London Airports by Private Jet: Farnborough, Luton, City

London has not one business airport but nine options, and the right one depends on the address, the time and the aircraft.

Farnborough, to the south-west, is given over to business aviation under a cap of 50,000 movements a year. London City, about ten kilometres from the City, requires a 5.5-degree approach and closes from Saturday 12:30 to Sunday 12:30. Biggin Hill connects to the centre in about ten minutes by helicopter, while Luton, Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick all run level 3 slot coordination. IBC Aviation publishes two prices from London: Geneva from EUR 12,000 and Palma from EUR 25,000.

London's nine airports for a private jet

Farnborough, the business jet airport

Its operator describes Farnborough as the only UK airport built and run exclusively for business aviation: no scheduled flights, no airline charters. According to a study it published, the airport handled 29,966 movements in 2023, fourth in Europe behind Paris-Le Bourget, Nice and Geneva. The runway offers 2,000 to 2,063 m for take-off depending on direction.

Hours are set by Rushmoor Borough Council: 07:00 to 22:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 20:00 at weekends and on public holidays, and no flights on 25 and 26 December. The annual cap remains 50,000 movements. An application lodged on 14 November 2025 seeks to raise weekend movements from 8,900 to 13,500 a year; with no council decision in time, it went to an appeal formalised on 19 August 2026, with a public inquiry under way in mid-September.

London City: 5.5 degrees and a split weekend

In the Royal Docks, about ten kilometres east of the City and some 5 km from Canary Wharf, London City is the airport closest to the financial district. Its runway is just 1,508 m by 30 m, and its 5.5-degree approach, against about 3 degrees elsewhere, requires specific certification for both aircraft and crew. Not every business jet can land there.

The hours are just as decisive: 06:30 to 21:30 on weekdays, 06:30 to 12:30 on Saturdays and 12:30 to 21:30 on Sundays. Between Saturday noon and Sunday noon, no movement is possible. The London City Jet Centre handles private flights, with customs and immigration on site subject to notice.

Biggin Hill, ten minutes from the centre by helicopter

To the south-east, Biggin Hill has a 1,806 m runway and operates from 06:30 to 23:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 22:00 at weekends. The noise action plan agreed with the London Borough of Bromley brings its cap down to 50,000 movements a year, well below the 125,000 allowed by the lease, and limits each of the half-hours from 06:30 to 07:00 and from 22:00 to 23:00 to 8 movements on weekdays.

Its strength is the helicopter: operators quote about ten minutes' flight to Battersea heliport, on the Thames.

Luton and Stansted, the big terminals to the north

Luton, to the north, has been coordinated at level 3 by ACL since summer 2013 and handles business aviation in three facilities: Harrods Aviation, which states a 24-hour welcome, and two Signature terminals. According to OPSGROUP, night movements there are heavily restricted from 1 June to 30 September 2026, between 23:00 and 07:00, to the quietest aircraft only and under quotas.

Stansted, to the north-east, has a runway of about 3,050 m and four FBOs: Harrods Aviation, Inflite The Jet Centre, Universal Aviation and XJet. It is also coordinated at level 3, and OPSGROUP reports no business aviation slots between 23:30 and 06:00 for summer 2026.

Heathrow and Gatwick, under strict slot control

Heathrow, coordinated at level 3, offers business aviation only rare slots, practically none at peak times, and its conditions of use allow an operator who flew without prior authorisation to be restricted. With no large dedicated apron, a business jet most often drops its passengers and repositions elsewhere to park. Gatwick, also level 3, makes ground handling mandatory for every general aviation flight.

Northolt and Oxford, two special cases

RAF Northolt, to the west, remains an active military base with a 1,684 m runway; civil flights are capped, raised to 12,000 a year in 2013, the latest public figure, and a civil slot can give way to a military or government movement. Oxford, to the north-west, operates from 06:30 to 22:30 every day, with extensions available on request, and has customs on site.

Formalities: GAR and ETA

A private flight to the United Kingdom is declared to the authorities through a General Aviation Report, which Oxford Airport asks for between 48 and 2 hours before departure. Passengers who are not visa-exempt must also hold an Electronic Travel Authorisation: it has been required from non-European nationals since 8 January 2025 and from European nationals since 2 April 2025, for stays of up to six months over two years. Our article on private jet customs formalities covers the rest.

Routes and prices from London

Geneva, Palma, Paris, Nice, Dubai and Bangkok are one-way examples published on our pricing page; Milan and New York give the category's hourly rate, the New York flight time being an order of magnitude that depends heavily on the winds.

Which airport for your London destination

For the City or Canary Wharf, London City remains the closest airport if the aircraft is certified for its approach and the timing avoids the weekend closure. For Mayfair and west London, Farnborough offers a terminal given over entirely to business aviation. For south London and Kent, Biggin Hill and its helicopter link to Battersea save time; for the north and Cambridge, Luton or Stansted make sense. Our page on London by private jet and our guide to choosing a London airport complete the picture.

IBC Aviation for London

Our Paris and Geneva teams arrange your flights to or from London: choice of airport, slot, General Aviation Report, ETA checks and a helicopter on arrival.

• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Available 24/7.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport should you choose for a private jet to London?

Farnborough for an airport given over entirely to business aviation, London City for the City if the aircraft is certified for its 5.5-degree approach, Biggin Hill to reach the centre by helicopter.

Is London City Airport open at weekends?

On Saturdays from 06:30 to 12:30 and on Sundays from 12:30 to 21:30. The airport is closed from Saturday noon to Sunday noon.

How long does it take from Biggin Hill to central London by helicopter?

About ten minutes' flight to Battersea heliport, according to operators.

Do you need an ETA to fly into the UK by private jet?

Yes, for passengers who are not visa-exempt. It has been required from European nationals since 2 April 2025 and covers stays of up to six months over two years.

How much does a private jet from London to Geneva cost?

From EUR 12,000 one way in a Citation XLS, eight seats, for a 1h30 flight, according to the example published on our pricing page.