Helicopter charter for business: when it makes sense

Key points

• Helicopter charter pays when time is the scarce resource: senior people, tight deadlines or several meetings in different cities.
• The usual sweet spot is a route of about 80 to 300 road miles, where the helicopter saves at least one and a half hours each way.
• A London, Birmingham and Manchester day takes about 130 to 160 minutes of flying, against about 8 hours 37 minutes of free-flowing driving.
• Landing near the meeting, at an airfield, heliport or private site with permission, removes the airport and the long transfer.
• A charter is private: you choose who travels and what is discussed on board.
• Passenger weights, luggage and landing permission shape the plan, and weather can change it. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
• Price depends on the aircraft, flying time and landing charges; we quote per journey and point to the price guides for general levels.

When does helicopter charter make business sense?

Helicopter charter for business makes sense when the cost of the flight is less than the value of the time, access or certainty it buys. In practice that means four situations: a same-day return where a car would force an overnight stay, a day with several sites, a time-critical meeting and travel that needs privacy.

It rarely makes sense for a one-hour hop between two city centres with good rail links, or for journeys under about 30 miles unless the roads are blocked or the venue is awkward. It becomes strong from about 80 miles. Our table of journey times by route shows where the saving starts to compound, and our business helicopter and same-day business trips pages describe the services.

Who uses business helicopter charter?

Business helicopter charter is used by company directors, deal and finance teams, professional-services partners, property and infrastructure leads, event and sports hospitality organisers and security teams. What they share is that the person travelling costs the business more per hour than the aircraft.

• Executives and boards: a morning meeting in one city and a board lunch in another.
• Deal teams: due diligence, signings and site visits where a day lost can slow a transaction.
• Site visits: factories, warehouses, wind farms, building sites and estates that are far from stations or airports.
• Hospitality: clients taken to a race meeting, a match or a dinner. See corporate days out by helicopter and dining by helicopter for client entertainment.
• Protection teams: movements where road exposure is a concern, covered in moving people securely by helicopter.

How do you cost the value of time?

Costing time starts with what an hour of the passenger's time is worth to the business, then compares the helicopter's saving with the charter cost. A rough test: multiply the hours saved by the hourly value of each person travelling, and add the cost of an overnight stay avoided.

For example, the London to Manchester flight takes about 60 to 75 minutes against 4 hours 9 minutes by road, a saving of around 3 hours each way. For four travellers, that is about 24 person-hours saved on a return day trip, before the hotel night that a road trip might need. Whether that justifies the flight is your decision; we give you the flight time and the quote to make it.

We do not publish prices, because the cost varies with aircraft and route. Start with the Helicopter Hire Prices guides for general levels, then ask us for a quote on your route.

What does a worked business day plan look like?

A worked example shows the effect. Take three meetings in one day, in London, Birmingham and Manchester, starting and finishing in London. The plan below uses the typical times from our data for each leg.

An illustrative timeline might be as follows.

1. 07:20 arrive at the London departure site; take off at 07:30.
2. About 08:20 land at Birmingham; meeting from 08:45 to 10:45.
3. 11:00 take off; about 11:35 land at Manchester; meeting and lunch until 15:00.
4. 15:15 take off; land in London at about 16:30.

By road, the same sequence would mean over eight and a half hours at the wheel even with no traffic, which is not possible in a single working day. The route pages give detail for London to Birmingham, Birmingham to Manchester and London to Manchester. The plan assumes landing sites close to each meeting, suitable weather and landing permission where private sites are used.

To plan a day that returns to the start, read our guide to planning same-day return helicopter trips.

What helps a business flight run smoothly?

A business flight runs smoothly when the details are agreed in advance and the meeting place is near the landing site. The checklist below covers what we ask for.

• Exact addresses and times: the meeting address, the earliest and latest times, and how fixed they are.
• Passenger names and weights: required for every flight, including cabin bags. Luggage in soft bags where the hold is small.
• Landing sites: an airfield or heliport near each meeting, or a private site if the host agrees; the UK heliports and airfields directory lists options. Private sites are subject to landing permission and site suitability.
• Ground transport: a car at each end; Executive Global Travel can arrange it.
• A weather plan: a later departure, a different site or a car fallback.
• Arrival: about 10 minutes before departure, with photo ID.

Read how helicopter charter works for the booking steps in full.

What are the limits of business helicopter charter?

The main limits are weather, daylight, landing permission and weights. Helicopters fly mostly by visual reference, so a tight meeting should have a ground fallback. Winter days are short, and some sites have opening hours. Private sites need permission. Large teams may need a bigger helicopter or two aircraft.

It is also not the right tool for every journey. For an airport connection, a transfer may suit better; see airport transfers by helicopter. For longer trips and international flights, charter-private-jet.com covers jets and turboprops. For central London to Battersea Helicopter, whose charter page explains the London Heliport.

Which cities and routes do businesses ask for most?

The most requested business routes run between London and the big regional cities, and between the northern and midlands cities themselves. Our city pages for London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Bristol show the nearest sites and the times from each. Browse the full routes index for city pairs.