Block hour rate is the headline figure — typically €4,000 to €6,500 for light jets, €6,000 to €9,000 for midsize, €9,000 to €14,000 for heavy. The block hour starts at chocks-off and ends at chocks-on.
Positioning is the often-invisible second number. If the aircraft is not where you need it, the operator charges for the empty repositioning leg to get it there — and the empty return after your drop-off. This frequently doubles the headline cost on uncommon routes.
Add: landing fees (€600 to €3,500 depending on FBO and airport), handling (€400 to €1,500), parking if overnight, crew accommodation if the duty cycle extends, de-icing in winter, and international navigation fees for Europe-to-Gulf routing.
VAT treatment varies by routing: intra-EU passenger flights are subject to VAT in the country of departure; international flights leaving the EU are typically zero-rated. This materially affects total invoice — confirm with the operator before signing.
Why two operators quote different prices for the same route: aircraft category mismatch (a Phenom 300 vs a Citation XLS+ are not equivalent), positioning leg differences, FBO selection at each end, and inclusion or exclusion of catering, ground and crew gratuity.
