Airport
London Biggin Hill
EGKB · BQH · Europe/London
In short
Is Biggin Hill a good airport for a private jet to London?
For the City, Canary Wharf and south-east London, often the best one. London Biggin Hill handles business aviation only, with no airline traffic, and it is the closest of the London business airports to the financial districts. Its limits are the runway — 1,806 metres, which suits light to super-midsize jets but not most heavy or long-range aircraft at full load — and its opening hours: 06:30 to 23:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 22:00 at weekends and on public holidays.
- 5,925 ft
- longest runway
- Limited
- customs
- None
- slots
- 23:00–06:30
- night curfew
Handlers
- Biggin Hill business aviation terminal
01Arrival
Getting into the city
Biggin Hill is in the London Borough of Bromley, south-east of the centre. By road the City and Canary Wharf are typically under an hour, and Westminster somewhat more depending on traffic through south London. A helicopter transfer to the London Heliport at Battersea takes a few minutes and is the quickest way into central London when time matters more than cost. For destinations north or west of London, Luton or Farnborough will usually be closer.
02Handling
On the ground
Passengers use a dedicated business aviation terminal: the car can meet the aircraft, and border formalities are handled on site during opening hours. Handling and landing charges are set per movement and per aircraft size and appear, itemised, in the written quotation. Because there is no airline traffic, turnarounds are quick and the terminal experience is closer to Farnborough than to Luton.
03Constraints
What can stop you
Two constraints decide whether Biggin Hill works. First, the hours: the airport is closed overnight, and opens later and closes earlier at weekends, so a late arrival from the Gulf or an early Saturday departure may need Luton instead. Second, the runway: at 5,925 feet it is comfortable for light, midsize and super-midsize jets, but heavy and ultra-long-range aircraft are often limited in weight or cannot use it at all for long sectors. On a short European trip — London to Nice, Geneva or Paris — neither usually matters, and it is one of the most convenient places in London to board.
Business aviation only, south-east of London and the closest of the business airports to the City and Canary Wharf. Open 06:30–23:00 on weekdays and 08:00–22:00 at weekends and on public holidays; the 5,925 ft runway suits light, midsize and super-midsize jets.
04The field
What this runway takes
Runway length is the constraint that decides which aircraft can use a field at all, and it is the reason a class that suits your distance sometimes cannot use the airport you wanted. London Biggin Hill has 5,925 feet, which admits the classes below. Where a class is excluded here, the nearest alternative field is usually the answer rather than a different aircraft.
- TurbopropsOperates · needs 3,000 ft
- Very light jetsOperates · needs 3,200 ft
- Light jetsOperates · needs 3,500 ft
- Midsize jetsOperates · needs 4,200 ft
- Super-midsize jetsOperates · needs 4,800 ft
- Heavy jetsOperates · needs 5,200 ft
- Ultra-long-range jetsOperates · needs 5,800 ft
- VIP airlinersToo short · needs 6,500 ft
Minimums are for a typical aircraft of the class at moderate weight and temperature. A hot day, a full cabin or a wet runway all push the requirement up, which is why an aircraft that fits on paper occasionally does not on the day.
06Get a price
Flying from London Biggin Hill
Send the other end of the trip and a date. If a different airport nearby would serve you better — cheaper handling, no curfew, a shorter drive — we will say so rather than quote what you asked for.
Questions
- How early do I need to arrive at the airport?
- Fifteen minutes before departure at a private terminal, and often less. There is no check-in desk and no security queue. On international departures passport control happens at the FBO, usually in under five minutes. At many airports your car can drive to the aircraft steps.
- How far in advance do I need to book?
- Four to six hours is usually enough for a domestic or intra-European leg if an aircraft is already positioned nearby. Intercontinental flights need longer for crew duty time, overflight and landing permits. The genuine constraints are seasonal: Nice and Ibiza in July, Geneva in ski season, and Riyadh at any time because of permit lead times.
- How much luggage can I take?
- Baggage is limited by volume, not by piece count — around 50 cubic feet on a light jet and 115 on a heavy jet. Skis, golf bags and oversized cases are fine but must be declared when you request the quote, because they can change which aircraft works. Weight matters on long legs: a full cabin plus heavy baggage can shorten range enough to add a fuel stop.
- Who sees my itinerary?
- Your broker, and the operator flying you — that is all. We do not sell or share passenger data, we do not add you to marketing sequences, and we do not publish or resell itineraries. Operators receive only the passenger details aviation authorities require them to hold.
- Can I charter a private jet today?
- Often, subject to availability. A same-day departure is possible when an aircraft and a rested crew are close enough to your departure airport. What limits it is crew duty time, airport opening hours and slots, customs notice on international flights, and landing permits for some countries. Send the route and the number of passengers as early as you can: the first reply, typically within 15 minutes, tells you whether today is realistic and what is available.