Private jets at St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)
St.Gallen-Altenrhein is a regional airport on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance, right on the Austrian border, where the airport company is itself the FBO and handling agent. It needs no slots or PPR, clears customs with Schengen and non-Schengen immigration, and closes every day for lunch (12:00-13:30). Its 1,455 m runway takes aircraft up to code letter C, and civil jets must meet ICAO Chapter 3 noise limits.
- Longest runway
- 1,455 m
- Codes
- ACH · LSZR
- Business aviation handling
- People's FBO (Airport Altenrhein AG ground services)
Did you knowThe airfield at Altenrhein dates back to 1926, when Claude Dornier chose the site to build his Do X flying boat. People's Airport St.Gallen-Altenrhein: History
Charter a private jet to St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)
St.Gallen-Altenrhein is on the Swiss shore of Lake Constance, beside the Austrian border, with Bregenz 23 km and Lech and Zürs 93 km away by road (airport figures). The airport is its own FBO and handler, needs no slots, and is a customs airport with non-Schengen immigration, so jets can fly in directly from the UK. It closes for lunch from 12:00 to 13:30 every day, and its 1,455 m runway takes aircraft up to code C, so we check the jet's performance first.
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Independent UK charter broker since 2015 · Volairis Ltd, Companies House 09488748 · Member of The Air Charter Association
What the private terminal is like at St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)
No separate private terminal is described. The airport building has a business aviation lounge (renovated and enlarged in 2016 with the departure hall), and the operator lists VIP apron access and a short distance from car to aircraft.
People's FBO (Airport Altenrhein AG ground services)
The airport operator is also the FBO and handling agent, covering FBO and ramp. Business aviation lounge, crew lounge, Jet A1 and Avgas, ground power, de-icing, in-house catering, hotel booking, and limousine or helicopter transfers arranged with partners. Lists handling of Learjet, Challenger, Global Express, Citation, Falcon, Gulfstream 200 to 650, Legacy, Hawker, A320 types and Boeing 737.
Customs at St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport), 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.
- There are no slots or PPR at Altenrhein. The operator books handling with People's ground services, the airport's own FBO and handling agent.
- Altenrhein is a customs airport with Schengen and non-Schengen immigration, so flights from outside Schengen, including the UK, arrive and leave directly.
- Passengers use the business aviation lounge in the airport building, and the operator offers VIP apron access with a short walk from car to aircraft.
- Flights must fit the opening hours, including the daily 12:00–13:30 break, unless the airport grants an extension.
Which private jets can use St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)?
On runway length, every turboprop, very light jet, light jet and super light jet type is within it; some midsize jet, super midsize and heavy jet 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 airport accepts aircraft up to code letter C; anything wider than 28 m needs a safety assessment before its first landing, and jets over 22 m wingspan are guided by wingwalkers near the stands. The landing distance is 1,380 m on runway 10 and 1,400 m on runway 28. Civil jets must meet ICAO Chapter 3 noise limits, fire cover above category 2 (up to 6) must be requested, and aircraft over 14 tonnes using Austrian airspace are limited to six movements in set evening and weekend windows and barred after them.
| 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, though the longest-legged types need a performance check |
| Midsize jet 8–9 seats · take-off 1,100–1,660 m · Cessna Citation XLS+ | Some types (3 of 7); others with less fuel or fewer passengers |
| Super midsize 9–10 seats · take-off 1,400–1,600 m · Bombardier Challenger 350 | Some types (2 of 7); others with less fuel or fewer passengers |
| Heavy jet 12–14 seats · take-off 1,430–1,780 m · Dassault Falcon 7X | Some types (1 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 | Not at full weight |
| VIP airliner 18–50+ seats · take-off 1,500–2,100 m | Not at full weight |
Worth knowing before you fly
- The airport closes every day from 12:00 to 13:30. Arrival and departure times need to fit around the lunch break, and extensions are only by special permission.
- Jets over 14 tonnes are limited when they use Austrian airspace: only six movements in set windows on weekday evenings and at weekends, and none after them (for example after 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday). For a midsize or larger jet, a late or weekend schedule needs checking first.
- The runway is 1,455 m with 1,380-1,400 m for landing, and the airport accepts aircraft up to code C. Fire cover above category 2 has to be requested, so larger jets need it arranged in advance.
- Altenrhein suits trips to the Vorarlberg and Graubünden resorts: Lech and Zürs are about 1 hour 12 minutes by road and Davos about 1 hour 28 minutes (airport figures), and the operator calls it the preferred airport for the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Events St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport) serves
From our events calendar: what the airport is used for, and the transfer to the venue on an ordinary day.
World Economic Forum, Davos
About 1 hour 45 minutes by road.
Private jets to the World Economic Forum in DavosOperating information
For business and private flights. Details change, so we check them again for your date.
Airport
| Opening hours | IFR flights (local time): Monday to Friday, including public holidays, 06:30-12:00 and 13:30-21:00; Saturday 07:30-12:00 and 13:30-20:00; Sunday 10:00-12:00 and 13:30-20:00. Extensions on request; the operating regulations allow the airport manager to grant special permission in justified cases, including during the 12:00-13:30 break and up to 22:00 on weekdays and Saturdays and 21:00 on Sundays. Closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday and 25 December, with special hours on other public holidays (published by the airport for each year). |
|---|---|
| Prior permission | The airport operator says no slots or PPR allocations are needed. Handling is requested from People's ground services, the airport's own FBO, through its online handling request. |
| Customs and immigration | A customs airport: international arrivals and direct departures to international destinations are allowed, with Schengen and non-Schengen immigration (airport operator). The 2010 operating regulations list the Swiss Border Guard among the federal services at the airfield. Customs hours and notice periods are not published by the operator. |
| Slots | None. The operator says there are no slots and no capacity restrictions. |
| Noise and night restrictions | Civil jets must meet ICAO Annex 16 Chapter 3 noise limits; with the airport's exemption, up to 20 movements a year by Chapter 2 jets are allowed. Crews must follow the published approach and departure routes, avoid overflying nearby villages where possible and use low-drag, low-power approaches where safe. Aircraft over 14 t MTOW using Austrian airspace to arrive or depart are limited to 6 movements Monday to Friday 18:30-21:00, 6 on Saturday 13:30-17:00, and on Sunday 6 movements 10:00-12:00 plus 6 arrivals (no departures) 13:30-17:00; after these times such use of Austrian airspace is prohibited unless operationally unavoidable. The airport says its opening hours are set by operating regulations unchanged for several years. |
| Aircraft parking | Short- and long-term outdoor parking is guaranteed and hangar space is on request (operator). Apron West, in front of the airport building, is about 200 x 55 m with three stands for code C aircraft up to 28 m wingspan; because the taxilane north of the stands is only 31 m wide, aircraft over 22 m wingspan are guided by wingwalkers. |
| De-icing | Available, carried out by airport staff with a de-icing truck using Type I and Type II fluids (Kilfrost). |
| Other restrictions | The airport is approved for aircraft up to and including code letter C; higher code letters are not permitted. Aircraft larger than the reference aircraft (28 m wingspan, 9 m outer main gear) need a safety assessment before their first landing. Declared distances: take-off run 1,455 m both ways, take-off distance 1,515 m, landing distance 1,380 m on runway 10 and 1,400 m on runway 28. Runway strength PCN 30/F/C/Y/T. Runway 10 has an ILS/DME (CAT I) and both directions have PAPIs. Fire cover is ICAO category 2 as standard, with categories 3 to 6 on request. There is also a grass runway (810 m declared) for light aircraft and gliders. |
Runways
| 10/28 | 1,455 m, hard surface, grooved (asphalt in the aerodrome manual; the operator's pilot page says concrete) |
|---|
By road
| Bregenz | 23 km, about 33 minutes (airport figure) |
|---|---|
| Vaduz | 53 km, about 34 minutes (airport figure) |
| Lech, Zürs and the Arlberg | 93 km, about 1 hour 12 minutes (airport figure) |
| Davos and Arosa | 118 km, about 1 hour 28 minutes (airport figure) |
| St. Moritz | 173 km, about 2 hours 15 minutes (airport figure) |
| Zurich Airport | 103 km, about 1 hour 3 minutes (airport figure) |
| St. Gallen | About 15 km north-east of the city in a straight line (Aerodrome Manual); no road figure published |
Flying times
Airports near St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)
Bodensee Friedrichshafen
Leutkirch-Unterzeil
Mollis
More airport guides nearby: Engadin Airport, Innsbruck Airport, EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, Bern Airport, Munich Airport.
Questions
Is there a private terminal at St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)?
No separate private terminal is described. The airport building has a business aviation lounge (renovated and enlarged in 2016 with the departure hall), and the operator lists VIP apron access and a short distance from car to aircraft.
What are St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)'s opening hours for private flights?
IFR flights (local time): Monday to Friday, including public holidays, 06:30-12:00 and 13:30-21:00; Saturday 07:30-12:00 and 13:30-20:00; Sunday 10:00-12:00 and 13:30-20:00. Extensions on request; the operating regulations allow the airport manager to grant special permission in justified cases, including during the 12:00-13:30 break and up to 22:00 on weekdays and Saturdays and 21:00 on Sundays. Closed on 1 January, Easter Sunday, Whit Sunday and 25 December, with special hours on other public holidays (published by the airport for each year).
Can I clear customs at St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport) on a private flight?
A customs airport: international arrivals and direct departures to international destinations are allowed, with Schengen and non-Schengen immigration (airport operator). The 2010 operating regulations list the Swiss Border Guard among the federal services at the airfield. Customs hours and notice periods are not published by the operator.
What size of private jet can use St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)?
The longest runway is 1,455 m. Going by each type's published take-off distance at maximum weight: every turboprop, very light jet, light jet and super light jet type is within it; some midsize jet, super midsize and heavy jet types fit, others only with less fuel or fewer passengers. The airport accepts aircraft up to code letter C; anything wider than 28 m needs a safety assessment before its first landing, and jets over 22 m wingspan are guided by wingwalkers near the stands. The landing distance is 1,380 m on runway 10 and 1,400 m on runway 28. Civil jets must meet ICAO Chapter 3 noise limits, fire cover above category 2 (up to 6) must be requested, and aircraft over 14 tonnes using Austrian airspace are limited to six movements in set evening and weekend windows and barred after them. The operator confirms performance for your aircraft, load and date.
Which events do people fly to St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport) for?
On our events calendar: World Economic Forum, Davos (about 1 hour 45 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 St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)?
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 St.Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (People's Airport)?
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 (peoples.at). Not for operational use; we confirm everything for your flight.
