The short answer
Helicopter charter at Stansted covers the London Heliport at Battersea in about 20 to 25 minutes, against 1 hour 34 minutes by road, and Cambridge in 15 to 20 minutes. Stansted is open 24 hours with customs on site, but every private flight needs a slot and prior permission at least 4 hours before, arranged through the mandatory handling agent.
Flying from London Stansted Airport? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Site
- London Stansted Airport, Stansted, Essex (EGSS / STN)
- Hours as published
- 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; night restrictions 23:30 to 06:00 local (library check 29 September 2026)
- Slots and handling
- Every flight needs a slot; PPR at least 4 hours before movement via the handling agent, which is mandatory
- Customs and immigration
- Yes, on site, H24. Prior notice by 21:00 local for movements 23:00 to 07:00. Private arrivals from abroad clear in the Business Aviation Terminal
- Runway
- 04/22, 3,049 m by 46 m, grooved asphalt
- Jets
- Yes, with five FBOs, 24 hours; a hotel on site
- To Battersea
- About 20 to 25 minutes by helicopter, 1 hour 34 minutes by road
Where London Stansted Airport flights start and end
The map shows London Stansted Airport, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. London Stansted Airport is at London Stansted Airport, Stansted, Essex. Open it in Google Maps.
London Stansted Airport
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Sites that serve London Stansted Airport
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
London Stansted Airport EGSS / STN
- Address
- London Stansted Airport, Stansted, Essex
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
24 hours a day, 365 days a year; night restrictions 23:30–06:00 local. Customs and immigration H24 – prior notice by…
24 hours a day, 365 days a year; night restrictions 23:30–06:00 local. Customs and immigration H24 – prior notice by 21:00 local for movements 23:00–07:00- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- Yes – on site (H24; private arrivals from abroad clear customs in the Business Aviation Terminal)
- Runway
- 04/22 – 3,049 m × 46 m asphalt (grooved)
What Stansted offers a helicopter charter
Stansted has a 3,049 m runway, five business aviation FBOs and customs open around the clock. For a helicopter charter that means the airport is a place where a late-night jet arrival from abroad can meet a waiting helicopter, and where the helicopter can continue to Cambridge, Newmarket or London before the first road traffic of the day has built up.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. We handle the slot, the permission and the handling agent as part of the booking, because at Stansted each of them is compulsory.
Journey times from London Stansted Airport
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge | 19 nm (22 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 57 min (33 mi) | 39 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 22 nm (26 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 56 min (36 mi) | 38 min |
| London | 29 nm (34 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 34 min (43 mi) | 1 h 11 min |
| London Heathrow | 36 nm (41 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 31 min (68 mi) | 1 h 08 min |
| Epsom Downs | 39 nm (45 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 42 min (74 mi) | 1 h 14 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 44 nm (51 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 44 min (76 mi) | 1 h 16 min |
| London Gatwick | 47 nm (54 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 41 min (77 mi) | 1 h 13 min |
| Silverstone | 48 nm (55 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 2 h 01 min (75 mi) | 1 h 31 min |
| Oxford | 58 nm (66 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 13 min (102 mi) | 1 h 38 min |
| Norwich | 61 nm (70 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 05 min (90 mi) | 1 h 30 min |
| Goodwood | 72 nm (83 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 34 min (119 mi) | 1 h 54 min |
| Birmingham | 81 nm (93 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 33 min (122 mi) | 1 h 48 min |
| Southampton | 82 nm (94 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 33 min (126 mi) | 1 h 48 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 85 nm (98 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 58 min (137 mi) | 2 h 13 min |
| Bristol | 114 nm (131 mi) | 55 to 65 min | 3 h 36 min (174 mi) | 2 h 36 min |
| Manchester | 127 nm (146 mi) | 60 to 70 min | 4 h 11 min (198 mi) | 3 h 06 min |
| York Racecourse | 133 nm (153 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 40 min (187 mi) | 2 h 32 min |
| Cardiff | 137 nm (157 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 4 h 15 min (212 mi) | 3 h 07 min |
| Leeds | 137 nm (158 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 53 min (190 mi) | 2 h 45 min |
| Liverpool | 142 nm (164 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 4 h 17 min (216 mi) | 3 h 04 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 150 nm (173 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 4 h 19 min (224 mi) | 3 h 04 min |
| Newcastle | 201 nm (232 mi) | 90 to 110 min | 5 h 29 min (271 mi) | 3 h 49 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
Slots, notice and the night rules
Stansted is slot-coordinated, so each movement needs a slot. Prior permission must reach the airport at least 4 hours before the movement, through the handling agent. Night restrictions run 23:30 to 06:00 local. Customs and immigration are on site all hours, but for a movement between 23:00 and 07:00 notice must be given by 21:00 local. Private arrivals from abroad clear customs in the Business Aviation Terminal.
Because each of these is a deadline, please tell us your timing as early as you can. Our old page recorded Stansted as open 24 hours without these conditions; the published picture is more detailed.
Stansted against the road
The short hops are the best value. Cambridge is 15 to 20 minutes by helicopter and 57 minutes by road. Newmarket is 15 to 20 against 56. The London Heliport at Battersea takes 20 to 25 against 1 hour 34, Heathrow 20 to 25 against 1 hour 31, and Epsom Downs 25 to 30 against 1 hour 42.
Norwich is about 30 to 40 minutes against 2 hours 5. Oxford is 30 to 40 against 2 hours 13, Silverstone 25 to 35 against 2 hours 1, and Birmingham 40 to 50 against 2 hours 33. Manchester takes 60 to 70 minutes against 4 hours 11, and Newcastle 90 to 110 against 5 hours 29. Compare the London to Manchester route. Road times are free-flowing minimums.
Cambridge, Newmarket, Essex: why people charter from here
East of England business is dispersed, and road links between its towns are poor. From Stansted, Cambridge and its technology and research employers are 15 to 20 minutes away, and Norwich about 30 to 40. Newmarket racing days are 15 to 20 minutes by air, so a shuttle from the airport beats the Suffolk lanes.
Clients have also flown to Chelmsford, Braintree, and Down Hall Hotel and Spa near Hatfield Heath, among others. Landing at a hotel or private site is subject to landing permission and site suitability. For the wider area see the East of England page and Southend.
Booking a Stansted charter
Tell us your date, arrival time and passengers with weights, and where you are going. We secure the slot, the permission and the handling, and confirm the helicopter. Be at the aircraft 10 minutes before departure with soft luggage. For cost guidance see Helicopter Hire Prices; for the jet, our private jet site.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. Business groups may like the business helicopter page, and the neighbouring Luton page for the other side of London.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to London Stansted Airport, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stansted open 24 hours for helicopters?
The airport and its customs are open 24 hours, but night restrictions run 23:30 to 06:00 and every private flight needs a slot and handling.
How much notice does Stansted need?
Prior permission at least 4 hours before the movement, through the handling agent. For customs on movements 23:00 to 07:00, notice by 21:00 local.
Where do private arrivals clear customs at Stansted?
In the Business Aviation Terminal.
How long is the helicopter from Stansted to Cambridge?
About 15 to 20 minutes, against about 57 minutes by road.
Can I fly from Stansted to Newmarket races?
Yes, in about 15 to 20 minutes, against about 56 minutes by road. Check event dates with the organiser.
Is a handling agent compulsory at Stansted?
Yes. We book one with the slot.
