Helicopter transfers between UK airports: how long they really take

Key points

• Between London airports, a helicopter typically takes 10 to 30 minutes; the same transfer by road is usually 25 minutes to over 1 hour 40 minutes, even before traffic.
• The shortest pair in our data is Northolt to Heathrow at about 5 nautical miles (10 minutes); the longest in the table is Stansted to Gatwick at 47 nautical miles (25 to 30 minutes).
• Outside London, Manchester to Liverpool takes about 15 to 20 minutes, Birmingham to East Midlands about 20 to 25 and Edinburgh to Glasgow about 20 to 25.
• Times are block times: they include about 8 minutes for start-up and landing, and exclude check-in. We ask passengers to arrive 10 minutes before departure.
• Before a tight connection, check customs, prior permission, slots and opening hours at both ends. Gatwick restricts helicopter operations, and Heathrow needs prior written permission.
• For the jet side of the journey, see Charter-A's private jet service.

How long does a helicopter transfer between UK airports take?

Helicopter transfers between UK airports in the south east take between 10 and 30 minutes, and the saving over the road grows with the distance. We calculate each time the same way: helicopter block time is distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as about 10% less to 12% more and rounded to 5 minutes, and road time is free-flowing and so a floor. The table shows real pairs from our route data.

The Liverpool, Glasgow and Birmingham road times are to the city rather than to the airport door, so treat them as close but not exact. The helicopter times are typical and assume normal weather and a direct routing, with no air traffic delay.

Why does a helicopter suit a tight airport connection?

A helicopter removes the unpredictable part of the journey, which is the road. The London orbital motorways are the weakest link between airports, and the road figures in the table are best case. A 15 minute flight does not change when a lane is closed.

It also changes the kind of airport you can use. Biggin Hill is a dedicated business aviation airport with no runway slots required. Northolt, Luton and Farnborough are also strong choices for private jets. If you arrive at Heathrow on an airline and leave from Biggin Hill on a jet, a helicopter transfer cuts roughly 50 minutes from the road time. That is why Biggin Hill, Luton, Northolt and Farnborough appear so often in our planning.

We cannot make up for a missed airline connection, and a helicopter does not alter your airline's rules. If your tickets are on separate bookings, check the terms with the airline. For the jet itself, Charter Private Jet arranges jets, turboprops and air taxis, and our airport transfers by helicopter page explains the service.

What should I check before booking an airport-to-airport transfer?

Check four things at both ends: customs and immigration, prior permission, slots and opening hours. These are the things that actually stop a transfer, and the table shows how much they vary among London airports. Hours are as published and checked on 29 September 2026.

The practical lessons: Northolt and Farnborough close earlier than Heathrow and Luton, Biggin Hill keeps shorter hours at weekends, and Gatwick is hard to use for helicopters. We normally use Northolt, Biggin Hill or Battersea for London and keep a second airport as a back-up. For site rules in general, read where helicopters can land in the UK.

What about transfers between northern airports?

Between northern cities the saving is smaller in minutes but still real, and the airports are generous with hours. Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon are about 20 nautical miles apart: roughly 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter, against 46 minutes by road to Liverpool at best. Both airports have on-site customs, and Manchester has two business-aviation terminals.

Birmingham and East Midlands are about 27 nautical miles apart, so the helicopter takes about 20 to 25 minutes. East Midlands is recorded as not needing PPR for business aviation. Edinburgh and Glasgow are 36 nautical miles apart, with a helicopter time of 20 to 25 minutes against 1 hour 4 minutes on the road. Both are open around the clock, but Glasgow requires prior approval for all flights, general aviation included, and a handling agent.

Read more on Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham, East Midlands, Edinburgh and Glasgow. For longer connections see Birmingham to Manchester by helicopter and Manchester to Edinburgh.

When is the road the better choice?

The road wins when the airports are very close, the helicopter cannot get a landing slot or the weather rules out flying. For the shortest pairs the minutes saved are small, and the cost of a helicopter may not make sense. A transfer from Northolt to Heathrow saves about 12 minutes on free-flowing roads.

A helicopter also needs the ground at each end: a landing point, a way from the helipad to the terminal or aircraft, and a plan if the weather closes in. When we quote, we say what is arranged and what is not, and whether the transfer ends at a terminal or at the aircraft. We cannot promise to bypass the terminal at every airport. Use Helicopter Hire Prices for the cost factors, and ask for a quote through our form. Executive Global Travel can provide the car at either end.