London's Private Jet Airports: Farnborough vs Biggin Hill vs Luton vs Northolt
Nobody flying private out of London uses Heathrow. Over two weeks this June, it handled around twenty business-jet movements, while Farnborough handled more than 1,600. The real choice is between four smaller airports, and which one is right depends on where you're starting from, what day you're flying and how much the clock matters to you.
Farnborough — the purpose-built one
Farnborough is the only airport in the country built entirely for business aviation. There are no airline flights and no queues, and you're through a single private terminal in minutes. It's in Hampshire, about an hour from Mayfair or Chelsea by car, and it's the easiest airport for anyone coming from the west or south-west of London.
It's also the busiest. In the second half of June it handled over 40% of all private-jet traffic at the four main London gateways. That popularity comes with limits. Farnborough is capped on annual movements and on weekend flights, and it closes at 20:00 on weekends. In June the airport asked the government to relax the weekend quota, but no decision has been made yet. On a peak Friday or Sunday, it's worth securing your times early.
Best for: west London, Surrey and Hampshire, and anyone who wants the most polished experience.
Biggin Hill — the closest to the City and the South Bank
Biggin Hill is about 16 miles from central London, closer than Farnborough or Luton. On a good day you can reach the City or Canary Wharf in under an hour. It's open from early morning until late evening on weekdays, with shorter hours at weekends. Very early departures and late arrivals need permission in advance.
The catch is the roads. There's no motorway access, so south-east London traffic can stretch the drive. On the ground it's very personal, with two FBOs, Biggin Hill Executive Handling and Jetex, and a number of operators and maintenance companies based on the airfield.
Best for: the City, Canary Wharf, south London and Kent, and short European trips.
Luton — the all-hours option
Luton is a busy commercial airport with two dedicated private terminals, run by Signature and Harrods Aviation. Its strength is hours: it's open 24 hours in winter, which helps with very early or very late flights that Farnborough and Biggin Hill can't take.
The trade-off is congestion. Luton needs slots, aircraft parking is tight, and the noise rules are strict. It's roughly 35 miles from central London, about an hour to an hour and a half by car, but very convenient from north London, Hertfordshire or the M1 corridor.
Best for: north London, late-night or early-morning departures, and long-haul flights.
Northolt — the closest of all, with conditions
RAF Northolt is an active military airfield in west London that also accepts a limited number of civil business flights. It's about 12 miles from central London, closer than any other option. If you're staying in Kensington or Notting Hill, you can be on board half an hour after leaving the house.
It's also the most restricted. Every flight needs a slot and prior permission, with full passenger and crew lists submitted in advance. Opening hours are shorter, especially at weekends. Universal Aviation is the only handler. Northolt works brilliantly when it's available, but it can't be guaranteed at short notice.
Best for: west London, short notice only when slots allow, and clients who value proximity above everything else.
What about Stansted and London City?
Stansted is open 24/7 and suits large long-range jets and flights to and from the US or the Middle East, but it's a long drive from west London. London City is the closest to the City itself, but its short runway and steep approach rule out larger aircraft, and parking is very limited, so it's mainly for light and midsize jets on quick trips.
How we choose
The price of the jet itself rarely changes much between these airports. Choosing between them comes down to:
Where you're starting from. A 20-minute drive versus 90 minutes on a Friday afternoon makes the difference. What day and time. Weekend restrictions at Farnborough and Northolt, and night hours at Luton and Stansted, often decide it. The aircraft. Some jets suit certain runways better than others, and some operators are based at one airport, so flying from there avoids a positioning fee.
That's the part we do before you see a quote: matching the airport to your journey, not just the aircraft to the price.