Private jet charter in Samedan
A morning departure from a London field puts you on a runway 1,707 metres above sea level in not much more than an hour and a half, and the first thing a client has to accept is that the runway has views on who may land on it. Private Jets UK builds every Samedan charter around those rules, starting with which aircraft and which crew the airfield will take. 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. Samedan is the airfield for St. Moritz, a few kilometres up the valley: one runway, no instrument landing system, no night operation and a compulsory briefing for every pilot. It suits light and midsize jets flown by crews who have done their homework, and when it does not suit your aircraft or your hour, Zurich is the fallback, and from there the mountains are three to four hours away by road.
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 Samedan depends on many factors, such as the model of the business jet, the number of passengers, departure and destination airports, type of flight, duration of parking, additional services, etc. Therefore, we calculate the price of each order individually taking into account your wishes. You can use an online calculator to get an instant charter quote. Please indicate your real contact details to get the final calculation.
You can calculate the cost of your flight in several ways:
- using an online calculator on the website (however, it shows only the approximate price);
- via Messenger (WhatsApp or Telegram);
- by landline or cell phone;
- via e-mail (jets@private-jets.co.uk).
Please note that the above-mentioned price is indicative only. It is calculated on this basis: a departure from Biggin Hill, a Cessna Citation CJ3+ 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 Samedan?
1 hour 35 minutes from Biggin Hill or London City in a light jet, 2 hours 10 minutes from Glasgow in a Challenger, and one hour of clock difference to remember on arrival, because Switzerland keeps Central European time. At 502 to 805 nautical miles this is a middle-distance sector for a light jet, and what sets the schedule is not the flying but the daylight at the far end, because the airfield does not operate at night. The table gives the sector from each British field we use.
| Route | Aircraft | Flying time | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggin Hill - Samedan 502 nm / 930 km |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ | about 1 h 35 min | Nonstop |
| London City - Samedan 508 nm / 941 km |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ | about 1 h 35 min | Nonstop |
| Farnborough - Samedan 527 nm / 976 km |
Embraer Phenom 300E | about 1 h 30 min | Nonstop |
| London Luton - Samedan 534 nm / 989 km |
Embraer Phenom 300E | about 1 h 30 min | Nonstop |
| Southampton - Samedan 538 nm / 996 km |
Cessna Citation XLS+ | about 1 h 35 min | Nonstop |
| Birmingham - Samedan 598 nm / 1,107 km |
Cessna Citation XLS+ | about 1 h 45 min | Nonstop |
| Bristol - Samedan 598 nm / 1,107 km |
Cessna Citation XLS+ | about 1 h 45 min | Nonstop |
| Cardiff - Samedan 620 nm / 1,148 km |
Embraer Phenom 300E | about 1 h 45 min | Nonstop |
| Manchester - Samedan 647 nm / 1,198 km |
Cessna Citation Latitude | about 1 h 50 min | Nonstop |
| Leeds - Samedan 648 nm / 1,200 km |
Cessna Citation Latitude | about 1 h 50 min | Nonstop |
| Newcastle - Samedan 699 nm / 1,295 km |
Learjet 75 Liberty | about 2 h | Nonstop |
| Edinburgh - Samedan 781 nm / 1,446 km |
Bombardier Challenger 350 | about 2 h 05 min | Nonstop |
| Glasgow - Samedan 805 nm / 1,491 km |
Bombardier Challenger 350 | about 2 h 10 min | Nonstop |
Door to door, and the clock on the wall
Leave a London airfield at seven in the morning and you are on the ground at Samedan a little after half past nine local time. The road from the airport to St. Moritz is about 10 minutes, so a client who left central London at half past five can be sitting down to a late breakfast in St. Moritz by ten. Add the drive to the British airfield and the quick processing at both ends and the whole journey from central London to the Engadin comes to roughly three and a half hours, against a long day of flight, train and connection by scheduled service. The condition is the sun: in winter the airfield closes 30 minutes after sunset, so the return leg is planned backwards from dusk.
Light jet, midsize or something bigger: what the airfield allows
– Up to four people with ordinary bags, a light jet is the right answer. An hour and a half in a CJ3+ or a Phenom is no hardship, and the runway of 1,840 m is ample for the type, although the crew must still work out performance for air at 5,600 ft, which is thinner than at any British airport;
– Past four, or when the party travels with skis, polo boots, evening dress and a week of winter clothing, we quote a midsize alongside so that you see both figures. On this route the hold decides before the seat count does;
– The airport publishes no maximum weight or wingspan in its pilot briefing. The limits come from the runway, from the climb gradient out of the valley, which a business jet at full weight can find hard to meet in cloud, and from the noise class of the individual aircraft. In practice we treat a super-midsize cabin as the top of the sensible range and send anything larger to Zurich, unless the operator has flown the field before.
Prices for the private jet flights to Samedan
Typical trips from Britain, cheapest first, all of them into Samedan Engadin Airport. The weeks of the Snow Polo, White Turf, Christmas and New Year sit above these figures, and the calendar block further down explains when.
| Route | Aircraft | Passengers | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggin Hill - Samedan 502 nm |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ | 6 | from £7,550 |
| London City - Samedan 508 nm |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ | 6 | from £7,650 |
| Farnborough - Samedan 527 nm |
Embraer Phenom 300E | 7 | from £7,900 |
| London Luton - Samedan 534 nm |
Embraer Phenom 300E | 7 | from £8,000 |
| Cardiff - Samedan 620 nm |
Embraer Phenom 300E | 7 | from £9,000 |
| Southampton - Samedan 538 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ | 8 | from £9,950 |
| Birmingham - Samedan 598 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ | 8 | from £10,800 |
| Bristol - Samedan 598 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ | 8 | from £10,800 |
| Newcastle - Samedan 699 nm |
Learjet 75 Liberty | 7 | from £11,850 |
| Leeds - Samedan 648 nm |
Cessna Citation Latitude | 8 | from £14,200 |
| Manchester - Samedan 647 nm |
Cessna Citation Latitude | 8 | from £14,200 |
| Edinburgh - Samedan 781 nm |
Bombardier Challenger 350 | 8 | from £16,700 |
| Glasgow - Samedan 805 nm |
Bombardier Challenger 350 | 8 | from £17,100 |
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 Samedan
Leaving Samedan is a question of daylight as much as of destination. There is no night operation, and in winter the field closes 30 minutes after sunset, so most of the sectors out are short hops to the big airports, where a larger aircraft or a connection is waiting, and a few jet legs to the coast. Typical one-way prices:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| OVER THE ALPS · TURBOPROP HOPS TO THE BIG AIRPORTS | ||
| Samedan - Lugano 53 nm |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 passengers |
from £3,100 |
| Samedan - Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance 73 nm |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 passengers |
from £3,100 |
| Samedan - Milan Linate 73 nm |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 passengers |
from £3,100 |
| Samedan - Innsbruck 77 nm |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 passengers |
from £3,100 |
| Samedan - Zurich 81 nm |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 passengers |
from £3,100 |
| Samedan - Sion, Valais 112 nm |
Pilatus PC-12 NGX up to 9 passengers |
from £3,100 |
| FURTHER AFIELD · BY LIGHT JET | ||
| Samedan - Nice 215 nm |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ up to 7 passengers |
from £5,300 |
| Samedan - Paris Le Bourget 347 nm |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ up to 7 passengers |
from £5,750 |
Plan the flight out backwards from the sunset
The airport's pilot briefing gives its hours as 06:00 to 17:00 UTC in summer and 07:00 UTC to 30 minutes after sunset in winter, with no night operation and no runway or approach lighting. It also closes the runway to arrivals for the larger approach categories when visibility is under 5 km or the cloud base is below 2,200 ft, and to everything when visibility is under 1,500 m or the ceiling is under 500 ft. All instrument approaches are satellite-based, with no ILS, and the Maloja wind that blows down the valley can reach 20 to 30 knots in the day. So the return leg leaves early, and a good plan always carries fuel for Zurich or Milan, as flight-planning guidance for the field advises.
Before you accept a Samedan quote
– Who is flying it. The pilot has to have completed the airport's online briefing and passed its test within the last 24 months, and for the larger approach categories the briefing document also asks for an introduction flight with a mountain-experienced instructor. A quote that does not mention the crew has not been checked;
– Which airport the quote really names. A big cabin priced into Samedan is either unusual or wrong, and the sensible version is Zurich plus a helicopter or a road transfer;
– Whether the legs are one booking. A winter week in the Engadin followed by a weekend in Milan or on the coast costs noticeably less arranged as one trip, because the aircraft and crew stay with you instead of repositioning twice.
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 Samedan:
Light jets, the usual choice for the Engadin
At an hour and a half from the south of England this is the sensible class for four or five people with ordinary luggage. The runway is 1,840 m, which none of these needs, so the money is better kept for the hotel and the car.
Midsize, for skis, polo kit and evening dress
A winter week in St. Moritz fills a hold faster than it fills seats. Skis, boots and formal clothes for six take a midsize cabin before the passenger count does.
Super-midsize
The upper end of what we quote into Samedan itself, for a party travelling as one group or a team that needs to work in the air. For anything larger the plan changes to Zurich.
Turboprops
The Pilatus PC-12 and the King Air 350 are the aircraft for the hops across the Alps: Lugano, Zurich, Innsbruck and Friedrichshafen are each 35 to 40 minutes away, and the saving over a jet on that distance is large.
Helicopters
The last stretch, and the way to reach a hotel or a villa that has no runway. Landing sites in Switzerland are controlled, so the site is agreed before the quote is written.
This is a small part of what is available. A small group of operators knows the Engadin approach, so many aircraft on this route are positioned from Zurich, from northern Italy or from the south of France, and a quote may name one of those fields as the starting point. That is where the better price often comes from.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight to Samedan 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:
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Sending an application
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Clarification of details and search for options
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Preparation and coordination of optimal options
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Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
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Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports for Samedan and St. Moritz
St. Moritz has one airfield of its own and several gateways, and the order in which to think about them is the reverse of the map. Start with what your aircraft and your hour allow, and treat Samedan as the first choice only when both agree. The others earn their place on the days when they do not.
| Airport | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Samedan Engadin Airport (Samedan, Graubünden) SMV / LSZS |
The airfield for St. Moritz, about 5 km away, at 1,707 m (5,600 ft) above sea level. One runway, 03/21, of 1,840 m by 40 m according to the airport's own pilot briefing (some listings round it to 1,800 m), with no lighting and no instrument landing system, only satellite-based approaches. Open in daylight only. The airport company provides handling, Jet A1 and Avgas fuelling, type 1 de-icing, ground power, catering and security, and customs services are available during operating hours. Pilots need an online briefing and test before the flight |
| Zurich (Kloten, Canton of Zurich) ZRH / LSZH |
The fallback and the home of the larger cabins. Three runways of 3,700 m, 3,300 m and 2,500 m, a General Aviation Centre and customs on site. From the city it is about three hours to St. Moritz by train and three to four hours by car, or about an hour by helicopter. In forum week in January the federal rules say parking is not guaranteed and a handler must confirm it before permission is requested |
| Innsbruck (Tyrol, Austria) INN / LOWI |
About three to four hours from St. Moritz by car and a valley airport in its own right, with an elevation of 581 m. It comes into play when a party is combining the Engadin with Tyrol, or when the route from Britain is easier on the Austrian side. Austria is in Schengen, so the entry formalities are Austrian and the onward hop to Samedan is a sector inside Schengen |
| Friedrichshafen (Lake Constance, Germany) FDH / EDNY |
An airport on the German shore of Lake Constance at 417 m, 73 nautical miles from Samedan in a straight line. We use it when the first Schengen landing is better made in Germany, with a short turboprop hop to the Engadin afterwards, or when the party has business on the lake as well. The customs position for the day is confirmed with the handler |
| Lugano (Agno, Ticino) LUG / LSZA |
The Italian-speaking side of the Alps, 53 nautical miles from Samedan. The Palm Express postbus links Lugano with St. Moritz over the Maloja Pass, and a PC-12 does the hop in about 35 minutes. Worth a look when the trip combines the Engadin with Ticino, or when the north side of the Alps is not the place to be |
| Sion (Valais) SIR / LSGS |
A Swiss airport at 483 m on the other side of the Alps, 112 nautical miles from Samedan. It is a gateway to the Valais rather than the Engadin, and it appears in this table because quotes sometimes name it as an alternative. For St. Moritz it is not a practical one |
Four points settle most Samedan arrivals:
Approvals and aircraft
Every pilot must complete the airport's online briefing and test, and the result must be no older than 24 months. The briefing also sets introduction-flight and currency rules, such as a landing at Samedan within 24 months, and requires that the aircraft's noise class is permitted. For a British-registered or other non-EU operator, the Swiss aviation office runs a permit procedure for charters: one permit covers up to three flights in three months and must be requested at least 72 hours before the first flight.
Hours, curfew and slots
Summer hours are 06:00 to 17:00 UTC and winter hours run from 07:00 UTC to 30 minutes after sunset, with no night operation. The pilot briefing asks for prior permission only for piston-engine instrument approaches and repeated training approaches, and it mentions no slot procedure for business jets, but we still have the handler confirm parking and the arrival time in writing. In forum week in January, prior permission and a briefing become mandatory.
Border and passport
Switzerland is in Schengen but outside the EU, and Britain is in neither. British passport holders need no visa for up to 90 days in any 180, with a passport issued less than ten years before arrival and valid three months beyond departure. A first-time visitor may be asked to register a photograph and fingerprints, and the Swiss border can ask for proof of accommodation, insurance and funds.
Car and winter roads
Give us the handler as well as the flight, because a driver told only the airport may wait at the wrong door. The road to St. Moritz takes about 10 minutes, but from Zurich, Innsbruck or Milan it is three to four hours, and in winter the mountain roads add weather to the sum. For a party of eight, order two cars and not one, because the luggage often travels on its own.
Border, passport and customs
Switzerland is not in the EU customs union, so a flight from Britain is dealt with twice over: as a Schengen border for the passengers and as a Swiss customs border for the goods. Flights entering Switzerland must arrive at, or stop at, an airport with customs, and the airport states that customs services at Samedan are available during its operating hours. Passport control for a flight from Britain is something we confirm with the airport before the booking. When the daylight, the paperwork or the aircraft do not fit, the first landing is made at Zurich and the party continues by helicopter, road or a short hop. Coming home, the General Aviation Report for Britain is filed between 48 hours and 2 hours before departure, which our handler takes care of together with the crew.
From the apron to the lake
St. Moritz sits at about 1,800 m and has fewer than five thousand permanent residents, a number that multiplies in the season. It has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, and the frozen lake in the middle of the resort is the venue for the horse racing and the snow polo. Samedan itself is a village in the same valley, and Pontresina, at 1,805 m, lies a little further up it on the Bernina line, with the Morteratsch glacier close by. The distances that matter are these:
a short drive down the valley, quoted as 5 to 8 km depending on the sourceabout 10 minutes
the scenic way in, with no car neededabout 3 hours
the reason a PC-12 hop to Samedan is worth paying for3 to 4 hours
the alternative for a larger aircraft that lands in Zurich, for up to five passengersabout 1 hour
81 nm, the sector that connects a bigger jet to the Engadinabout 40 minutes
by PC-12, against the road over the Maloja Pass that the Palm Express postbus takes to St. Moritzabout 35 minutes
regular trains on the Bernina railwayby rail
Flying to Samedan with a dog or a cat
A pet on a winter trip is a normal booking, and the flight is the easy part: the animal sits beside you in the cabin, never in a hold, and on a sector of an hour and a half most simply sleep. The complications are on the ground. Switzerland is not in the EU and runs its own import rules, and the airport at which the animal first enters the country is something we settle in writing before the aircraft is booked.
What the Swiss veterinary office asks for when a pet arrives from Britain:
- An ISO microchip, fitted before the rabies vaccination;
- A rabies vaccination given immediately after the microchip, when the animal is at least 12 weeks old; it becomes valid 21 days later;
- A veterinary health certificate issued by the British authorities for an animal that is not yet covered by a Swiss or EU pet passport, as on a first trip, with its validity checked against the Swiss rule on the day;
- Presentation of the animal at the red customs exit. The Swiss guidance lists Basel, Geneva and Zurich as the airports for accompanied animals arriving by air, so for a dog or a cat we plan the first landing at Zurich unless Samedan is confirmed in writing;
- No dogs with docked ears or tails, which Switzerland does not allow in;
- For dogs on the way home, a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before landing in Britain, recorded with product, date and time. Cats are exempt.
What catches owners out on the Samedan run
– The entry airport. The official guidance names Zurich, Geneva and Basel for pets arriving by air, and a private flight straight into Samedan is not mentioned in that wording. That is why we ask first and write down the answer;
– The tapeworm window. Britain asks for it on the way home, so it is a vet appointment you book in the valley towards the end of the stay. Count back from the departure time, because a flight that moves by a day moves the window with it;
– Docked tails and ears. A spaniel or a terrier with a docked tail is turned away at the Swiss border, and nothing at the airport can fix that. Check the animal and not only the paperwork.
Requirements for cats, ferrets, birds and anything less usual are collected on our flying with pets guide. For the entry point and the paperwork on the way home, we confirm them in writing before the flight.
The St. Moritz calendar: a winter resort with a small summer
The Engadin runs on the winter season and on a handful of events that take place on the frozen lake. Summer is smaller and quieter, and the months between the seasons are quiet. Knowing which week you want matters more than choosing an aircraft.
Why a polo or racing week costs more
Not the flying. The European light and midsize fleet is large and the Alps are well placed in it. What gets tight is the daylight window of a one-runway field, the parking on its apron, the rooms and the good cars, all in the same few days. A booking made a fortnight before the polo or the forum can still be done, but it pays more, and it may mean an aircraft positioned from Zurich or Milan. The same booking made five or six weeks earlier is simpler and cheaper. Outside those weeks the Engadin is easy to reach, and a charter can usually be arranged in a day or two.
Ways to bring the Samedan price down
- Move the dates away from Christmas, New Year and the polo and racing weekends where you can. The second half of January and the weeks around the Skimarathon are calmer;
- Ask where the aircraft is based. A jet already in Zurich, Milan or Innsbruck takes less positioning than one coming from Britain, and on a sector of this length positioning is a meaningful share of the bill;
- Take the light jet unless the luggage says otherwise. Four people and four bags do not need a midsize, and the money saved buys the car and the hotel.
Types of flights
Samedan produces a different mix from the city and island destinations we cover, because almost everyone who flies there is going to one small resort and a limited number of events.
- Winter holidays in St. Moritz, from a long weekend to a week, often with skis, boots and a car and driver waiting at the field;
- Event weekends, such as the snow polo, the horse racing and the Skimarathon, with a fixed date and a hotel booked well ahead;
- Business and forum traffic in January, when the rules for Samedan change and the aircraft are chosen to suit them;
- Summer stays for walking, cycling and the lakes, and for the car and art events, when the daylight window is much more generous;
- Bigger aircraft that land at Zurich and continue to the Engadin by helicopter or a turboprop hop, for parties that exceed what the airfield accepts;
- Onward legs from the Engadin to Milan, Lugano, Nice or Paris, flown in daylight.
The weekend trip is the one to look at closely. Leave London on a Friday morning and you are in St. Moritz before lunch, with an afternoon on the lake. A Sunday return means the aircraft and crew wait for you rather than going home, and that waiting is paid for, but it still comes out cheaper than two separate one-way charters. In winter the Sunday departure has to be early enough to leave before dusk, and on this route we quote the day both ways so the difference is visible.
Empty Legs
An empty leg is a repositioning flight with nobody aboard, offered at a fraction of the usual price. The Engadin has a strong seasonal pattern, so empty legs come in waves, and it helps to know what produces them.
Where Samedan empty legs come from
– Weekend changeovers. Aircraft bring one party out on a Friday or Saturday and fly home empty on the Sunday, or fly out empty to collect the next, and the weekend legs between the Engadin and Britain are the ones most often offered;
– Event weeks. After the polo, the racing and the forum, the aircraft that brought guests in are repositioned home or on to the next job, and some of those legs run through Zurich or Milan;
– The end of winter. When the season winds down, operators bring aircraft back from their winter positions, and those legs are often priced low.
Because the Alpine corridor is thinner than the busiest London routes, a client who can name a few days rather than one has a far better chance than one who needs a particular Sunday. What you give up is the usual: 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 Samedan match the day an operator releases it.
Helicopter charter
In the Engadin a helicopter is a tool for the edges of the trip. Samedan to St. Moritz is a ten-minute drive, so nobody needs a rotor for that. Where a helicopter changes the journey is the leg from Zurich, which is how the larger aircraft that land there reach the mountains, and the scenic and mountain flying that the local operators offer from the field itself.
the transfer for a larger aircraft that cannot or should not land at Samedan, for up to five passengersabout 1 hour
the closest helipad to the resort, for a hotel or a lake-side lunchunder 10 minutes
Heli Bernina and Swiss Helicopter, which offer sightseeing and taxi flights from the fieldon request
direct flights from abroad to the Davos heliport are not allowed without federal authorisation and Air Force accreditationnot a casual booking
Before you plan around a helicopter
– Weather sets the schedule. Low cloud in the valley, including the one that pilots call the Maloja snake, can stop a helicopter on a day when the jet lands without trouble, so a mountain transfer needs a road alternative planned into the same day;
– Landing away from an airfield needs an agreed site and the landowner's consent. A hotel lawn or a villa terrace is a question we ask before the quote is written, not after it;
– In the busiest weeks of the winter, book the helicopter together with the jet or expect to be told that there is no rotary capacity.
The machines on this ground are the Airbus H125 for mountain work, the wider H130 for scenic and villa transfers, the H135 and the Bell 429 where a twin is wanted, and larger helicopters for bigger parties. We book them alongside the jet so that both crews work to one timetable.
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 Samedan 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.
Flights from the UK to Samedan
Biggin Hill, London City, Luton and Farnborough send most of the traffic on this corridor, with Southampton, Birmingham and Manchester behind them and Scotland at the long end; the price table higher up covers thirteen of those pairings. Our clients have access to all airports of the UK and Europe. Due to the unique partnership conditions, we can offer our clients the best prices for business aviation services. Our experts will consult you on the availability of private jets in a particular city and help you choose the best option.
List of TOP 25 business aviation airports:
| Airport | Country | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|---|
 London Heathrow Airport |
England | EGLL | LHR |
| Birmingham Airport |
England | EGBB | BHX |
| London Gatwick |
England | EGKK | LGW |
| London City Airport |
England | EGLC | LCY |
| London Luton |
England | EGGW | LTN |
| Edinburgh Airport |
Scotland | EGPH | EDI |
| Leeds Airport |
England | EGNM | LBA |
| Manchester Airport |
England | EGCC | MAN |
| London Stansted |
England | EGSS | STN |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport |
England | EGGP | LPL |
| Newcastle Airport |
England | EGNT | NCL |
| Bristol Airport |
England | EGGD | BRS |
| Glasgow Airport |
Scotland | EGPF | GLA |
| East Midlands Airport |
England | EGNX | EMA |
| Southampton Airport |
England | EGHI | SOU |
| Jersey Airport |
Channel Islands | EGJJ | JER |
| Cardiff International Airport |
Wales | EGFF | CWL |
| Inverness Airport |
Scotland | EGPE | INV |
| Bournemouth Airport |
England | EGHH | BOH |
| London Farnborough Airport |
England | EGLF | FAB |
| Oxford Airport |
England | EGTK | OXF |
| London Biggin Hill |
England | EGKB | BQH |
| Belfast Airport |
Northern Ireland | EGAA | BFS |
| Gibraltar Airport |
Gibraltar | LXGB | GIB |
| Aberdeen Airport |
Scotland | EGPD | ABZ |
Samedan 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.
DAY TRIP · HOME BEFORE DUSK
A morning meeting in St. Moritz and back for dinner
Biggin Hill - Samedan and return, Citation CJ3+, about 1 h 35 min each way · 4 pax
Wheels up at seven, on the ground at Samedan a little after half past nine local time and in the meeting before eleven. The aircraft and crew waited on the apron rather than going home, which is a real line in the quote and still comes in below two separate one-way charters. The return left in the afternoon so that it cleared the field well before the winter closing time.
POLO WEEKEND · THE LUGGAGE BOOKED THE CABIN
Six people, polo boots and a week of formal clothes
Farnborough - Samedan, Citation XLS+, about 1 h 35 min · 6 pax
A weekend built around the snow polo. Boots, evening dress and winter coats took the hold well beyond what a light jet carries comfortably, and the quote moved up a class for that reason and not for the seats. The return was booked together with the outbound so that the Sunday departure had a fixed place in the daylight.
FORUM WEEK · THE RULES CHANGED
A delegation with a briefing to complete
London Luton - Samedan, Challenger 350, about 1 h 30 min · 6 pax
The dates were set by the forum and not by the client. The crew completed the airport briefing in advance, prior permission was requested, Zurich was not filed as the alternate and the car was waiting at the right door. The booking went in six weeks ahead, which is what the week requires.
WHEN THE FIELD WAS CLOSED · A DIFFERENT AIRPORT
Cloud in the valley, a landing in Zurich
Southampton - Zurich, Citation XLS+, about 1 h 25 min · 5 pax
The forecast for Samedan sat below the minima on the morning of the flight, so the aircraft landed at Zurich and the party took the train and a car up the valley. The alternative had been in the quote from the start, which is why the day lost an hour and not a night.
A DOG ON BOARD · WINTER WEEK
Two adults and a labrador
Bristol - Zurich, Citation XLS+, about 1 h 35 min · 2 pax + dog
The dog entered Switzerland through Zurich, where the paperwork was checked at the red exit, and the party went on to the Engadin by road. The vet appointment in the valley for the tapeworm treatment had to fall between 24 and 120 hours before the flight home, and we booked it together with the aircraft.
EMPTY LEG · SUNDAY EVENING NORTH
A jet already going your way
Samedan - London Luton, Phenom 300E empty leg, about 1 h 30 min · 3 pax
The aircraft had brought a party in for the weekend and was going home empty. The client gave us a three-day window instead of a date, which is what makes these work, and paid well below a fresh one-way charter for an afternoon departure to the London fields.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Samedan
1How long is a private jet flight from London to Samedan?
About 1 hour 35 minutes from London City and Biggin Hill in a light jet, and around 1 hour 30 minutes from Luton in a Phenom, covering roughly 502 to 534 nautical miles. From Bristol, Birmingham or Manchester allow about 1 hour 45 minutes to 1 hour 50 minutes, and from Edinburgh or Glasgow around 2 hours 5 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes in a Challenger. Switzerland is one hour ahead of Britain, so a seven o'clock departure lands a little after half past nine local time.
2How much does a private jet to Samedan cost?
From about £7,550 one way on a light jet out of Biggin Hill, and £7,650 from London City. A Phenom from Farnborough or Luton runs £7,900 to £8,000, a midsize cabin costs £9,950 to £10,800 from the south and the Midlands, and from Scotland allow £16,700 to £17,100. The weeks of the snow polo, the racing, Christmas and New Year price above these figures.
3Can any private jet land at Samedan?
No. Every pilot must complete the airport's online briefing and pass its test, and the result may not be older than 24 months. The airport publishes no weight limit, but it has one 1,840 m runway at 1,707 m above sea level, no instrument landing system and a requirement that the aircraft's noise class is permitted. In practice we quote light, midsize and super-midsize jets, and send larger aircraft to Zurich with a helicopter or a car for the last stretch.
4Can I land at Samedan at night or in bad weather?
Not at night. The field has no night operation and no runway lighting, with summer hours of 06:00 to 17:00 UTC and winter hours from 07:00 UTC to 30 minutes after sunset. The runway closes when visibility falls below 1,500 m or the ceiling below 500 ft, and earlier for the larger approach categories. We plan the return from the sunset backwards and name Zurich or Milan as the alternative in the quote.
5Which airport is best for St. Moritz: Samedan, Zurich or Innsbruck?
Samedan (SMV / LSZS) when the aircraft, the crew and the daylight all allow it, because it is about 10 minutes from the resort. Zurich (ZRH / LSZH) for larger aircraft and late arrivals, followed by about three hours by train, three to four hours by car or about an hour by helicopter. Innsbruck (INN / LOWI) is three to four hours by car and only makes sense when the trip also takes in Tyrol. A PC-12 from Zurich to Samedan takes about 40 minutes.
6Can I take my dog to St. Moritz on a private jet?
Yes, with preparation. The dog travels in the cabin with you. Switzerland asks for a microchip fitted before the rabies vaccination, a vaccination given from 12 weeks of age and valid 21 days later, and a veterinary health certificate for a first trip. The official guidance names Zurich, Geneva and Basel for pets arriving by air, so we plan the first landing at Zurich unless Samedan is confirmed in writing. On the way home a dog needs a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before landing in Britain. Cats are exempt from the treatment.