Private Jet to Le Castellet: Paul Ricard, Bandol and Cassis

Le Castellet: a 1,485 m runway 11 km from Bandol

Paul Ricard laid out the airfield in 1962, next to the circuit that now carries his name. The operating company, Aéroport International du Castellet, receives passengers in a VIP hall with a private bar, catering and a concierge desk, and houses crews in a residence on the airport site.

No flights from outside Schengen since June 2024

The operator states it without hedging: Le Castellet lost its customs status in June 2024. The AIP draws the consequence, flights to or from non-Schengen countries prohibited, and requires 24 hours' notice with a general declaration on MyHandling for everyone else. The airport's website mentions 12 hours; we work to the AIP figure.

So a flight from London, Dubai or New York lands elsewhere first. Toulon-Hyères, a border crossing point, is the obvious stop, and its operator quotes a quarter of an hour by helicopter to the circuit. For long-haul arrivals, Marseille-Provence airport keeps customs open around the clock. Geneva, Paris, Nice and Luxembourg, by contrast, all sit inside the Schengen area.

Crosswind and sea haze: two limits written into the AIP

As soon as the crosswind component exceeds 15 knots, the AIP closes the airfield to aeroplanes. It also warns of high ground to the north, whirlwinds on final approach in a strong north-westerly, and sea haze able to cover the field within a few minutes.

Each flight plan therefore names an alternate, in practice Toulon-Hyères or Marseille-Provence, and the chauffeur waiting for the passengers has to be ready to change airport.

Heat also shapes the numbers. At 424 m elevation, with a reference temperature of 30°C, 1,485 m for landing and a pavement rated PCN 20, the operator works out the permissible weight for anything larger than a turboprop before issuing a quote. A heavy jet with full tanks is better off departing from Marseille-Provence.

Outside opening hours, the airport grounds are sealed

The airport opens seven days a week, from 9am to 6pm in summer and 9am to 5pm in winter, local time. Beyond those hours the AIP leaves no room: nobody can enter or leave the airport grounds, and the runway is closed to aircraft not based there.

A later movement can be arranged if the operator hears about it the day before, by 4pm local time, and a surcharge is accepted, the same advance contact rule that covers any instrument flight. Night operations require the operator's agreement, the air traffic service on duty and the obstacle lighting working.

Paul Ricard circuit: the 4 Hours in November, the Legends in May 2027

The circuit's official calendar sets the 4 Hours of Le Castellet from 13 to 15 November 2026. Its two four-hour races open the Winter Le Mans Series, the name the Asian Le Mans Series takes for a 2026-2027 season held, for once, entirely in Europe. A week earlier, on 7 and 8 November, Les 2 Tours d'Horloge sends historic cars round the track for 24 hours.

On 15 and 16 May 2027, the circuit stages the first Grand Prix des Légendes, a Formula 1 weekend with legendary single-seaters, track demonstrations and an air show. In September 2026, no Formula 1 or MotoGP Grand Prix appears on the programme, and the AIP separately bans flying over the circuit below 1,500 ft.

A three-star table on the road to the terminal

Hôtel & Spa du Castellet, a Relais & Châteaux member, stands at number 3001 on the route des Hauts du Camp, while the airport is at 3100. The hotel has 46 rooms and suites in a 12-hectare park, a 700 m2 spa and a golf course. Its restaurant, La Table du Castellet, run by executive chef Fabien Ferré, has held three Michelin stars since March 2024 and serves dinner Wednesday to Saturday and lunch Friday to Sunday.

Towards the coast, the distances the airport publishes put Bandol 11 km away and Cassis 26 km. Recognised by a decree of 11 November 1941, the Bandol appellation spans eight communes of the Var; Mourvèdre leads its reds, which spend at least 18 months in wood, and grapes are picked by hand. Cassis, an appellation since 1936, never leaves its own commune, set below the 363 m cliffs of Cap Canaille. Bandol harbour has 1,700 berths and takes visiting boats from 5 to 40 m.

From PC-12 to midsize, depending on take-off weight

The flight lasts about half an hour from Nice, around three quarters of an hour from Geneva and a little over an hour from Paris-Le Bourget, estimates that shift with the aircraft, the wind and the time chosen.

• Pilatus PC-12: a turboprop taking six passengers with luggage, a lower-cost alternative to light jets on short hops along the Riviera.
• Phenom 300: seven seats, in the light jet category from €4,000 per hour, with the range to come from Paris or Geneva without a stop.
• Citation XLS: a midsize from €4,800 per hour, chosen for a group once the take-off weight has been validated.

A heavy jet, from €6,500 per hour, is a conversation with the operator, weight and fuel figures on the table. Le Castellet is quoted by the flight hour, under our charter rates; to compare ranges, see our guide to range by aircraft category.

What our Nice office prepares

IBC Aviation selects the operator and settles three points before accepting a flight to or from Le Castellet: the 24-hour notice with its general declaration, a timetable that fits inside opening hours or is agreed the day before, and an alternate airfield in case wind or haze shuts the runway. For a passenger flying in from London, we set up the customs stop at Toulon-Hyères or Marseille-Provence, then the onward leg by road or by air.

The airport also runs helicopter transfers and quotes 20 minutes to Saint-Tropez, 30 to Cannes and 45 to Monaco. Our Riviera charter team puts those connections together. To continue to the Luberon or the Alpilles, Avignon-Provence is the better arrival point, covered in our guide to a private jet to Avignon.

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

Does Le Castellet still accept international flights?

Only those within the Schengen area. The airport has had no customs since June 2024, and the AIP prohibits flights to or from non-Schengen countries. A passenger arriving from London or Dubai lands at Toulon-Hyères or Marseille-Provence, then reaches the circuit by road or by helicopter.

What happens after 6pm at Le Castellet airport?

The gates close with the flight information service, at 6pm in summer and 5pm in winter: nobody enters or leaves, and the runway is closed to aircraft not based there. A later movement must be requested from the operator the day before by 4pm, for a surcharge.

Can a midsize jet take off from Le Castellet fully loaded?

That depends on its weight. Runway 12/30 offers 1,485 m for landing and a take-off distance of 1,545 m, at 424 m elevation, on a pavement rated PCN 20. The operator calculates the permissible weight before quoting; a heavy jet with full tanks usually departs from Marseille-Provence.

Which races does the Paul Ricard circuit host before May 2027?

Les 2 Tours d'Horloge on 7 and 8 November 2026, the 4 Hours of Le Castellet from 13 to 15 November, opening event of the Winter Le Mans Series, then the first Grand Prix des Légendes on 15 and 16 May 2027. No Formula 1 Grand Prix is scheduled.

Why plan an alternate airport for Le Castellet?

Because the AIP closes the airfield to aeroplanes when the crosswind exceeds 15 knots and warns that sea haze can cover it within minutes. The flight plan therefore includes an alternate, usually Toulon-Hyères or Marseille-Provence, and the ground transfer has to follow the aircraft.