababa on a Praetor 600, nonstop. Djibouti costs the same on that aircraft, and Nairobi about £60,150. Handling, permits and airport charges are quoted on top.
4How long does the flight take?
About 7 hours 50 minutes from London Biggin Hill to Addis Ababa in a Praetor 600, about 7 hours 50 minutes to Djibouti and about 9 hours to Nairobi. Somalia keeps a time zone three hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, the same as the three gateways.
5What does the Foreign Office say about travel to Somalia?
It advises against all travel to Somalia, including Somaliland, except the regions of Awdal, Maroodijeh and Sahil, where it advises against all but essential travel. It cites terrorist groups and continuing violence, a high threat of kidnapping, and says support from its staff is severely limited. Travel insurance can be invalidated by travel against its advice.
6Can my dog or cat travel with me to the gateways?
Yes, with planning, but not into Somalia. Nairobi, Addis Ababa and Djibouti each have their own import rules and permits. Coming home, none of the three is, as we understand it, on Britain's simpler list, so a rabies blood test and a three-month wait apply. We confirm the paperwork in writing before the flight.