Group charter flights from Switzerland
One aircraft for the whole group: a company offsite, a ski trip, a wedding party or a tour. Swiss operators fly large jets for up to 19 and Super Puma helicopters for up to 18, and Swiss airlines charter jets with 110 to 134 seats.
- Up to 8
- Pilatus PC-24
- 12 to 19
- Large business jet
- 10 to 18
- Super Puma helicopter
- Priced
- Per aircraft
What a group charter is
You hire the whole aircraft for your group and set the route and timing. Up to 19 people fit one of the large jets flown by FOCA-certified operators, such as the Falcon 8X, Gulfstream G550 or G700. Bigger groups fly on an airliner, for example from Helvetic Airways, whose Embraer jets have 110 to 134 seats and which offers special charters.
Swiss charter operators fly large business jets such as the G700, G650 and Falcon 8X, mostly from Zurich and Geneva. Super Puma helicopters with up to 18 seats can take a group on from the airport to the mountains.
Group charter is private jet hire scaled up: one customer, one aircraft, your schedule. The headcount and the bags decide the aircraft. For up to 19, a heavy jet keeps everyone in one cabin.
Above 19, you move to an airliner. Helvetic Airways, a Swiss airline, flies 20 Embraer jets with 110 to 134 seats and offers special charters. We name the operator on your quote before you sign.
For the last leg to a resort, the Super Puma flown by Heliswiss International and Lions Air Skymedia seats 10 to 18, and the AW139 10 to 15.
Sources:FOCA (Switzerland): lists of air operator certificate holders, aeroplanes 10 June 2026 and helicopters 28 July 2026Helvetic Airways: fleet of 20 Embraer aircraft and special charter (read 19 October 2026)
Which aircraft for your group
| Group size | Aircraft | Who flies it |
|---|---|---|
| 6 to 8 | Pilatus PC-24 (6 to 8 seats) | Cat Aviation and AMAC Corporate Jet |
| 12 to 15 | Global 6000 (12 to 14), G650 (12 to 14), Falcon 6X (14 to 15) | Haute Aviation, Nomad Aviation, Premium Jet |
| 12 to 19 | Falcon 8X (12 to 18), G700 (18), G550 (18 to 19) | Jet Aviation Business Jets, Albinati Aeronautics, Dasnair |
| 10 to 18 by helicopter | Airbus AS332 Super Puma | Heliswiss International and Lions Air Skymedia |
| 110 to 134 | Embraer E190, E195, E190-E2 or E195-E2 | Helvetic Airways special charter |
Seat ranges for business jets and helicopters are from the licence data behind our operator pages and vary by cabin layout. Helvetic's seat counts are from its fleet page.
Sources:FOCA (Switzerland): lists of air operator certificate holders, aeroplanes 10 June 2026 and helicopters 28 July 2026Helvetic Airways: fleet of 20 Embraer aircraft and special charter (read 19 October 2026)
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
The rules that apply to a Swiss group charter
- Every operator on this page holds an Air Operator Certificate from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), on its lists of certificate holders.
- Passenger rights follow Regulation (EC) 261/2004, which applies to everyone departing from an airport in Switzerland, the EU, Norway or Iceland. Under the bilateral air transport agreement, Switzerland counts as an EU member state for this rule.
- Flights into Switzerland from elsewhere are covered when the operating airline's principal place of business is in Switzerland, the EU, Norway or Iceland.
- FOCA says the regulation applies to all air travel, whether individual or package tours. FOCA is the national enforcement body and can sanction airlines, but it cannot enforce compensation payments directly.
- Your charter agreement sets the terms for changes, cancellation and delay for the whole aircraft, so read it before you sign.
Sources:FOCA (Switzerland): lists of air operator certificate holders, aeroplanes 10 June 2026 and helicopters 28 July 2026FOCA: air passenger rights, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 in Switzerland (read 19 October 2026)
Swiss airports for group flights
| Airport | Runway | Notes for group flights |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich (LSZH) | 3,700 m | Slot for every IFR movement. Night curfew with no exceptions, and ad hoc charter departures slotted no later than 21:45 |
| Geneva (LSGG) | 3,900 m | Commercial flights, charters included, 06:00 to 00:30. Movement permission for every business and private flight |
| EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (LFSB) | 3,900 m | On French soil with a Swiss sector. Slots required. Non-scheduled movements banned 21:00 to 04:00 UTC |
| Bern (LSZB) | 1,730 m | No slots needed. Aircraft over 3.5 tonnes 08:00 to 19:00 only |
| Sion (LSGS) | 2,000 m | Gateway to the Valais resorts. IFR crews need a special airport qualification |
| Lugano (LSZA) | 1,415 m | Closed 12:00 to 13:30. IFR approach needs prior crew training |
Handling is mandatory at Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lugano, and at Sion for visiting aircraft over 3 tonnes. The operator books it with the slot.
Sources:AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSZH (runway, hours, slots)Slot Coordination Switzerland: restrictions at Zurich (night curfew, ad hoc charter departures)AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSGG (runway, hours, movement permission)Genève Aéroport: noise management and operating hoursAC-U-KWIK airport record, LFSB EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (runway, sectors, night rules)AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSZB Bern (runway, hours)AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSGS Sion (runway, hours, crew qualification)AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSZA Lugano (runway, hours, midday closure)
How a group charter is priced
- You pay for the whole aircraft, not per seat. Divide the price by the headcount to compare it with airline fares.
- Large business jets charter at about CHF 9'820 to CHF 15'280 per flight hour, before airport, handling and parking charges.
- Helicopters charter at about CHF 1'310 to CHF 3'820 per flight hour for the whole aircraft.
- Airliner charters are quoted per trip for the whole aircraft. A one-way trip may include the cost of the aircraft flying back empty.
How to book a group charter
- 01Share the trip
Dates, route, headcount, bags and any equipment, such as skis or event staging.
- 02Compare operators
We check which FOCA-certified operators have the right aircraft free and confirm slots, movement permission and handling.
- 03Sign and pay
You sign a charter agreement for the whole aircraft, with the operator named, and pay before departure.
Large aircraft on the Swiss charter list
From 19-seat jets to Super Puma helicopters.
Swiss operators of large aircraft
FOCA certificate holders flying large jets and helicopters.
G700, G550, Falcon 8X and Falcon 6X
Two Falcon 8Xs, two G650s and a Global 5000
Global 6000, Global 5000 and G550
Two Global 6000s, Falcon 6X and Falcon 2000
AS332 Super Puma
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow many people fit on a private jet in Switzerland?+
The largest jets on the Swiss list seat up to 18 or 19: the G550 seats 18 to 19 and the Falcon 8X up to 18. Bigger groups fly on an airliner, such as a Helvetic Airways Embraer with 110 to 134 seats.
How is a group charter priced?+
For the whole aircraft. Large jets charter at about CHF 9'820 to CHF 15'280 per flight hour, before airport and handling charges. Airliner charters are quoted per trip.
Do EU passenger rights apply to flights from Switzerland?+
Yes. FOCA enforces Regulation (EC) 261/2004 for everyone departing from a Swiss airport, and says it applies to all air travel, whether individual or package tours.
Can a group fly late out of Zurich?+
Only within the curfew. Ad hoc charter departures are slotted no later than 21:45, and there are no exceptions to the night curfew. Geneva accepts charter flights until 00:30.
Can a helicopter take the group on to a resort?+
Yes. The Super Puma seats 10 to 18 and the AW139 10 to 15, so a group can fly on from the airport. Landings follow FOCA's rules on landing sites.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.FOCA (Switzerland): lists of air operator certificate holders, aeroplanes 10 June 2026 and helicopters 28 July 2026
- 2.Helvetic Airways: fleet of 20 Embraer aircraft and special charter (read 19 October 2026)
- 3.FOCA: air passenger rights, Regulation (EC) 261/2004 in Switzerland (read 19 October 2026)
- 4.AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSZH (runway, hours, slots)
- 5.Slot Coordination Switzerland: restrictions at Zurich (night curfew, ad hoc charter departures)
- 6.AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSGG (runway, hours, movement permission)
- 7.Genève Aéroport: noise management and operating hours
- 8.AC-U-KWIK airport record, LFSB EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse (runway, sectors, night rules)
- 9.AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSZB Bern (runway, hours)
- 10.AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSGS Sion (runway, hours, crew qualification)
- 11.AC-U-KWIK airport record, LSZA Lugano (runway, hours, midday closure)
Move the whole group together.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.