Private jets at Kerry Airport
Kerry Airport at Farranfore sits between Tralee and Killarney, with a single 2,000-metre runway and handling, fuel and customs assistance provided by the airport itself. It keeps short published hours (09:00-18:00 local all year), every flight needs prior permission, and customs and immigration need 24 hours' notice. It is not slot-constrained.
- Longest runway
- 2,000 m
- Codes
- KIR · EIKY
- Business aviation handling
- Kerry Airport (Kerry Executive Handling)
Did you knowThe first aircraft landed at Kerry Airport on 25 August 1969, on a 1,090-metre runway. The present 2,000-metre runway opened in May 1994. Kerry Airport: History of Kerry Airport
One of 5 airports in our Ireland guide.
Charter a private jet to Kerry Airport
Kerry Airport is at Farranfore, 7 NM north of Killarney and 8 NM south-east of Tralee (AIP figures). The airport handles business jets itself, from landing permission to customs assistance and fuel. Published hours are 09:00–18:00 local all year, so earlier or later flights and customs both need 24 hours' notice.
Send the trip and we'll come back with clear quotes from vetted operators.
Independent UK charter broker since 2015 · Volairis Ltd, Companies House 09488748 · Member of The Air Charter Association
What the private terminal is like at Kerry
No. Passengers use the single terminal, with the airport's own staff handling business jets.
Kerry Airport (Kerry Executive Handling)
The airport plc provides all ground handling for business and corporate jets: landing permission, stand allocation, customs and immigration assistance, Jet A1, flight planning, weather briefing, crew and passenger transport to and from the aircraft, catering and crew hotels. Handling is available within aerodrome hours by arrangement.
Customs at Kerry, 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.
- Every flight needs prior permission from the airport, which its own handling team arranges.
- Customs and immigration need 24 hours' notice to the airport, so short-notice trips have to be checked first.
- Passengers use the single terminal. On flights from outside the EU, they clear customs through the Green or Red channel, with the airport's staff assisting.
Which private jets can use Kerry?
On runway length, every turboprop, very light jet, light jet, super light jet, midsize jet, super midsize, heavy jet and ultra long range type is within it; some 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.
The declared take-off run is 2,000 m in both directions. From 1 October to 31 May turbojets may operate only between 07:30 and 23:00 UTC. Kerry is not approved for low visibility operations, so flights are suspended when the RVR is 550 m or less or cloud is 200 ft or lower. The published departure procedures cover aircraft categories A to C, and there is no hangar space for visiting aircraft.
| 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 |
| Super midsize 9–10 seats · take-off 1,400–1,600 m · Bombardier Challenger 350 | Yes |
| Heavy jet 12–14 seats · take-off 1,430–1,780 m · Dassault Falcon 7X | Yes |
| Ultra long range 13–19 seats · take-off 1,700–1,970 m · Bombardier Global 7500 | Yes, though the longest-legged types need a performance check |
| VIP airliner 18–50+ seats · take-off 1,500–2,100 m | Some types (4 of 5); others with less fuel or fewer passengers |
Worth knowing before you fly
- Published hours work out at 09:00-18:00 Irish local time all year. Earlier or later movements need 24 hours' notice for air traffic control, and from October to May jets cannot operate before 07:30 or after 23:00 UTC at all.
- Customs and immigration need 24 hours' notice, so a same-day trip into Kerry from the UK or abroad needs to be checked with the airport first.
- Kerry has no low-visibility approval, so arrivals and departures are suspended in thick fog or very low cloud (RVR 550 m or less, or cloud 200 ft or lower).
- The airport handles business jets itself and sits between Killarney and Tralee; it says nine championship golf courses lie within a 75-minute drive.
Events Kerry serves
From our events calendar: what the airport is used for, and the transfer to the venue on an ordinary day.
Operating information
For business and private flights. Details change, so we check them again for your date.
Airport
| Opening hours | The AIP for Ireland (AIRAC 29 October 2026) lists the aerodrome and air traffic services as winter 09:00-18:00 UTC and summer 08:00-17:00 UTC (09:00-18:00 Irish local time in both seasons), with variations by NOTAM. Air traffic services are available outside these hours with 24 hours' notice to the airport. Last fuelling is 30 minutes before closing. Security is H24. The airport is closed on Christmas Day. |
|---|---|
| Prior permission | PPR is required in advance for all flights, from the airport operator. Filing a flight plan is not prior permission (Irish AIP). The airport's own handling team lists arranging landing permission among its services. |
| Customs and immigration | Customs and immigration need 24 hours' prior notice to the airport operator (Irish AIP). The AIP's general section says all aircraft from outside the EU must report to Customs. The airport says immigration, customs and police controls are present during normal opening hours, and passengers on flights from outside the EU clear customs through the Green or Red channel. Its handling team assists with customs and immigration. |
| Slots | Not slot-constrained (airport statement). Every flight needs prior permission instead. |
| Noise and night restrictions | Turbojet aircraft may operate only between 07:30 and 23:00 UTC from 1 October to 31 May; operation is unrestricted from 1 June to 30 September. East Apron engine and APU runs are limited to 15 minutes (Irish AIP). |
| Aircraft parking | Two aprons (East and West). On the East Apron, engine or APU running before departure or after arrival is limited to 15 minutes. There is no hangar space and there are no repair facilities for visiting aircraft (Irish AIP). |
| De-icing | Available on request from a mobile unit (Irish AIP). |
| Other restrictions | Kerry is not approved for low visibility procedures: arrivals and departures are suspended when the RVR is 550 m or less or the cloud is 200 ft or lower. Flight plans are mandatory during ATC hours; outside them the airspace is uncontrolled Class G. The published departure procedures cover aircraft categories A, B and C, and departing aircraft are warned of high ground. Fire cover is up to Category 7 for scheduled flights and otherwise matched to the largest aircraft, with 24 hours' notice to the airport (Irish AIP). |
Runways
| 07/25 | 2,000 m, asphalt (grooved) |
|---|
By road
| Killarney | 7 NM north of Killarney (Irish AIP) |
|---|---|
| Tralee | 8 NM south-east of Tralee (Irish AIP) |
| Cork and Limerick | About an hour and a half's drive (airport figure) |
| Farranfore railway station | 1.4 km (airport figure) |
Flying times
Airports near Kerry
Waterford
More airport guides nearby: Dublin Airport, Cornwall Airport Newquay, Hawarden Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Questions
Is there a private terminal at Kerry Airport?
No. Passengers use the single terminal, with the airport's own staff handling business jets.
What are Kerry Airport's opening hours for private flights?
The AIP for Ireland (AIRAC 29 October 2026) lists the aerodrome and air traffic services as winter 09:00-18:00 UTC and summer 08:00-17:00 UTC (09:00-18:00 Irish local time in both seasons), with variations by NOTAM. Air traffic services are available outside these hours with 24 hours' notice to the airport. Last fuelling is 30 minutes before closing. Security is H24. The airport is closed on Christmas Day.
Can I clear customs at Kerry Airport on a private flight?
Customs and immigration need 24 hours' prior notice to the airport operator (Irish AIP). The AIP's general section says all aircraft from outside the EU must report to Customs. The airport says immigration, customs and police controls are present during normal opening hours, and passengers on flights from outside the EU clear customs through the Green or Red channel. Its handling team assists with customs and immigration.
What size of private jet can use Kerry?
The longest runway is 2,000 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, super midsize, heavy jet and ultra long range type is within it; some VIP airliner types fit, others only with less fuel or fewer passengers. The declared take-off run is 2,000 m in both directions. From 1 October to 31 May turbojets may operate only between 07:30 and 23:00 UTC. Kerry is not approved for low visibility operations, so flights are suspended when the RVR is 550 m or less or cloud is 200 ft or lower. The published departure procedures cover aircraft categories A to C, and there is no hangar space for visiting aircraft. The operator confirms performance for your aircraft, load and date.
Which events do people fly to Kerry for?
On our events calendar: Ryder Cup (about 1 hour 15 minutes by road). Slots and parking fill early on event dates, so book as soon as your plans are firm.
What are the fees for a private jet at Kerry?
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 Kerry?
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 the official AIP and published airport, government and handler information (airnav.ie, kerryairport.ie). Not for operational use; we confirm everything for your flight.
