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Private jet charter in Houston

London to Houston is roughly 4,370 to 4,390 nautical miles by the routes we plan, more than a super-midsize jet is published to fly, so the first decision on any quote is whether the aircraft crosses in one hop or two. Private Jets UK charters the aircraft that the crossing demands and the airfield that suits the passengers. 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. Houston has eight airfields worth a private party's attention, from Hobby, the closest to downtown, to Bush Intercontinental, Ellington beside NASA and Galveston on the coast, and the choice among them turns on the handler and the border officer's hours as much as on the runway.

 

private jet charter

 

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 Houston 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. On a sector of more than four thousand nautical miles the choice between a large-cabin jet that flies nonstop and a super-midsize with a stop in Newfoundland moves the price more than any other item. 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 Farnborough, an Embraer Praetor 600 with a stop at Gander, arrival at Houston Hobby 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 Houston?

A Global 6000 flies London to Houston nonstop in about 9 h 40 min from Farnborough, a little less from Edinburgh or Aberdeen. The routed distance to Hobby runs from 4,139 to 4,394 nautical miles depending on the British field. Embraer publishes a range of 3,900 nautical miles for the Praetor 600, quoted with four passengers, which falls short of the crossing by 239 to 494 nautical miles before any headwind. The Challenger 605 class is published at about 4,000, which misses every route by 139 to 394 nautical miles. Both therefore plan a stop at Gander in Newfoundland. A Challenger 350 is published at 3,200 and a Citation Latitude at about 2,500, which means two legs for the first and a tight second leg for the second. The Global 6000 is published at 6,000 and has 1,606 to 1,861 nautical miles in hand. Houston keeps Central time, six hours behind Britain for most of the year, so a morning departure lands before lunch. The times below assume the headwind the North Atlantic normally supplies on the way west. The table gives the sector from each British field we use.

Route Aircraft Flying time Routing
Edinburgh - Houston Hobby
4,172 nm / 7,727 km
Bombardier Global 6000 about 9 h 15 min Nonstop
Glasgow - Houston Hobby
4,181 nm / 7,743 km
Bombardier Challenger 605 about 10 h 10 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
Aberdeen - Houston Hobby
4,185 nm / 7,751 km
Bombardier Global 6000 about 9 h 20 min Nonstop
Manchester - Houston Hobby
4,265 nm / 7,899 km
Gulfstream G550 about 9 h 30 min Nonstop
Newcastle - Houston Hobby
4,286 nm / 7,938 km
Embraer Praetor 600 about 10 h 25 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
Bristol - Houston Hobby
4,294 nm / 7,952 km
Bombardier Global 6000 about 9 h 35 min Nonstop
Birmingham - Houston Hobby
4,322 nm / 8,004 km
Bombardier Challenger 605 about 10 h 30 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
Southampton - Houston Hobby
4,363 nm / 8,080 km
Embraer Praetor 600 about 10 h 40 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
Farnborough - Houston Hobby
4,379 nm / 8,110 km
Embraer Praetor 600 about 10 h 40 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
London Luton - Houston Hobby
4,383 nm / 8,117 km
Bombardier Challenger 350 about 10 h 40 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
London Stansted - Houston Hobby
4,405 nm / 8,158 km
Bombardier Challenger 605 about 10 h 45 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander
Biggin Hill - Houston Hobby
4,408 nm / 8,164 km
Embraer Praetor 600 about 10 h 45 min plus a stop 1 stop, Gander

 

Door to door, and the clock on the wall

Leave Farnborough at nine in the morning, British time, and a Global 6000 lands at Hobby at about 12:40 Houston time, which leaves the afternoon free for a meeting downtown if the car is at the FBO door and the border officer is on duty. Hobby is 15 km from the city centre in a straight line, Bush Intercontinental 25 km and Ellington 26 km, while Sugar Land is 32 km away and Houston Executive 52 km, so the airport you pick changes the drive by half an hour or more. Coming home the sums run the other way. The eastbound crossing takes about 8 h 15 min in a Global 6000 with the wind behind, but it is normally flown overnight, so the party lands in Britain the next morning after a night in a seat.

Nonstop or one stop: the question that decides the aircraft

– A large-cabin long-range jet such as the Global 6000, a Gulfstream G550 or a G650ER flies London to Houston nonstop with room to spare. This is the answer for ten or more passengers, for long luggage lists and for anyone who values the time. It costs more, and from Luton the Global 6000 starts at £118,550;

– A super-midsize such as the Praetor 600, or a Challenger 605, is the value answer, flown with one stop at Gander. Gander lies close to the great-circle track and adds only about 7 to 61 nautical miles to the route depending on the starting field, but the stop costs an hour on the ground and a second landing. A Praetor via Gander from Farnborough starts at £70,950, against £118,550 for the Global 6000 nonstop. Gander is the stop we price because it sits on the track. A stop at Shannon would still leave a second leg of about 4,040 nautical miles, which does not cure the range problem, and Keflavik would add about 190 nautical miles to the total for a second leg of about 3,500;

– A Challenger 350 is published at 3,200 nautical miles against 4,139 to 4,394 for the whole trip, so it flies in two legs. A Citation Latitude can also be routed through Gander, but its second leg of 2,268 nautical miles sits close to a published 2,500, so we usually move that class up a size. Light jets and turboprops do not cross as a rule, and the smaller aircraft is booked locally for the Texas legs.

 

private jet rental

 

Prices for the private jet flights to Houston

Typical trips from Britain, cheapest first, all of them into Houston Hobby. The weeks of the rodeo in March, the energy conferences and the offshore technology show in May sit above these figures, and the calendar block further down explains when.

Route Aircraft Passengers Price, one way
Newcastle - Houston Hobby
4,286 nm via Gander
Embraer Praetor 600 9 from £69,500
Southampton - Houston Hobby
4,363 nm via Gander
Embraer Praetor 600 9 from £70,700
Farnborough - Houston Hobby
4,379 nm via Gander
Embraer Praetor 600 9 from £70,950
Biggin Hill - Houston Hobby
4,408 nm via Gander
Embraer Praetor 600 9 from £71,350
London Luton - Houston Hobby
4,383 nm via Gander
Bombardier Challenger 350 9 from £83,500
Glasgow - Houston Hobby
4,181 nm via Gander
Bombardier Challenger 605 12 from £86,950
Birmingham - Houston Hobby
4,322 nm via Gander
Bombardier Challenger 605 12 from £89,650
London Stansted - Houston Hobby
4,405 nm via Gander
Bombardier Challenger 605 12 from £91,250
Edinburgh - Houston Hobby
4,172 nm
Bombardier Global 6000 13 from £113,450
Aberdeen - Houston Hobby
4,185 nm
Bombardier Global 6000 13 from £113,800
Bristol - Houston Hobby
4,294 nm
Bombardier Global 6000 13 from £116,650
Manchester - Houston Hobby
4,265 nm
Gulfstream G550 16 from £121,300

 

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:

 

 

 

Private jet flights from Houston

Houston is a gateway to Texas as well as a destination. Austin and San Antonio are each under an hour away in a turboprop, Dallas is a short hop north, and the way home is the same crossing as the way out, with the wind on the tail. Typical one-way prices:

Route Aircraft Price, one way
SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS · THE STATE CAPITAL AND THE ALAMO CITY
Houston Hobby - Austin-Bergstrom
134 nm
Pilatus PC-12 NGX
up to 9 passengers
from £3,100
Houston Hobby - San Antonio International
173 nm
Pilatus PC-12 NGX
up to 9 passengers
from £3,100
NORTH TEXAS · THE DALLAS-FORT WORTH SIDE
Houston Hobby - Dallas Love Field
217 nm
Cessna Citation CJ3+
up to 7 passengers
from £5,300
THE WAY HOME · BACK ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Houston Hobby - London Farnborough
4,366 nm, the homeward leg
Bombardier Global 6000
up to 13 passengers
from £118,550

 

Why the short legs are the cheap part

A trip to Houston is priced as one long crossing and a few short hops, and the hops cost a fraction of the crossing. A flight from Hobby to Austin in a Pilatus PC-12 starts at £3,100, against £70,950 for the Atlantic leg in a Praetor 600 from Farnborough, so a day in the state capital barely changes the total. The sensible way to plan it is to book the larger aircraft for the ocean and ask us to quote the turboprop or the light jet separately, since an aircraft based in Texas will almost always beat a transatlantic jet left on the apron for the week.

Before you accept an onward quote

– Which tower is open. Houston Executive's tower runs 07:00 to 21:00, Hooks lists 07:00 to 22:00, Sugar Land 06:00 to 22:00 and Galveston 06:00 to 18:00, while Hobby, Bush Intercontinental and Ellington list continuous attendance. Outside the tower hours a field works without one, and Galveston's early close matters for an evening departure;

– Where customs is. A leg from Hobby to Austin, San Antonio or Dallas is a domestic flight with no border check, but a party that lands first at Houston Executive or Hooks from abroad has a problem, because the sources we use list no customs service at either field. Hobby, Bush, Ellington and Galveston are listed with customs landing rights, Sugar Land and Conroe are user fee airports, and the border is cleared at one of those first;

– Who is allowed to fly it. The United States treats a charter between two American points as a domestic job. A non-US aircraft may carry passengers between two US points only if they arrived on it from abroad or are leaving on it for abroad, so the jet that brought you from London can take you on to Austin, while a hop for another party is normally flown by a US-registered aircraft. Each US leg flown by a foreign aircraft also needs its own permit to proceed from customs.

 

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:

Turbopropsfrom £850/h
Small jet£1,700 - 2,500/h
Light jet£2,100 - 3,000/h
Medium-sized jet (Citation XLS+, Hawker 800XP)£3,000 - 3,700/h
Large medium-class jet (Challenger 300)£4,600 - 5,500/h
Large jet (Legacy 600)£4,900 - 5,800/h
Long-haul jet (Global 5000, G550, Falcon 7X)£5,800 - 8,800/h
Business linersfrom £10,300/h

 

Prices for private jet flights

 

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 Houston run:

 

Long-range jets, nonstop

The way across without a stop. These types have the range for the crossing with plenty in hand, and they suit ten or more passengers and long luggage lists.

Bombardier Global 6000 · 13 seatsfrom £6,400/h
Gulfstream G550 · 16 seatsfrom £6,700/h
Gulfstream G650ER · 14 seatsfrom £7,700/h
Bombardier Global 7500 · 14 seatsfrom £8,300/h

Super-midsize and large-cabin jets, via Gander

The value route for four to nine people who accept an hour on the ground in Newfoundland. The published range of these types is shorter than the crossing, so the stop is part of the plan and not a precaution.

Embraer Praetor 600 · 9 seatsfrom £3,400/h
Bombardier Challenger 605 · 12 seatsfrom £4,350/h

Midsize jets, with a stop at Gander

A smaller cabin for four to eight people. A Challenger 350 and a Latitude cannot fly the whole way, so the quote includes the stop, and we confirm with the operator which aircraft it will be.

Cessna Citation Latitude · 9 seatsfrom £3,900/h
Bombardier Challenger 350 · 9 seatsfrom £4,000/h

Light jets and turboprops, for Texas

Not for the Atlantic, but the right aircraft once you are there: Austin and San Antonio are each under an hour away, and Galveston is a short hop from Hobby or Ellington.

Cessna Citation CJ3+ · 7 seatsfrom £2,400/h
Embraer Phenom 300E · 8 seatsfrom £2,600/h
Pilatus PC-12 NGX · 9 seatsfrom £1,400/h
Beechcraft King Air 350 · 9 seatsfrom £1,650/h

Helicopters

For the last stretch and not for the crossing: a transfer between airport and venue, or from the city to the coast, across a metropolitan area that is a long drive from end to end. A landing site outside an aerodrome is agreed before the quote, so the request goes in early.

Airbus H125 · 5 seatson request
Airbus H130 · 6 seatson request
Airbus H135 · 6 seatson request
Bell 429 · 6 seatson request

 

online private jet directory

 

This is a small part of what is available. Aircraft that can cross the Atlantic with a Houston load are fewer than the ones that serve Europe, and their positions change daily, so a long-range jet already waiting in London is often cheaper than one that must first be brought over from North America. Houston works the other way round: a jet that is going back across the ocean anyway can sometimes be had on better terms for the eastbound leg.

 

How to book a private jet?

You can book a private jet flight to Houston in 6 easy steps:

  1. Flight request - indicating the route and your preferences for the model of business jet and other points.
  2. Coordination of flight details - our consultant will contact you to offer the possible flight options and answer all your questions.
  3. Commercial offer - we will send you a final offer on a specific model taking into account all your wishes.
  4. Signing of the contract.
  5. Payment for the flight and booking a business jet.
  6. 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 Houston

Eight airfields matter to a private party in the Houston area, and they are not interchangeable. Hobby sits closest to downtown, Bush Intercontinental is the airline hub with two handlers, Ellington lies beside NASA, and the others are strung out around a metropolitan area that takes an hour to cross by road, so it helps to know which is which before a quote arrives with one of them in it.

Airport What it gives you
William P. Hobby
HOU / KHOU
The default for a party that wants downtown Houston, and the airport the prices on this page are built on. It lies about 15 km from the city centre in a straight line, with runways of 7,602 ft (2,317 m) on 04/22 and on 13R/31L, a Category II/III ILS on runway 04, an ILS at both ends of 13R/31L and a shorter runway of 5,148 ft. Six handlers share the field: Wilson Air Center, Million Air Houston, Jet Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, Signature and Galaxy FBO. It is listed with customs landing rights, and the CBP fact sheet we work from lists inspection seven days a week, 24 hours a day. An aircraft with a wingspan over 125 ft needs permission from airport operations 24 hours ahead, which is unlikely to affect any of the types on this page
George Bush Intercontinental
IAH / KIAH
The airline hub, about 25 km north of the city centre, with five runways between 9,000 ft and 12,001 ft (3,658 m) and ILS approaches on most of the runway ends. Atlantic Aviation and Signature are the two handlers. Atlantic describes customs and immigration as handled on site within its terminal, so international charters do not use the airline terminal, and it sits on the south-east side of the field, closest to the airline terminals. The field is open around the clock, and a handling database lists neither a slot requirement nor a curfew. A customs landing rights request for a general aviation flight is shown with two hours' notice. It suits a party connecting with an airline flight, a heavy long-range jet that wants the longest runway, or anyone bound for the north of the city
Ellington
EFD / KEFD
About 26 km south-east of the city centre and about 9 km from the Johnson Space Center, with runways of 9,001 ft (2,744 m) and 8,001 ft and a third of 4,609 ft. Signature Aviation is the handler, and a self-service fuel station operates beside it. The field is listed with customs landing rights. It is shared with NASA and the military, and it holds a licence as a commercial spaceport. The airport data lists a restriction that jets make straight-in, full-stop landings only between 22:00 and 07:00, with a longer window on Sundays, and unscheduled airline operations need prior permission. The natural field for the Space Center, the Clear Lake area and the Galveston side of the metropolitan area
Sugar Land Regional
SGR / KSGR
About 32 km south-west of the city centre, with one runway of 8,000 ft (2,438 m) and an ILS to runway 35. GlobalSelect is the handler. The tower runs 06:00 to 22:00 and the field is attended from 05:00 to 23:00. It is a user fee airport for customs, with a ramp fee that is waived with a fuel purchase, and noise abatement procedures apply. A good choice for the south-western suburbs and for a party that prefers a quiet field to a busy one
Houston Executive
TME / KTME
About 52 km west of the city centre, with one runway of 6,610 ft (2,015 m), no ILS and GPS approaches only. Henriksen Jet Center is the handler. The tower runs 07:00 to 21:00, and a noise-sensitive area east of the field means departures avoid the housing area. It is used mainly by oil and gas companies. No customs service is listed, so an arrival from abroad clears at another field first, and the runway is short for a heavy long-range jet. It suits a domestic hop or a light jet to the western suburbs
David Wayne Hooks Memorial
DWH / KDWH
About 38 km north-west of the city centre, with a runway of 7,009 ft (2,136 m), no ILS and a localizer approach. The tower runs 07:00 to 22:00. Gill Aviation is the handler, and the field has four helicopter pads. Aircraft over 25,000 lb are limited to certain taxiways and ramps, and no customs service is listed. A reasonable choice for a light or midsize jet to Tomball and the north-western suburbs, and not for a transatlantic arrival
Conroe-North Houston Regional
CXO / KCXO
About 67 km north of the city centre, beyond The Woodlands, with a runway of 7,501 ft (2,286 m) and an ILS at both ends. General Aviation Jet Services and Galaxy FBO are the handlers. The tower runs 06:00 to 21:00, and the airport is listed as an international airport with a customs user fee. It is the only one of the smaller northern fields with a customs line, so it works for The Woodlands and the north at the price of the longest drive of the metropolitan fields
Scholes Field, Galveston
GLS / KGLS
On the island about 73 km south-east of the Houston city centre and 3 miles from Galveston itself, with two runways of about 6,000 ft (1,829 m) and an ILS to runway 14. Island Jet Center is the handler. The tower runs 06:00 to 18:00, the field is listed with customs landing rights, and it also serves offshore energy transport. The natural field for the cruise terminals, the beach and the Strand, and the one to check twice for an evening arrival

 

Four details decide most Houston arrivals:

Choose the field and the handler

Hobby has six handlers, Bush Intercontinental and Conroe two each, and the other fields one. They differ in lounge, fees and car access, so we put your preference, or the operator's, in writing. A driver told only Houston may wait at the wrong airport, and the field and the handler's name go on the transfer order.

Hours, slots and noise

None of the sources we work from lists a slot scheme for business jets at Hobby or Bush; the controls are time and noise. Ellington restricts jets to straight-in landings at night, Houston Executive and Sugar Land ask for noise-sensitive departures, and Galveston's tower closes at 18:00. We check the hours before we quote.

Border and passport

British citizens travel on an ESTA and a valid passport, and the crew and passenger details are filed with the US border service before departure from Britain. Officers clear the party at the ramp or the office, and we and the handler arrange it beforehand. Details are in the border section below.

Car and late nights

A car from the terminal is the normal plan, and we book it with the handler so the driver is waiting at the right door. If the flight lands late, tell us early: a field with a short tower day or no customs officer on duty can decide the airport, and Hobby, where the fact sheet lists inspection around the clock, is the safest default.

 

business aviation

 

Border, passport and US customs

Landing in Houston from Britain means a full US border check for everyone on board, with no shortcut for a private flight. British passport holders travel under the Visa Waiver Programme: an approved ESTA allows a stay of up to 90 days for business or tourism, and the passport must stay valid for the whole trip. The ESTA is a permission to board, not a promise of entry, because the officer at the airport makes the final decision. Trouble tends to come from an arrest on record, even one without a conviction, from an earlier overstay, or from work done for an American employer, and a traveller with any of these on file is better off applying for a visa in good time. A business trip to an oil company or a hospital is still a visit, but work performed for a Texas employer is not, so the purpose of the trip should be stated honestly. Make the ESTA application early and only through the official government site. On a private aircraft the ESTA normally works only if the operator holds Visa Waiver Program carrier status, which we check before we quote.

 

passport and customs paperwork for a private jet flight

 

The aircraft has its own list of steps, which the operator and the handler carry out. The pilot in command files the passenger and crew manifest with the US border service through its electronic system no later than 60 minutes before leaving Britain, and the approval has to be in hand before the wheels turn. That approval does not allow the aircraft to land; landing rights come separately from CBP. At Hobby the fact sheet we work from asks the pilot to contact CBP at least one hour before departure from the foreign airport and at least two hours before the expected arrival, with a tolerance of 30 minutes either way, and a changed arrival time outside that window voids the permission and means asking again. The aircraft parks at the CBP ramp, which is not attached to the main terminal, and the crew and passengers are cleared on the ramp or inside the CBP facility of the FBO. Passports, any visas, the pilot's licence and medical certificate, the aircraft registration and the user fee decal are shown, and the crew puts regulated waste in the bins provided there. We confirm the procedure with the operator for each trip, because the text in force matters and a memory of last season does not.

At Hobby the hours are the easy part. The fact sheet lists inspection seven days a week, around the clock, and asks for a request by email for an overnight arrival. Bush Intercontinental is listed with customs landing rights and a two-hour request for general aviation, and its main handler says customs is on site, but we did not find a published office schedule and ask the officer for the day. Ellington and Galveston are listed with customs landing rights, Sugar Land and Conroe are user fee airports, and Houston Executive and Hooks list no customs at all. We do not assume that an officer is on duty at the hour you land at any of them; we ask, and put the answer in the quote.

The flight home has its own paperwork. British and Irish citizens walk in without any permission, and most other visitors who need no visa must hold a UK electronic travel authorisation. The aircraft is declared on a General Aviation Report, which goes to the UK authorities between 48 hours and two hours before it leaves Houston. Mistakes cost money: £2,500 for a first landing at an aerodrome outside the regulated list, and £2,000 for each passenger carried without permission. The operator and the handler file the report, and we check that it has been accepted.

 

From the apron to downtown Houston

Houston is one sprawling city with the airports spread around it, and the airport you choose decides which side of it you start on. The figures below are straight-line distances from the centre of Houston, which understate the drive but show the order of things.

Hobby to downtown
the closest of the business fields, on the south-east side of the city
about 15 km
Bush Intercontinental to downtown
to the north, the airline hub with customs on site at its main handler
about 25 km
Ellington to downtown
to the south-east, beside NASA and the Clear Lake side
about 26 km
Sugar Land to downtown
to the south-west, a quiet field for the suburbs
about 32 km
Hooks to downtown
to the north-west, for light and midsize jets
about 38 km
Houston Executive to downtown
far to the west, built for the oil and gas companies
about 52 km
Conroe to downtown
to the north beyond The Woodlands, with customs
about 67 km
Galveston to downtown
on the island, for the cruise terminals and the beach
about 73 km

 

Flying to Houston with a dog or a cat

The United States asks for little paperwork on the way in and more on the way home. The animal sits with you in the cabin, and the crossing is long enough that most dogs sleep through it, though a flight with a stop at Gander adds an hour on the ground. What matters is the timing of three documents: the CDC import receipt for a dog, the rabies certificate that Texas wants to see, and the certificate for the return to Britain, which has a short life.

 

private flight with animals

 

What the two countries ask for:

  • For a dog, a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, which is free and covers one dog. The United Kingdom is not on the CDC list of countries at high risk for dog rabies, so the lighter rules apply: the dog must look healthy on arrival, be at least six months old and carry a microchip that a universal scanner can read. A dog from such a country may enter through any port of entry, so Hobby and Bush Intercontinental both work;
  • Texas requires dogs and cats of 12 weeks and older to be vaccinated against rabies and to travel with a certificate that shows the date, the vaccine, the date of the next dose, the animal's identification and the vet's signature. The vaccine counts only after 30 days have passed since the first dose. Texas law does not require a health certificate; airlines usually do, and a charter operator may ask for one, so we confirm that with the crew;
  • For the return to Britain, the United States is a "part 2" listed country: a Great Britain pet health certificate completed by an official vet and dated in the ten days before arrival, with a pet passport or animal health certificate not accepted. The rabies vaccination must be at least 21 days old, and the microchip must have been fitted before or at the same time as the vaccine. The official text lists no blood test for these countries;
  • For dogs, a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival in Britain. Cats are exempt. No more than five animals per traveller.

What catches owners out on the Houston run

– The certificate for the way home has to be dated inside ten days of arrival, so a two-week stay means a vet appointment in Texas, and the tapeworm treatment has its own window of 24 to 120 hours before landing. A storm that delays the return by several days can push the flight outside both windows, so keep the vet's number and a spare day in mind during the summer and autumn;

– A dog under six months old cannot enter under the CDC rule, so a puppy is a reason to move the trip and not the paperwork;

– A day in Austin or on the coast means a second aircraft and a second operator. Check that the hotel, any helicopter and the turboprop operator each accept the animal, because each decides separately.

Requirements for cats, ferrets, birds and anything less usual are collected on our flying with pets guide, and our managers confirm the position in writing for your dates before a booking is taken. We also confirm in writing the entry point and the paperwork for the animal on the way back into Britain.

 

The Houston calendar: a rodeo, the energy shows and a hurricane season

Houston runs on energy, medicine and space, and the busy weeks follow the conference and rodeo calendar more than the school holidays. The weather is the other half of the plan: the Atlantic hurricane season covers the second half of the year, and it shapes how much slack a trip needs. Knowing which week you want matters more than choosing an aircraft.

March
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo fills NRG Park for about three weeks, with a rodeo and a concert every evening. It is billed as the largest livestock exhibition and rodeo in the world, and its attendance has passed 2.5 million in a season. In the same month CERAWeek by S&P Global brings energy chief executives, government officials and technology leaders to the Hilton Americas downtown for a week. Hotels, cars and aircraft parking tighten for both
May
The Offshore Technology Conference at NRG Park is the big week of the energy calendar. A typical large edition has drawn more than 90,000 people from about 130 countries and well over 2,000 exhibiting companies, and nearly all of them need to be in the city on the same few days
All year
The Texas Medical Center, south of the Museum District, is described as the largest medical complex in the world, and MD Anderson, inside it, as the largest cancer hospital. Patients and families fly in all year, and the date of the appointment sets the date of the flight, so a booking is often made at short notice
All year
The Johnson Space Center lies about 40 km south-east of downtown beside Clear Lake. Its visitor centre, Space Center Houston, has counted more than a million visitors in a year, and the Mission Control rooms and a Saturn V rocket are part of the tour. Ellington is the nearest of the business fields, and NASA flies its T-38 trainers from it
Late winter
Galveston holds its Mardi Gras festival on the Strand, and the port runs Caribbean cruises throughout the year. A cruise departure is the reason for a good share of the coastal charters, and the sailing time fixes the arrival, not the other way round
Autumn into winter
The Texans play at NRG Stadium, and the Rockets and the Astros fill other months of the year. A home game brings private parties in for the weekend, and the cars have to be waiting at the door
June to November
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. One storm in the past stalled over south-east Texas and left parts of the area with more than 50 inches of rain. A tropical system can close the airports and the coast roads for days, so we plan alternates, such as Austin or San Antonio, and a flexible return
Summer
Temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more on more than a hundred days a year, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Heat limits the performance of a heavy jet at the shorter runways, which is one more reason to leave the choice of field to the operator, and a morning departure for the Atlantic is the easier plan

 

Why an event week costs more

The hourly rate does not change in a rodeo or conference week; the supply does. Only a short list of aircraft can cross to Houston with a load, and the same aircraft are wanted by clients flying from New York and the continent. Parking, the better cars and crew duty hours tighten first. A booking made a fortnight before the March rodeo or the offshore show can still be done, but it costs more and may mean an aircraft ferried over empty. Five or six weeks of notice makes it simpler and cheaper, and outside the peaks a crossing can often be arranged within days.

 

Ways to bring the Houston price down

  • Pick the aircraft for the ocean, not for the cabin photographs. A super-midsize with a stop at Gander costs noticeably less than a long-range jet flying nonstop; for four to eight people who do not mind the hour on the ground it is the fair trade;
  • Ask where the aircraft is based. A long-range jet positioning from London needs less ferrying than one coming from Florida or the west coast, and on a transatlantic sector positioning is a large share of the bill;
  • Be flexible by a day or two. A flight that avoids the rodeo weeks and the big conferences is easier to price, and a return that fits an empty leg is cheaper than a fresh charter.

 

Types of flights

Houston produces its own mix of trips, because it is the energy capital of the country, a medical and space centre and a gateway to the Gulf coast at the same time.

  • Energy and industrial business, from board meetings to site visits, where the timing is fixed by a conference or a contract and the officer's hours at the airport are the main concern;
  • Medical trips to the Texas Medical Center, usually a small party at short notice, landing at Hobby for the shortest drive;
  • Space and technology visits to the Johnson Space Center and the companies around it, flown into Ellington or Hobby;
  • Rodeo, sporting and concert weekends, from the March livestock show to the football and basketball seasons, which tie the flight to a date set by the organisers;
  • Coastal and cruise trips to Galveston, with a car or a short helicopter hop from Hobby or Ellington;
  • Onward journeys to Austin, San Antonio and Dallas, using Houston as the port of entry to the United States and a lighter aircraft from there.

Look twice at one-way against return. At this distance a return inside a week is two full sectors plus the crew's rest and hotel in Texas, so we price both ways. On a stay of two or three days the aircraft usually waits in Houston and flies you home, which beats ferrying it back empty and fetching it again; after a week or more, two separate one-way charters are simpler than a jet standing idle.

 

Empty Legs

An empty leg is a flight the aircraft has to make anyway, with nobody paying for the seats, and it can be sold at a fraction of the normal price. On the Houston corridor the supply follows the calendar more than the traffic, so it helps to know where it comes from.

Where Houston empty legs come from

– Event weeks. Aircraft arrive full for the rodeo, CERAWeek or the offshore show and leave empty a day or two later, so the eastbound and onward sectors appear in the days after;

– Transatlantic positioning. A long-range jet that has taken a party from London to Houston often has to return, and that empty crossing is the one most worth looking for;

– Texas rotation. Aircraft based in the region move between Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, and the short legs between them can be cheap.

Few aircraft can make the crossing, so a client who can give three days has a far better chance than one who needs a particular evening. The discount costs you control: the operator owns the date and the hour, and a leg can vanish when the original booking moves. Whatever is free is listed on our empty legs page, and we flag a Houston match the day an operator releases it.

 

empty legs

 

Helicopter charter

In Houston a helicopter is a tool for the last stretch, for crossing a very large urban area and for the run to the coast, and not for the long haul. The distances are the reason: Hobby to Bush Intercontinental is 21 nautical miles, to Sugar Land 20 and to Galveston 32, and on a bad road day each of those is a long drive. Landing sites in a built-up area are limited, so most helicopter work starts at an airport or a prepared helipad. Hooks has four helicopter pads of its own, and helicopters also work on and around Galveston's Scholes Field.

Hobby to Galveston
a straight-line distance of about 32 nautical miles, for the cruise terminals and the beach
on request
Ellington to Galveston
about 26 nautical miles, the shortest crossing to the island from a business field
on request
Hobby to Bush Intercontinental
about 21 nautical miles across the city, for an onward airline connection
on request
Hobby to Sugar Land
about 20 nautical miles to the south-west, a quick hop to the suburbs
on request

Before you plan around a helicopter

– A helicopter cannot land wherever it likes. A hotel roof, a stadium car park or a private ranch needs its landing status and the owner's consent confirmed before the quote, not after;

– Weather sets the schedule. Summer thunderstorms, low cloud and the approach of a tropical system can ground a helicopter on a day when the jet lands without trouble, so a transfer needs a road alternative planned into the same day;

– On a rodeo or stadium day, book the helicopter together with the jet or expect to be told there is no rotary capacity, and agree the landing site for the way back as well as the way there.

For short transfers the usual choice is the Airbus H125, for hotel and ranch work the roomier H130, and where a twin is wanted the H135 or the Bell 429. We book the helicopter alongside the jet, so that both crews follow one timetable.

 

private helicopter flight

 

Flight payment options

The main goal of our company is to provide the highest level of comfort to our customers. Therefore, we're always ready to meet you halfway. Our consultants will offer you a wide variety of flights to meet your needs and budget. Most customers prefer a non-cash method (a transfer to an EU bank account), which guarantees a high level of confidentiality and security of payment. All payment details are provided in advance, so you'll have enough time to make the necessary checks. For years of working in business aviation, our company has gained an impeccable reputation. We practice transparency and are always ready to present all necessary documents.

Private Jets UK works with both physical and legal entities. We guarantee the confidentiality and security of payments. You can pay for the flights from Houston in any convenient way:

  • cashless (by transfer to our account);
  • by cash;
  • by card;
  • by cryptocurrency.

 

Our company works with European and British banks, which allows you to choose the most convenient payment method. In addition, we conclude formal agreements and provide our clients with all necessary documents and invoices, which guarantees the safe payment and delivery of services. If you have any financial questions, feel free to contact our private aviation consultants.

If you need to book an urgent flight, please keep in mind that the bank transfer can take a few days. In such situations, we may need to involve our partner companies so that you can pay for your flight in cash. If you have any questions, you can contact your personal consultant 24/7.

 

reservation and payment for a private jet flight

 

Flights from the UK to Houston

The long-range and large-cabin jets for Houston leave mostly from Farnborough, Biggin Hill, Luton and Stansted. Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow save a northern client the drive south and take about 60 to 230 nautical miles off the crossing. The price table higher up covers twelve 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

 

Houston charters from the booking notes: six typical trips

What the corridor looks like once a quote turns into a flight. Six typical jobs of the kind that come through our booking notes, described in outline, with the particulars changed.

NONSTOP · THE LONG-RANGE JET

Ten people and the whole Atlantic in one go

Farnborough - Houston Hobby, Bombardier Global 6000, about 9 h 40 min · 10 pax

An energy company party leaving mid-morning and landing in time for an afternoon meeting downtown. The reason for the Global was less the seats than the wish to cross without a stop. The border check at the airport was arranged beforehand, and the party was in the cars soon after the aircraft door opened.

GANDER STOP · THE VALUE ROUTE

Five people, a Praetor and an hour in Newfoundland

London Luton - Houston Hobby, Embraer Praetor 600, about 10 h 40 min plus a stop · 5 pax

A smaller party that preferred a super-midsize cabin and a lower price. The aircraft cannot reach Houston in one hop, so the quote included a stop at Gander, a turn of about an hour with fuel and a stretch of the legs. A Global was quicker but cost more, and nobody argued about the extra hours.

OFFSHORE SHOW WEEK · FIXED DATES

Four delegates for the May conference

London Stansted - Houston Hobby, Bombardier Challenger 605, about 10 h 45 min plus a stop · 4 pax

The dates were set by the conference and not by the client. Four people, a request for a car at the door and a firm return at the end of the week. The booking went in six weeks ahead, the handler pre-arranged the border check and the return was booked at the same time, which kept the aircraft and crew in Texas for the whole week.

MEDICAL CENTRE · A SHORT-NOTICE TRIP

A patient and two relatives for a consultation

Biggin Hill - Houston Hobby, Embraer Praetor 600, about 10 h 45 min plus a stop · 3 pax

The appointment at the Texas Medical Center fixed the date, and the notice was a few days. Hobby was chosen for the shortest drive to the hospital district, the car was booked with the handler and the aircraft waited in Houston for the return. The Gander stop was planned as a break on a long day and not as a delay.

A DOG ON BOARD · A STORM IN THE GULF

Three adults and a labrador for a ten-day stay

Edinburgh - Houston Hobby, Bombardier Global 6000, about 9 h 15 min · 3 pax + dog

The CDC receipt for the dog was printed before departure. The harder part was the way home: the Great Britain health certificate had to be dated inside ten days of arrival, and the tapeworm treatment had to fall between 24 and 120 hours before landing. A tropical system in the Gulf moved the return by a day, the family had a vet booked in Texas for the middle of the stay, and the dates were rechecked before the flight.

EMPTY LEG · THE WAY HOME

A jet already going your way

Houston Hobby - London Stansted, Bombardier Global 6000 empty leg, about 8 h 15 min · 4 pax

A long-range jet had delivered a party for a conference week and was flying back with nobody on board. The client offered a three-day window and not a fixed date, which is what makes these deals possible, and paid far less than for a fresh charter on an overnight eastbound departure that landed in time for breakfast.

 

Frequently asked questions about flying to Houston

1How long is a private jet flight from London to Houston?

About 9 h 40 min nonstop in a Global 6000 from Farnborough, and a little less from Edinburgh or Aberdeen. A Praetor 600 or a Challenger 605 is planned with a stop at Gander and takes about 10 h 40 min in the air plus an hour on the ground. The routed distance to Hobby is between 4,139 and 4,394 nautical miles depending on the British airfield, and Houston is six hours behind Britain for most of the year.

2How much does a private jet to Houston cost?

From about £70,950 one way for a Praetor 600 via Gander from Farnborough. A Global 6000 flying nonstop starts from about £118,550 from Farnborough, and a Challenger 350 with a stop at Gander from about £83,500 from Luton. The weeks of the March rodeo, CERAWeek and the May offshore show cost more, and an empty leg can cost far less. The calculator on this page gives an indicative figure for your dates.

3Which airport should a private jet use for Houston?

Hobby (HOU / KHOU) for most trips. It is about 15 km from downtown, has six handlers and a CBP fact sheet that lists inspection seven days a week, around the clock. Bush Intercontinental (IAH / KIAH) has two handlers and customs on site at Atlantic Aviation, and suits the north of the city. Ellington (EFD / KEFD) is the field for the Space Center and the coast, Sugar Land (SGR / KSGR) for the south-west, and Houston Executive and Hooks list no customs. We choose by your address and by customs hours.

4Can a midsize jet fly from London to Houston nonstop?

No. A Citation Latitude is rated at about 2,500 nautical miles and a Challenger 350 at 3,200, against 4,139 to 4,394 for the whole trip, so both stop at Gander. A Praetor 600, published at 3,900 nautical miles with four passengers, and a Challenger 605, at about 4,000, fall short of the crossing as well. The long-range jets, from the Global 6000 up, fly the route nonstop.

5Do British passengers need a visa or an ESTA to fly to Houston?

No visa is needed for up to 90 days of business or tourism, but every British passenger needs an approved ESTA and a passport valid for the whole stay. The ESTA does not guarantee entry, and work for a US company, an arrest or an earlier overstay can call for a visa instead. On a private aircraft the ESTA normally works only if the operator holds Visa Waiver Program carrier status, which we check before we quote. The pilot files the passenger manifest before departure and the officer clears the party at the ramp or the office. Use the official ESTA site only, and apply well before the flight.

6Can I take my dog to Houston on a private jet?

Yes, and the dog flies in the cabin with you. The way out needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt for a healthy, microchipped dog of at least six months. Texas also asks for a rabies vaccination for dogs and cats of 12 weeks and older, with a certificate, and it counts only after 30 days. The way home needs a Great Britain pet health certificate dated within ten days of arrival, a rabies vaccine at least 21 days old and, for a dog, a tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before landing. We confirm the entry point and the paperwork in writing for your dates.

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