Helicopter to the Isles of Scilly
Penzance to St Mary's or Tresco in about 15 to 20 minutes, all year. Scheduled seats, day trips, baggage rules and private helicopters.
- Flight time
- About 15 to 20 min
- Day trip return
- From £149
- Lands at
- St Mary's, Tresco
- Bag allowance
- 20 kg, soft bag
Flying to the Isles of Scilly
About 15 to 20 minutes from Penzance Heliport to St Mary's or Tresco with Penzance Helicopters, which flies all year. Day trip returns cost £199 booked in advance or £149 booked within 24 hours of departure, and a 40-minute scenic flight costs £139. A private helicopter typically costs £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour.
The scheduled helicopter came back to Scilly in March 2020, after the old British International Helicopters service ended in October 2012.
Penzance Helicopters flies from Penzance Heliport at Long Rock, run by Sloane Helicopters in partnership with Penzance Heliport Ltd and Tresco Estate. It is the only operator flying direct to Tresco.
The Leonardo AW139, with 15 seats, joined the service in September 2020. For 2026 the operator runs three helicopters.
The alternatives are Skybus flights from Land's End and Exeter, and the Scillonian III ferry, which leaves Penzance at 9.15am and reaches St Mary's around midday.
Sources:Penzance Helicopters: about usPenzance Helicopters: Isles of Scilly day tripsPenzance Helicopters: FAQsTresco Island: by helicopter, direct to TrescoBTN, 23 March 2020: Penzance to Scilly helicopter service restartsPenzance Helicopters, 12 September 2020: AW139 joins the Scilly serviceWikipedia: Tresco Heliport
Penzance Helicopters fares and options
| Option | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip return, advance | £199 per person | Up to 9 hours on the islands; 5 kg day pack |
| Day trip return, last minute | £149 per person | Bookable 24 hours before the day of departure |
| Scenic flight | £139 per person | 40-minute round trip; on the day, by phone; no luggage |
| Scheduled flight to St Mary's or Tresco | On the operator's site | About 15 to 20 minutes; 20 kg hold bag |
| Private helicopter | £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour as a guide | Whole helicopter, your own timing and departure point |
Fares published by Penzance Helicopters, checked October 2026. Reduced fares apply to children aged 2 to 11 and infants under 2.
Sources:Penzance Helicopters: Isles of Scilly day tripsPenzance Helicopters: FAQs
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Baggage, pets and check-in
- Each adult and child has 20 kg in the hold, in a soft holdall no larger than 70 x 39 x 31 cm; infants have 10 kg including a pushchair.
- Hand items: up to 3 kg and 30 x 15 x 15 cm. Rucksacks go in the hold.
- Excess baggage, at the operator's discretion: £10 for up to 5 kg more.
- Dogs fly in a secure crate on board; cats and other small animals by arrangement.
- Check in an hour before; check-in closes 45 minutes before departure.
- Car park of about 280 spaces at £10 per day, locked overnight and all day Sunday.
Sources:Penzance Helicopters: FAQs
Landing a private helicopter on Scilly
Prior permission needed, with at least 2 hours' notice. Summer hours Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 18:30; closed on Sundays. No fuel for visiting aircraft. Aircraft from outside Great Britain file a General Aviation Report.
Run by Tresco Estate and open to private and charter helicopters by private arrangement. Not licensed for night use.
Skybus flies from Land's End (as little as 15 minutes) and Exeter; its Newquay service was suspended in July 2026. The Scillonian III sails March to November, leaving Penzance at 9.15am.
Sources:Council of the Isles of Scilly: St Mary's Airport general aviation and PPRWikipedia: Tresco HeliportVisit Isles of Scilly: how to travel herech-aviation, 20 July 2026: Skybus exits Newquay
What goes into a helicopter price
You charter the whole helicopter and its pilot, so the price is per flight, not per seat.
- Flying time at the hourly rate for the type: as a guide, £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour for the whole helicopter.
- Positioning when the helicopter is based away from your pickup point, both to reach you and to fly home.
- Landing fees: at The London Heliport, from £420 for a Robinson R44 to £2,485 for the largest types, plus VAT.
- Out-of-hours fees at The London Heliport: £500 for an early or evening extension, £1,000 from 21:00 to 22:59.
- VAT: transport in an aircraft with fewer than 10 seats is generally standard-rated (20%), and sightseeing flights that return to their departure airfield are standard-rated.
- Waiting time if the helicopter holds for you during the day.
Sources:The London Heliport: charges from 24 August 2026 (PDF)HMRC: the VAT treatment of passenger transport (Notice 744A)GOV.UK: VAT rates
Helicopters on the Scilly run
The scheduled service flies the 15-seat Leonardo AW139. Private charters use twins such as the AW109.
Operators
The scheduled service and the CAA certificate holder behind it.
Sources:Penzance Helicopters: about usWikipedia: Tresco HeliportCAA: Air Operator Certificate holders list, 5 October 2026 (PDF)
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow long is the helicopter from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly?+
About 15 to 20 minutes to St Mary's or Tresco.
How much is the helicopter to the Isles of Scilly?+
Day trip returns cost £199 in advance or £149 booked within 24 hours of departure. Scheduled fares are on Penzance Helicopters' booking site.
Can I fly direct to Tresco?+
Yes. Penzance Helicopters is the only operator flying direct to Tresco.
Does the helicopter fly all year?+
Yes, the service runs year-round, subject to weather at Penzance, on the route and on the islands.
What is the baggage allowance?+
20 kg per adult and child in a soft holdall up to 70 x 39 x 31 cm, plus 3 kg of hand items.
Can I bring my dog?+
Yes, in a secure crate on board. Larger crates are booked through reservations.
Can a private helicopter land on Scilly?+
Yes: at St Mary's Airport with prior permission (closed on Sundays) or at Tresco Heliport by private arrangement.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.Penzance Helicopters: about us
- 2.Penzance Helicopters: Isles of Scilly day trips
- 3.Penzance Helicopters: FAQs
- 4.Tresco Island: by helicopter, direct to Tresco
- 5.BTN, 23 March 2020: Penzance to Scilly helicopter service restarts
- 6.Penzance Helicopters, 12 September 2020: AW139 joins the Scilly service
- 7.Wikipedia: Tresco Heliport
- 8.Council of the Isles of Scilly: St Mary's Airport general aviation and PPR
- 9.Visit Isles of Scilly: how to travel here
- 10.ch-aviation, 20 July 2026: Skybus exits Newquay
- 11.The London Heliport: charges from 24 August 2026 (PDF)
- 12.HMRC: the VAT treatment of passenger transport (Notice 744A)
- 13.GOV.UK: VAT rates
- 14.CAA: Air Operator Certificate holders list, 5 October 2026 (PDF)
Fly to Scilly on your own schedule.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.