Private jets at Bern Airport
Bern Airport is at Belp, 6 km south-east of Bern, with a single 1,730-metre paved runway. Jets can use it 08:00-19:00 local every day, with later movements by extension requested at least three hours ahead. The airport handles visiting jets itself, customs and border police are on site, no slots are needed, and both runway directions have steep 4-degree approaches.
- Longest runway
- 1,730 m
- Codes
- BRN · LSZB
- Business aviation handling
- Ground Services Bern (Flughafen Bern AG)
Did you knowThe instrument approach to Bern's runway 32 descends at 4 degrees instead of the usual 3, because rising terrain, including the Belpberg ridge beside the final approach, demands a steeper path. Bern Airport: RNP runway 32 pilot familiarisation briefing
Charter a private jet to Bern Airport
Bern Airport is at Belp, 6 km south-east of the city (AIP), and the airport says Interlaken, Grindelwald, Gstaad and Lucerne can be reached in under 1.5 hours. Jets can land and take off 08:00–19:00 every day, with later movements by extension requested at least three hours ahead, and the airport's own Ground Services handle visiting jets. No slots are needed, but both runways have steep 4-degree approaches, so we check the crew and aircraft first.
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What the private terminal is like at Bern
No separate private terminal is described. The airport's handling page says passengers meet at the main information desk in the airport terminal, and the business aviation page lists a crew lounge and apron access for client limousines or taxis.
Ground Services Bern (Flughafen Bern AG)
The airport's own handling, listed in the AIP as the ground handling agent. Full-service handling for business jets and helicopters over 3.5 t, requested through the airport's online handling form. Crew lounge, contracted drivers, hotel bookings, VIP catering, weather and NOTAM briefing help. Fuel from BM-Services and Shell.
Customs at Bern, step by step
What happens on an international flight, in the order you meet it. We handle the paperwork with the operator.
- When you book, we ask for each passenger's passport details for the operator.
- Handling and parking permission from Ground Services Bern are compulsory for charter and private jets over 3.5 tonnes, and for every aircraft flying to or from outside the Schengen area, such as the UK. The operator books them, along with any extension for a movement outside 08:00–19:00.
- Passengers meet at the main information desk in the terminal, or a limousine or taxi can be given access to the aircraft.
- Customs and border police are on site and work during the airport's opening hours, so passports are checked at the airport.
Which private jets can use Bern?
On runway length, every turboprop, very light jet, light jet, super light jet, midsize jet and super midsize type is within it; some heavy jet, ultra long range and VIP airliner types fit, others only with less fuel or fewer passengers. The check below uses each type's published take-off distance at maximum weight, at sea level on a 15°C day. Heat, altitude, a wet runway and the operator's own rules can need more, so we confirm it for your aircraft and date.
Both runways have a non-standard 4-degree approach, steeper than the usual 3 degrees: the ILS to runway 14 and the RNP approaches to runway 32, which the AIP strongly recommends crews prepare for with the airport's briefing, especially in faster category C jets. Runway 32 departures follow high-performance routes needing climb gradients of up to 10%. Landing distance on runway 14 is 1,530 m, and fire cover above category 3 (up to 7) must be requested at least three hours ahead.
| Aircraft class | On this runway |
|---|---|
| Turboprop 5–8 seats · take-off 730–1,000 m · Pilatus PC-12 NGX | Yes |
| Very light jet 4–5 seats · take-off 630–1,100 m | Yes |
| Light jet 6–7 seats · take-off 960–1,200 m · Embraer Phenom 300E | Yes |
| Super light jet 7–8 seats · take-off 820–1,350 m | Yes |
| Midsize jet 8–9 seats · take-off 1,100–1,660 m · Cessna Citation XLS+ | Yes, though the longest-legged types need a performance check |
| Super midsize 9–10 seats · take-off 1,400–1,600 m · Bombardier Challenger 350 | Yes, though the longest-legged types need a performance check |
| Heavy jet 12–14 seats · take-off 1,430–1,780 m · Dassault Falcon 7X | Some types (4 of 8); others with less fuel or fewer passengers |
| Ultra long range 13–19 seats · take-off 1,700–1,970 m · Bombardier Global 7500 | Some types (1 of 8); others with less fuel or fewer passengers |
| VIP airliner 18–50+ seats · take-off 1,500–2,100 m | Some types (1 of 5); others with less fuel or fewer passengers |
Worth knowing before you fly
- Jets have a fixed day of 08:00-19:00 local. A later arrival is possible by extension, requested at least three hours ahead, and on weekdays and Sundays landings can run to 22:00, so a late London departure can still work if we arrange it in advance.
- Both runways have 4-degree approaches, steeper than the usual 3 degrees, and runway 32 departures need strong climb performance. We check that the operator's crew have read the airport's runway 32 briefing and that the aircraft can meet the published climb gradients.
- Fire cover is category 3 unless a higher one is booked. Categories up to 7 must be requested at least three hours ahead, which the operator arranges to match the aircraft.
- There is no separate private terminal: passengers meet at the main information desk, customs and border police are on site, and a client limousine or taxi can be given access to the aircraft.
Operating information
For business and private flights. Details change, so we check them again for your date.
Airport
| Opening hours | AIP Switzerland (LSZB AD 2, reissue AMDT 005 2026 of 14 May 2026), times converted from UTC to Swiss local time: for aircraft above 3.5 tonnes the airport is open 08:00-19:00 local, Monday to Sunday, all year. The airport's own operating-hours page gives the same 08:00-19:00 for aircraft and helicopters over 3.5 t, 365 days a year. Flights outside these hours need special permission, requested at least 3 hours before ETD/ETA by phone to Ground Services. For non-scheduled flights the extension windows are: Monday-Friday take-offs 07:00-20:00 and landings 07:00-22:00 local; Saturday in winter from 07:00 until the end of evening civil twilight (not earlier than 18:00), in summer take-offs 07:00-20:00 and landings 07:00-21:00 local; Sunday take-offs 08:00-20:00 and landings 08:00-22:00 local. Customs and immigration, handling and de-icing work during aerodrome hours. Swiss federal law (OSIA art. 39, consolidated text of 1 July 2026) bans take-offs and landings of non-commercial flights 22:00-06:00 local at all Swiss aerodromes. |
|---|---|
| Prior permission | No general prior permission is published for jets in the AIP extract. Ground handling and parking permission are compulsory for charter, air taxi and non-commercial flights with aircraft above 3.5 tonnes to or from Schengen destinations, and for all aircraft to or from non-Schengen destinations (handler: Ground Services Bern). Movements outside opening hours need special permission requested at least 3 hours ahead. Non-based helicopters need PPR. The RNP approach to runway 32, if it is not the approach in use on ATIS, must be requested from ATC at least 30 minutes before use. |
| Customs and immigration | Customs and immigration are available during aerodrome hours (AIP). The airport states that customs and border police are on site. Passengers meet at the main information desk in the terminal, and client limousines or taxis can be given access to the apron. |
| Slots | The airport's business aviation page says no slots are needed. Movements are controlled through opening hours and extensions requested at least 3 hours ahead. |
| Noise and night restrictions | More than idle reverse thrust must not be used except for safety or operational reasons, and the full runway length should be used to decelerate. Airport ground power units are to be used first; APUs may run at most 30 minutes before off-block and 20 minutes after on-block. Rolling take-offs where possible. Listed public holidays follow Sunday rules. On Good Friday, Whit Sunday, the Federal Day of Prayer and Christmas Day, non-commercial take-offs before 10:30 local are only allowed for aircraft certified at or below 65 dB(A) (ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 6) or 72 dB(A) (Chapter 10). Aircraft in higher noise categories pay a noise surcharge. Swiss federal law (OSIA art. 39) bans non-commercial take-offs and landings 22:00-06:00 local. |
| Aircraft parking | Parking permission is compulsory for charter, air taxi and non-commercial flights with aircraft above 3.5 t (Schengen) and for all aircraft to or from non-Schengen destinations. Hangar space for visiting aircraft is available on request from Flughafen Bern AG. Aircraft of code letter B and larger are marshalled to their stand. Main taxiways C and F take wingspans up to 36.0 m; the apron taxiway K takes 21.5 m, 34.3 m or 25 m depending on the section, and stand Y3A takes 36.0 m. |
| De-icing | De-icing is available 1 October to 30 April, run by Flughafen Bern AG, with Type I and Type II fluids and one de-icing truck. On-stand de-icing on stands Y3-Y4. The clean aircraft concept applies and aircraft are de-iced to SAE AS6285. |
| Other restrictions | Both runways have a non-standard 4.0-degree approach angle: the ILS glide path to runway 14 is 4.0 degrees, the PAPIs on both runways are set at 4.0 degrees, and the RNP approaches to runway 32 descend at a constant 4 degrees. The airport's RNP runway 32 briefing says the steeper angle is needed for obstacle clearance, with rising terrain and the Belpberg ridge beside the final approach; the AIP strongly recommends it for crews, especially of category C aircraft. Departures from runway 32 follow RNAV SIDs titled high performance, with climb gradients of 8.5-10.0%; runway 14 SIDs need 8.5-8.9%. If a crew cannot meet them, ATC must be told and another SID requested. Landing distance on runway 14 is 1,530 m (full take-off run 1,730 m). Fire cover is category 3 during opening hours; higher categories up to 7 on request at least 3 hours before ETA/ETD. The ILS 14 counts as CAT I with intermediate facilities. |
Runways
| 14/32 | 1,730 m, asphalt |
|---|---|
| 14R/32L grass | 650 m, grass (closed) |
| 16/34 glider | 520 m, grass (gliders only, ppr) |
By road
| Bern main railway station | About 35 minutes by train via Belp, then bus 160 (airport figure) |
|---|---|
| Interlaken, Grindelwald, Gstaad and Lucerne | Under 1.5 hours (airport figure; mode of travel not stated) |
Flying times
Airports near Bern
Grenchen
Sankt Stephan
More airport guides nearby: EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Zurich Airport, Geneva Airport, Lugano Airport.
Questions
Is there a private terminal at Bern Airport?
No separate private terminal is described. The airport's handling page says passengers meet at the main information desk in the airport terminal, and the business aviation page lists a crew lounge and apron access for client limousines or taxis.
What are Bern Airport's opening hours for private flights?
AIP Switzerland (LSZB AD 2, reissue AMDT 005 2026 of 14 May 2026), times converted from UTC to Swiss local time: for aircraft above 3.5 tonnes the airport is open 08:00-19:00 local, Monday to Sunday, all year. The airport's own operating-hours page gives the same 08:00-19:00 for aircraft and helicopters over 3.5 t, 365 days a year. Flights outside these hours need special permission, requested at least 3 hours before ETD/ETA by phone to Ground Services. For non-scheduled flights the extension windows are: Monday-Friday take-offs 07:00-20:00 and landings 07:00-22:00 local; Saturday in winter from 07:00 until the end of evening civil twilight (not earlier than 18:00), in summer take-offs 07:00-20:00 and landings 07:00-21:00 local; Sunday take-offs 08:00-20:00 and landings 08:00-22:00 local. Customs and immigration, handling and de-icing work during aerodrome hours. Swiss federal law (OSIA art. 39, consolidated text of 1 July 2026) bans take-offs and landings of non-commercial flights 22:00-06:00 local at all Swiss aerodromes.
Can I clear customs at Bern Airport on a private flight?
Customs and immigration are available during aerodrome hours (AIP). The airport states that customs and border police are on site. Passengers meet at the main information desk in the terminal, and client limousines or taxis can be given access to the apron.
What size of private jet can use Bern?
The longest runway is 1,730 m. Going by each type's published take-off distance at maximum weight: every turboprop, very light jet, light jet, super light jet, midsize jet and super midsize type is within it; some heavy jet, ultra long range and VIP airliner types fit, others only with less fuel or fewer passengers. Both runways have a non-standard 4-degree approach, steeper than the usual 3 degrees: the ILS to runway 14 and the RNP approaches to runway 32, which the AIP strongly recommends crews prepare for with the airport's briefing, especially in faster category C jets. Runway 32 departures follow high-performance routes needing climb gradients of up to 10%. Landing distance on runway 14 is 1,530 m, and fire cover above category 3 (up to 7) must be requested at least three hours ahead. The operator confirms performance for your aircraft, load and date.
What are the fees for a private jet at Bern?
Our quotes include landing and handling fees, along with fuel, crew and taxes. What the airport and handler charge depends mainly on the aircraft's size and the time of day. Out-of-hours, de-icing and special event fees can be extra, and we tell you which could apply before you book.
Can we have catering on a private flight to Bern?
Yes. Tell us what you would like when you book and the operator orders it for the flight. Depending on the operator and region it is either included or charged separately, and we tell you which before you book.
Checked 13 November 2026 from published airport, government and handler information (bernairport.ch, fedlex.data.admin.ch). Not for operational use; we confirm everything for your flight.
