It’s always a good time to visit Berlin, which many consider one of the coolest cities in the world. The capital of Germany, where the pretzels, beer, and wursts are as delicious as they get, is even more famous for its vibrant streets, rich nightlife, art galleries, and its remarkable cultural history.
If you’re planning to visit this amazing city any time soon, flying from London to Berlin via private jet is definitely the best way to travel. And since organizing such a flight can be stressful sometimes, in this article, we’ll cover all the necessary information so that your flight goes as smoothly as possible.
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London to Berlin: Overview
London and Berlin are not as distant as you might think, but there’s still a significant mileage that you have to pass. In fact, there are approximately 700 miles between the two cities, meaning that it would take you up to 15 hours by car to reach your destination, including stops.
On the other hand, a private jet can take you to Berlin from London in about an hour and a half, or a bit over two hours if you opt for a turboprop jet.
The good thing is that a trip under 1,000 miles can be performed by all types of jets, from turboprops to heavy, so you can have your pick. To rent a private jet, the price starts at some £5,500 (6,500 EUR) and goes up to £20,000 (24,000 EUR), or more if you wish for the ultimate comfort and speed.
Finally, since you’re flying private, you need to choose a private terminal in both cities to host your flight, and luckily, both London and Berlin offer a vast choice of high-end fixed-base operators (FBOs).
With that said, let’s get into more detail regarding the prices, and then move on to the FBOs.
Pricing Options
The most basic division of jets is by size. You can choose to fly with a small airplane, like a turboprop or a light jet, go for something bigger and more comfortable, like a midsize jet, or opt for a heavy jet, but this is unnecessary for a mileage of under 1,000. As the aircraft goes bigger, the comfort increases simultaneously. However, a bigger plane doesn’t always mean a better and more expensive plane, since the specific model and the year it was produced also matters.
For example, a smaller jet can be of newer make, faster, and sometimes even more comfortable than an older model of a midsize or heavy jet, so it’s no wonder that a company would want to charge more for such a model.
The prices listed below are as seen from The Aviation Factory’s official website.
London to Berlin Average Flight Prices
Aircraft type | Number of passengers | London to Berlin route price | Estimated flight time |
Turboprop | 4 – 19 | £5,500 / 6,500 EUR | 2 hours 10 minutes |
Light jet | 4 – 11 | £5,500 / 6,500 EUR | 1 hour 40 minutes |
Midsize jet | 5 – 10 | £10,000 / 11,500 EUR | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Heavy jet | 4 – 72 | £12,500 / 15,000 EUR | 1 hour 35 minutes |
London to Berlin Airports
As briefly mentioned, the airports in London and Berlin both have a good infrastructure to host private flights. London in particular offers over 30 fixed-base operators located at or near the five or six airports serving the city’s needs.
From London Luton to Berlin
London Luton is a quite popular airport but mostly associated with operating low-budget flights via its sole terminal. It’s located some 30 miles northwest of Victoria Station, the central and biggest train and bus station in London.
However, it’s also very suitable for private flying since it’s quiet and doesn’t get so much traffic, and there are companies running separate FBOs. The most popular one among private flyers is Signature Flight Support, which operates with two terminals – the T1, and T2. The T1 is actually quite praised and often perceived as one of Europe’s better private terminals. It has all the amenities a 5-star FBO should have and has served many VIPs.
Another possible choice for an FBO near Luton could be the one run by Harrods Aviation. It offers nothing but high-end features and services, as well as under-the-wing operations, including fueling, maintenance of the jet, or storage.
From London Heathrow to Berlin
Heathrow is by far the most famous airport in Britain since it’s also the busiest airport the nation has, hosting over a thousand flights per day, bringing it to a figure of 80 million passengers annually.
It has a pretty good location in terms of closeness to the city center, as you only need about half an hour to reach the airport by car. That’s quite a good deal for crowded London, and it’s also worth knowing that the airport is very well connected with the tube.
There are two FBOs at Heathrow, operated by the well-known companies Signature Flight Support and Menzies Aviation. I’m sure you already know that both FBOs have amazing 5-star service and other amenities such as Internet access, beautiful lounges with snacks and drinks, and there are even golf courts nearby if you feel like it.
Moreover, the Signature Flight Support’s FBO at Heathrow has been used many times by Heads of State or Royals, so you won’t make the wrong decision by choosing it.
From London Stansted to Berlin
London Stansted is located some 40 miles northeast of London’s central area. Stansted is not the first choice for commercial flyers, but it certainly is quite popular among private flyers. The reason for that is the big number of FBOs and ground handlers you can find within the building, or nearby, which include:
- Fayair Ltd;
- Infinite Jet Center;
- X Jet London;
- London Jet Center;
- Universal Aviation;
- Diamond Hangar Ltd;
- Antonov Airlines UK;
- North Air Ltd;
- Harrods Aviation;
- Ruslan International;
- Titan Airways;
- London Jet Charter;
- Inflite The Jet Center;
- NATS Jet Stansted;
- Aeronexus;
- GT Engine Services;
- Swissport.
From London Farnborough to Berlin
London Farnborough Airport is a solid choice for private flying, as this place is, in fact, a private airport, serving as a hub for business jets. It’s located a bit far away from London, as it technically breaches the city borders and belongs to Rushmore, Hampshire.
The airport lives up to its name and includes all sorts of special features and amenities, such as a restaurant, a spacious and comfy lounge room, as well as a gaming room if you will. The lounges are separated, i.e. one is reserved for the crew while the other one is for the passengers.
Moreover, this pet-friendly airport has conference halls and meeting rooms, since it is a business jet hub at the end of the day, so you can even hold a meeting if you have a few hours to spare.
From London Biggin Hill to Berlin
London’s Biggin Hill is yet another pirate airport that is slowly but surely becoming one of the biggest business airport hubs in the UK. The airport’s management has attracted 65 tenant companies after investing millions of pounds in the airport’s hangars.
As for private flying, Biggin Hill has two terminals, each operated by a different fixed-base operator. One is operated by Signature Flight Support, while the other is managed by the airport’s handling team – Executive Handling.
The terminals include high-end amenities and services such as conference rooms, showers, snooze rooms, and so on. The airport is great if you’re traveling with pets since it’s an approved port for pet entry.
Berlin Airports
Being the city it is, Berlin doesn’t lack anything. That also applies to private flying infrastructure, as you can find plenty of places to land when flying by private jet to Berlin. The city’s international commercial flights are usually operated at Tegel Airport (TXL) or Schonefeld Airport (SXF).
However, unlike in most countries, private flying in Germany doesn’t really take much place at commercial airports. There are other, smaller, and private airports that host such flights, like the Brandenburg Airport (BER) and the Schonhanen Airport (QXH).
Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Brandenburg Airport is the place to be if you want to fly private in Berlin. It’s located some 17 miles away from the city’s central area, which translates to a 40-minute car ride, or half an hour via Berlin’s perfect public transportation.
This airport has three terminals in total and a couple of fixed-base operators (FBOs) handling jets and flights. The best one I’d say is run by the German Aviation Service which does a tremendous job. It has such cozy lounges where you can relax on the comfortable furniture, free beverages, Internet access, TV, and the offer of international reading materials including other entertainment options.
This FBO has many other special services as well such as dry cleaning, dishwashing, catering, transportation, or accommodation. The company also offers ground handling services, such as maintenance, fueling, or storage in some of the hangars.
Furthermore, you can opt for the private terminal run by Execujet. This is yet another perfect FBO at Brandenburg Airport which offers spacious and very modern-looking VIP lounges, accompanied by conference and meeting rooms.
Schonhanen Airport (QXH)
The Schonhagen private airport is located a bit further away than Brandenburg, i.e. some 35 miles southwest of Berlin’s central area. You’d need over an hour by car to reach this airport, while public transportation would take you about two hours.
The airport is perfect for business trips, as the facility offers great conference and meeting rooms, with a team that organizes events. The hotel offers accommodation as well with very reasonable prices, and if you want you can include breakfast as well since the airport also has a restaurant that you can use at any time.
Which Jet Models Can Fly You to Berlin From London?
Figuring out which jet can take you to a certain destination mainly depends on the distance. In this case, any jet will do. However, your comfort, time spent in the air, or the price to pay will be impacted by the choice of a jet model.
Small (Light Jets) and Midsize Jets
In case you wish to travel by a turboprop plane, which could be lucrative, but also kind of slower, I’d recommend the Piper M600. This is a high-quality plane that will take you from London to Berlin in 2 hours and 5 minutes, and for which you’ll have to pay some £7,500 / 9,000 EUR. The cabin is designed to comfortably fit 5 people and is pet-friendly.
Another cool turboprop is the King Air B200. This one is a bit bigger than the Piper, as it can fit a total of 9 people. It’s also somewhat more expensive at around £8,500 / 10,000 EUR to rent. This jet will reach Berlin in 2 hours and 15 minutes.
If you want a light turbojet, check out the Citation Mustang. This is a pretty fast and modern-looking small jet that has a very comfortable cabin designed for only 4 passengers, and a furry friend. It needs exactly 2 hours to pass the route and will cost you the same amount as the Piper M600.
A bit more expensive but also a bigger light jet is the Phenom 100. This jet can take six passengers on board and will take you from London to Berlin in 1 hour and 50 minutes. The jet is quite affordable, as you’d have to pay some £8,000 / 9,500 EUR to rent it.
A midsize jet is always more attractive, especially since they are more comfortable and often faster. The Learjet 60XR, for example, will pass the given route in 1 hour and 40 minutes while carrying a maximum of eight people. This jet is pet-friendly and has WiFi access, which is quite useful up in the air. The price to pay for hiring this jet is around £11,500 / 13,500 EUR.
Another quite attractive midsize jet is the Citation XLS. This famous jet has a very comfortable cabin that fits 9 people in total. The jet’s estimated flight time is the same as with the Learjet 60XR, but it costs a bit more – £12,000 / 14,000 EUR. It’s also pet-friendly so you can bring your furry friend with you if you wish.
Heavy Jets
Larger parties or those who seek utmost comfort will find heavy jets to be the best choice as they will provide you with more space and faster speeds.
The Challenger 605, for example, is a heavy jet that needs a bit over an hour and a half to reach Berlin from London. It has a fabulous-looking walkaround cabin that comfortably fits 12 people. To rent this jet, you’d need around £15,500 / 18,000 EUR.
Another great model that I’d like to recommend is the Falcon 2000LX. This heavy jet has a very slick cabin equipped with comfortable leather seats, meant to take on board a maximum of 10 people. It has great ventilation so it’s great for smokers, and it offers Wifi access. Renting this one takes some £18,000 / 21,000 EUR, as it needs 1 hour and 35 minutes to reach Berlin.
My final recommendation is the Legacy 600. This jet has the capacity to seat 13 people, and it’s also pet-friendly. The cabin is very comfortable and has the same flight estimation time as the Falcon, and it’s some £500 / 600 EUR more expensive than the aforementioned jet.
Prices Per Plane Type: Overview
Below, you will find a table that gives the prices per plane type and model.
Plane type | |||
Light and midsize jets | Number of passengers | Flight time | Price |
Piper M600 | 5 | 2 hours 5 minutes | £7,500 / 9,000 EUR |
King Air B200 | 9 | 2 hours 15 minutes | £8,500 / 10,000 EUR |
Citation Mustang | 4 | 2 hours | £7,500 / 9,000 EUR |
Phenom 100 | 6 | 1 hour 50 minutes | £8,000 / 9,500 EUR |
Learjet 60XR | 8 | 1 hour 40 minutes | £11,500 / 13,500 EUR |
Citation XLS | 9 | 1 hour 40 minutes | £12,000 / 14,000 EUR |
Heavy jets | |||
Challenger 605 | 12 | 1 hour 35 minutes | £15,500 / 18,000 EUR |
Falcon 2000LX | 10 | 1 hour 35 minutes | £18,000 / 21,000 EUR |
Legacy 600 | 13 | 1 hour 35 minutes | £18,500 / 21,500 EUR |
Conclusion
While it’s always exciting and a pleasure to plan a trip for this route, there are a couple of things that you always have to keep in mind.
Finding the best jet takes time and effort, but hopefully, everything will be easier after this read. Bear in mind that you’ll spend somewhere between £5,500 (6,500 EUR) and £20,000 (24,000 EUR), or even more in some cases, depending on the jet you go for.
The flight takes about two hours, more or less, while the fastest jet on our list above needs 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Finding an FBO (fixed-base operator) should not be an issue, as both London and Berlin have great infrastructure for private flying. Happy travels!