Amsterdam to London by Private Jet

Amsterdam to London takes about 55m in any class, so the aircraft barely matters and the airport decides everything. London City is closest to the City but needs a steep-approach-certified aircraft; Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Luton take anything. And since 2025, EU nationals need a UK ETA before they fly — private jet included.

The Mondial Jets team · Charter specialists

Published 20 September 2026 · Last reviewed 20 September 2026

Written and checked by the charter team at Mondial Jets, who quote and arrange these flights daily. Figures are taken from published aircraft specifications and market sources, each linked at the foot of the article.

The flight is the short part

Fifty-five minutes, door to door. On a sector this short the three classes are identical in the air and differ only in what they cost and what they can land on. The whole trip — a morning meeting in the City and lunch back in Amsterdam — is decided by which of London's airports you use and how long the ground segment is at each end.

Amsterdam Schiphol to London, 181 nm great-circle. Block times from our flight-time model; per-person cost from published 2026 rate bands plus 20–40% trip costs. Computed 2026-09-20.
Class	Block time	Whole aircraft, one way	Per person
Light jet	55m	€3,400 – €6,650	€550 – €1,100 (6 pax)
Midsize jet	55m	€6,050 – €10,900	€750 – €1,350 (8 pax)
Heavy jet	55m	€10,800 – €18,900	€1,100 – €1,900 (10 pax)

Four people in a light jet at €850 to €1,650 each, one way, against the alternative of a 06:00 scheduled departure and a Tube ride: this is the route where charter is most often bought for time rather than comfort. The break-even guide shows the day-return case in detail.

Five airports, one decision

London airports for business aviation from Amsterdam. General characterisation; check current handling and slot rules for your date. Consulted 2026-09-20.
Airport	Where	Aircraft	Choose it when
London City (LCY)	Docklands, minutes from the City and Canary Wharf	Steep-approach-certified types only; operator approval required	The meeting is in the City and a certified aircraft is available
Farnborough (FAB)	South-west, Surrey/Hampshire border	Any class; business aviation only	West London, Heathrow-side offices, no scheduled traffic to queue behind
Biggin Hill (BQH)	South-east, Kent border	Any class; business aviation only	South London, Canary Wharf by road, quick turnarounds
Luton (LTN)	North, Bedfordshire	Any class; the largest business aviation base in the region	Short notice — the most aircraft already there; north London
Northolt (NHT)	West, RAF station with civil access	Limited civil movements	Occasionally, when it is available and the destination is west

London City: the steep approach

City's runway is about 1,500 m and its approach is 5.5 degrees — nearly double the standard three — because of the buildings around it. Landing there requires an aircraft type certified for the approach and an operator approved to fly it. The certified list includes the Citation CJ family, the Hawker 800 and 900 series, Dassault's Falcon 7X, 8X and 6X, and Gulfstream's G650, G500 and G600; the Challenger 350 is being certified. Many aircraft that are otherwise ideal for a 55-minute hop are not on it.

The consequence is that "Amsterdam to London City" is a quote for a specific aircraft, not a class, and the pool is smaller. When City is available it is unbeatable for the financial district. When it is not, Biggin Hill is the usual substitute for the east of the city.

The border: passport and ETA

The United Kingdom is outside the Schengen area, so this is a border crossing in a way that Nice or Geneva is not. Passport control happens at the FBO on both ends, and the manifest is filed with UK Border Force before departure. That adds little time but it does mean everyone carries a passport, not an ID card.

Since 2 April 2025, nationals of EU countries — the Netherlands and Belgium included — also need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling. It costs £16, is applied for in the UK ETA app or on GOV.UK, and is valid for two years or until the passport expires, for stays of up to six months at a time. Since 25 February 2026 the requirement is enforced without discretion: no ETA, no travel. It attaches to the person rather than the aircraft, so a private flight is not exempt. Apply once, well before the first trip; it is the one item a same-day London request can fail on.

Day return

London is the archetypal day return, and for a day return the aircraft waits: two flown sectors plus parking, no positioning home and back. Business aviation fields like Biggin Hill and Farnborough are built for exactly this. The return-leg guide explains why waiting beats two one-ways on a gap of a few hours. For a same-day request — a meeting that appears at 09:00 — the practical limits are crew hours and the ETA, covered in same-day charter.

Send the meeting address and the time; the airport follows from that.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How long is Amsterdam to London by private jet?

About 55m block time to London City in any class — 181 nautical miles. The class makes no difference on a sector this short; the airport makes all of it.

Can any private jet land at London City?

No. London City has a 5.5-degree approach — nearly twice the normal three — and a runway of about 1,500 m, and both the aircraft type and the operator must hold a specific approval. Certified types include the Citation CJ family, Hawker 800/900 series, Dassault Falcon 7X, 8X and 6X, and Gulfstream G650, G500 and G600. Many common charter types are not approved, so a London City quote is always for a specific aircraft.

Do I need a passport, and an ETA?

Yes to both. The UK is outside Schengen, so you clear passport control at the FBO on both ends. Since 2 April 2025, EU nationals also need a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before travelling — £16, valid two years, applied for in the UK ETA app — and since 25 February 2026 it is enforced without discretion. It applies to the traveller, not the mode of transport, so a private flight is not exempt.

Which London airport is cheapest?

Usually not City: landing and handling there carry a premium and the approved aircraft are fewer. Biggin Hill and Farnborough are dedicated business aviation fields with no scheduled traffic and take any class; Luton has the most aircraft based nearby and therefore the best short-notice availability. The cheapest airport is the one where a suitable aircraft already is.

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