The short answer
Business helicopter charter hires a whole helicopter for a work journey, flown point to point between airfields, heliports or approved private sites. Birmingham to London typically takes about 40 to 50 minutes against around 2 hours 25 by road, and Manchester to London about 60 to 75 minutes against around 4 hours 10. We arrange the aircraft and stay with the flight.
Want a price for this? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Best for
- Meetings, site visits, board days, roadshows, project teams
- Passengers
- 3 to 8 depending on aircraft
- Example
- Birmingham to London: about 40 to 50 minutes by helicopter, around 2 hours 25 by road
- Arrive
- 10 minutes before departure with photo ID
- Needed from you
- Date, times, places, passenger weights, luggage
- Weather
- If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
What does business helicopter charter give you?
It gives you time, control and a shorter distance. A helicopter flies a straight line between two points that suit you, so a journey that costs most of a working day by road typically costs an hour or so in the air. It also gives you a private cabin where the team can talk freely, and a departure time that is yours, because nobody else is on the aircraft.
It is not the right tool for every trip. For short hops across a city the car can win, and for very long distances a jet or an airline may suit better; for those, see private jet charter. In between, roughly 40 to 250 nautical miles, the helicopter often gives the best day.
A realistic example: Manchester to London and back
You have a 10:00 meeting in central London. By car the journey from Manchester typically takes around 4 hours 10 even with free-flowing roads, so you leave before dawn or stay overnight. By helicopter, Manchester to London takes about 60 to 75 minutes. You can have breakfast at home, be at the departure site 10 minutes before take-off, land in London with time to spare and be back at your desk in the afternoon.
The same shape works for London and Manchester, London and Leeds (about 70 to 85 minutes against around 4 hours 15 by road) and London and Bristol. For London itself, central arrivals use the London Heliport at Battersea, which is run by Battersea Helicopter; we arrange the flight in from your city.
Cross-country days that never touch London
Not every business journey is to the capital. Bristol to Birmingham typically takes about 35 to 45 minutes by helicopter against around 2 hours 10 by road. Liverpool to Birmingham is about 35 to 40 minutes against around 2 hours 10, and Manchester to Edinburgh about 70 to 90 minutes against around 4 hours 40. See Bristol to Birmingham and Liverpool to Birmingham, or the full UK routes list. Road times quoted here are free-flowing minimums; real journeys are usually longer.
Several sites in one day
A helicopter is at its best when the day has more than two stops: a factory, a client and a regional office, say. Because it lands near each site and does not follow the road network, the day is limited by landing permissions and daylight, not by traffic. See same-day business trips for how we plan these.
Confidentiality
The cabin is private. We share journey details only with the suppliers needed to make the flight happen and do not publish who flew where. If your team needs extra care with information, tell us at the start and we plan around it. For people who travel with a protection team, see secure helicopter transport.
Who books business flights
Personal assistants and executive assistants book most of the flights we arrange, often for a director who wants a day with fewer hours on the road. Family offices, project and events teams, law and finance firms and engineering businesses book too. If you are arranging for someone else, give us their contact details for the day, any special requirements, and the person who can make decisions if timings shift.
How to prepare
- Weights. We need approximate weights for each passenger and for luggage, because they decide the aircraft and fuel.
- Photo ID. Bring it for each passenger.
- Timing. Arrive 10 minutes before departure. There is no check-in hall.
- Luggage. Soft bags are best; holds are small.
- Landing site. Landing at an office, factory or private site is subject to landing permission and site suitability, and we check both. Otherwise we use the nearest suitable airfield. See UK heliports and airfields.
Choosing the aircraft
A team of up to 8 can fly in an AW139; the H145 D3 also takes 8, the Agusta 109 Grand takes up to 6 and the AS355 Twin Squirrel takes up to 5. We arrange twin-engine aircraft only. See our fleet and helicopter charter for business in the UK for more.
Prices
We quote for your exact journey. The cost depends on the aircraft, positioning, landing fees and flying time. For general guidance see the helicopter hire price guides, then ask us through the contact page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a business helicopter journey take compared with driving?
Birmingham to London typically takes about 40 to 50 minutes by helicopter and around 2 hours 25 by road; Manchester to London about 60 to 75 minutes against around 4 hours 10; Leeds to London about 70 to 85 minutes against around 4 hours 15. Road times are free-flowing minimums.
Can the helicopter land at our office?
Sometimes. Landing at private sites is subject to landing permission and site suitability. We check the site and the permission and, if it is not possible, propose the nearest suitable airfield with a car for the last leg.
How many people can fly?
Up to 8 in an AW139 or H145 D3, up to 6 in an Agusta 109 Grand and up to 5 in an AS355 Twin Squirrel, subject to weights. Ask us about the S-76.
Do you arrange the car at each end?
We can. For chauffeur-driven cars see exec-chauffeur.com, or tell us you will use your own driver.
What do I need to bring?
Photo ID for everyone and soft bags. Arrive 10 minutes before departure.
What if the weather is poor?
The pilot decides whether the flight goes. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
