Private Jet to La Rochelle, Île de Ré: LRH Airport, 2,213 m

La Rochelle and Île de Ré, around 1 hour 5 minutes from London

La Rochelle Île de Ré airport serves both the town, around ten minutes away by car according to the French airports association UAF, and the neighbouring island. Its 09/27 runway measures 2,213 m by 45 m, with a Category I ILS on runway 27. In 2025 the airport handled 303,669 passengers across twelve routes, a record for the third year running, and private jets share its apron with Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.

No Aviapartner approval, no stand for a jet

Above 5.7 tonnes, an aircraft can only park on the paved Foxtrot apron, the only apron published for that weight. Its stands are limited and, according to the airport, given priority for scheduled commercial flights. The French AIP leaves no room for doubt: approval and handling by Aviapartner are mandatory, and an aircraft without prior permission is refused parking.

The request goes in 48 hours ahead to Aviapartner Executive, the handler's service for non-scheduled flights. The apron's four stands, F1 to F4, are described for airliners such as the A320 or Boeing 737.

From June to August, every seasonal route at the airport is operating. For a stay of several days, two options then arise: a stand confirmed for the whole period, or a drop-off after which the aircraft leaves and comes back to collect its passengers. The second costs extra flying hours, but removes the risk of a last-minute refusal.

Rochefort Charente-Maritime, run by the same airport authority, has a 2,280 m runway. It is still no fallback for a flight from London: the airfield is not a border crossing point, and its rescue and firefighting category is published as 1.

Outside Schengen: 48 hours' notice and a passenger list

A flight from London, Dubai or anywhere outside the Schengen area requires at least 48 hours' notice to French customs, sent by email. The airport's pilot information page says so, and the French AIP spells out what the notice must contain: planned times in local time, aircraft type and registration, type of flight and the number of people on board.

It must also carry the crew and passenger list with each person's name, nationality and passport or identity card number, along with any goods, cash or valuables to declare. Passport control takes place at the customs office in the arrivals hall, next to the general aviation gate.

Since March 2022, the departure lounge has kept domestic, Schengen and third-country passengers apart.

The tower closes at 22:30 in summer, 20:30 in winter

Air traffic control operates every day from 07:30 to 22:30 in summer and 07:30 to 20:30 in winter, local time. The AIP only provides for extensions for scheduled IFR flights and medical flights. A private flight is therefore planned inside those hours, with a margin for delay.

Three further points are checked before a time is fixed.

• De-icing: no facilities are published, and the runway closes in snow, as there is no equipment to clear it.
• Fuel: JET A1, supplied by World Fuel Services, is served in set windows with a midday break; outside them, the airport charges refuelling at a flat rate.
• Rescue and firefighting: category 5 during tower hours, category 7 per NOTAM, none outside those hours.

A hangar, on the other hand, can be requested from the airport authority for an aircraft staying several days.

Which private jet for La Rochelle

The 2,213 m figure does not tell the whole story. On runway 27, the one used in a westerly wind, the landing distance available drops to 1,746 m, against 1,940 m on runway 09. A light jet keeps a wide margin there; from midsize upwards, the performance calculation is run on that figure, wet runway included.

Allow in the order of 1 hour 5 minutes from London-Farnborough or Geneva, about 50 minutes from Paris-Le Bourget and about 1 hour 15 minutes from Nice, depending on the aircraft, weather and slots. For four to seven passengers, an aircraft from the light jet category is enough on all of these routes.

• Phenom 300: 7 seats and 3,650 km of range, enough to fly from London or Geneva without a stop.
• Citation XLS+: 8 seats, for a family with the luggage of a summer on the island.

Our pricing page shows €4,000 per hour for a light jet and €4,800 for a midsize. La Rochelle is not among the routes priced there, so the quote is built on actual flight time.

Île de Ré, Les Minimes and two dates to note

On the Île de Ré, 61.2% of homes are second homes or occasional dwellings, according to Insee's 2023 census, for 17,961 year-round residents. The island has ten villages. Saint-Martin-de-Ré, its main town, is known for Vauban's fortifications, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Hôtel de Toiras, a five-star hotel at the entrance to the harbour, puts itself under 20 minutes from the airport.

In La Rochelle, the Grand Pavois boat show, held at the Pointe des Minimes, runs from 22 to 27 September 2026. The Francofolies music festival has set its 2027 edition for 10 to 14 July. For those two weeks, the parking stand is booked at the same time as the aircraft.

For UK travellers, the airport's seasonal programme includes London Gatwick with easyJet, London Stansted with Ryanair, Birmingham with Jet2, plus Bristol and Manchester. By private jet, departures are from Farnborough or one of the other London business aviation airports.

Chartering to or from La Rochelle with IBC Aviation

Our Paris team handles flights to France's Atlantic coast. For La Rochelle the order of checks changes: the Foxtrot stand is confirmed with Aviapartner before the aircraft, the customs notice goes out if the flight comes from outside the Schengen area, and the return time is fitted to the tower's closing hour. That is the added value of a broker such as IBC Aviation: securing these approvals before promising a schedule, and offering an empty leg when the calendar allows.

Private jet charter with IBC Aviation:

Our teams advise you on the private jet best suited to your itinerary and requirements, and organise your trip to or from your destination. Available 24/7:

• France: +33 1 41 69 88 88
• Switzerland: +41 22 880 28 88
• Dubai: +971 55 303 5161
• Bangkok: +66 92 372 4680
• Email: contact@ibc-aviation.com

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to book parking for a private jet at La Rochelle?

Yes, 48 hours in advance with Aviapartner, whose approval and handling are mandatory on the Foxtrot apron. Stands there are limited and given priority for scheduled commercial flights. According to the French AIP, an aircraft arriving without prior permission is refused parking.

What does customs require for a flight from London to La Rochelle?

Notice of at least 48 hours, sent by email, as for any flight from outside the Schengen area. It gives local times, the aircraft type and registration, then the list of people on board with name, nationality and passport number. Passport control takes place in the arrivals hall.

Until what time can a private jet land at La Rochelle?

Until 22:30 in summer and 20:30 in winter, local time, with the tower opening daily at 07:30. The AIP only provides for extensions for scheduled IFR flights and medical flights, so a private flight has to land within those hours, keeping a margin for any delay.

How long is the drive from the airport to Saint-Martin-de-Ré?

Under 20 minutes by road according to Hôtel de Toiras, at the entrance to the harbour of Saint-Martin-de-Ré, and longer depending on traffic. The centre of La Rochelle is around ten minutes from the airport, which lies 2.5 km north-west of the town.

When are the Grand Pavois boat show and the Francofolies festival?

The Grand Pavois, La Rochelle's boat show, runs at the Pointe des Minimes from 22 to 27 September 2026. The Francofolies have announced their 2027 edition for 10 to 14 July. For those dates, we book the parking stand at the same time as the aircraft.