Business aviation refers to private flights on jets or VIP-configured turboprops, operated from the **general aviation terminals** of major airports. It is a category of its own — not ostentatious luxury but a productivity tool for executives, sensitive teams, family transfers with discretion requirements. Here is what to know before boarding.
What is general aviation?
Every major airport — Geneva, Basel-Mulhouse, Zurich — has a general aviation terminal (FBO, *Fixed-Base Operator*) separate from the commercial terminal. Passengers arrive by car (sometimes to the aircraft door), pass a lighter security check and board within minutes.
This physical separation is what makes business aviation so fluid: no queue, no gate-call, no cascading delays. For an executive chaining meetings in several cities, the time saved justifies the premium over scheduled first class.
Which aircraft types to choose?
Very light (4-6 seats): Cessna Citation Mustang, Pilatus PC-12 — short transfers (< 2 h) in Europe.
Light (6-8 seats): Pilatus PC-24, Embraer Phenom 300 — balance between cost and range for the European market.
Midsize (8-10 seats): Cessna Citation Latitude, Hawker — 3-4 h range, stand-up cabin.
Super-midsize / long-range (10-19 seats): Falcon 50/900, Bombardier Global, Gulfstream — transatlantic and transpacific.
Choice depends on passenger count, distance and desired comfort (stand-up cabin, bedroom, shower on premium long-range).
How much does a private flight from Switzerland cost?
Some realistic ranges for typical routes (one-way, aircraft only, excluding options):
Geneva – London (~1 h 20): €12,000 to €20,000 depending on aircraft.
Basel – Nice (~1 h 30): €12,000 to €18,000.
Zurich – Moscow (~3 h 30): €25,000 to €45,000.
Geneva – New York (~8 h, long-range): €80,000 to €130,000.
To optimise: empty legs — aircraft returning empty after a mission — can cut cost by 30-50 %. Air Basel flags such opportunities when they fit the need.
Standard VIP services on board
Gourmet catering: cold or hot meals, caterer of your choice, wines (per regulation), specialties (kosher, halal, strict vegetarian).
Dedicated crew: captain with VIP experience, flight attendant (on midsize jets+) trained in etiquette, languages, discretion.
Cabin comfort: lounge or meeting configuration (face-to-face work table), Wi-Fi (most recent jets), seats convertible to beds for long-range.
Ground coordination: limousine at the aircraft on arrival, coordinated hotel, sometimes FBO rooms to wait in.
Confidentiality: what really changes
Business aviation is the chosen option when discretion is non-negotiable. Concretely: restricted manifest (passenger names not published), isolated boarding (no public transit area), crew trained in sensitive operations (verbal discretion, media handling, VIP protocols).
For executives bound by confidentiality (M&A, sensitive negotiations, diplomatic files), these arrangements are not a luxury — they are a professional prerequisite.
Business aviation from Switzerland is a productivity and discretion tool, not a mere convenience. The broker’s role is to select the exact jet, the exact operator, the exact crew — and to coordinate general aviation, catering, ground transfers. Air Basel offers VIP charters across Europe and long-range — tailored quote within 24 hours, in full confidentiality.