Winter sun · FAB → FNC
Private Jet
London to Funchal
Madeira is mild through the European winter and about three hours airborne from London. The airport is well known among pilots for its position and its wind, which is worth understanding before you book.
Departure
Farnborough
FAB / EGLF
Destination
Madeira Cristiano Ronaldo
FNC / LPMA
- Great-circle distance
- 1,318 nm
- Est. airborne time
- 3 hr 00 min
- Est. block time
- 3 hr 20 min
- Estimated one-way charter price
- £34,500
Super-midsize planning profile. Block time adds an indicative taxi allowance across both ends and is not a scheduled time. Estimated one-way charter price for the whole aircraft, based on estimated airborne time and a representative rate for the aircraft category. Subject to date, availability and positioning. Final quotation confirms aircraft, seating, baggage and all applicable charges.
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Save this routeWhy this airport
Reliable mild winter weather closer than the Caribbean, with a subtropical climate that does not depend on the season the way the Mediterranean does.
Slots, parking and operational restrictions
Madeira's runway sits on a platform above the sea with terrain behind, and the airport has a reputation for challenging wind conditions. Crews require specific qualification for the airport and not every operator holds it. Wind-related diversions to Porto Santo or the mainland do happen and are a realistic planning consideration rather than a remote one.
Alternative airports
Porto Santo is the usual diversion and a short hop away. Lisbon and Faro are the mainland fallbacks. For guaranteed winter warmth with fewer weather variables, the Canaries are the comparison.
Passengers and baggage
Aircraft choice is narrowed by the airport qualification requirement rather than by baggage, so the practical constraint here is which operators are approved rather than what fits in the hold.
Onward transfer
Funchal is a short drive from the airport. The west of the island is considerably further.
Road journey times vary with traffic, weather and season. We do not publish transfer times as promises.
Aircraft suitability
Which aircraft suit this route
Categories with the range and seats for this sector, each with its own calculated time and estimated charter price.
| Category | Passengers | Range | Est. airborne | Estimated one-way price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light JetEmbraer Phenom 300 / Citation CJ3+ | 7 | 1,800 nm | 3 hr 25 min | £25,000 |
| Super Light JetLearjet 75 | 8 | 2,000 nm | 3 hr 20 min | £27,000 |
| Midsize JetCitation XLS+ / Learjet 60 | 8 | 2,100 nm | 3 hr 20 min | £30,500 |
| Citation X (super-midsize)Fastest option, up to Mach 0.92 | 9 | 2,900 nm | 3 hr 00 min | £34,500 |
| Heavy JetBombardier Challenger 605 / Falcon 900 | 12 | 4,000 nm | 3 hr 15 min | £48,500 |
| Ultra Long RangeGlobal 6000 / Gulfstream G650 | 14 | 6,000 nm | 3 hr 00 min | £71,500 |
Whole aircraft. Subject to date, availability and positioning. Final quotation confirms aircraft, seating, baggage and all applicable charges. Range is a planning figure, not a guarantee: payload, reserves, weather and airport restrictions all reduce usable range. Individual aircraft configurations vary and no particular airframe is guaranteed.
The pilot’s view
Madeira is a genuinely interesting arrival and I would not talk anyone out of it — but the wind is not folklore. Crew qualification for the airport is a real requirement, the diversion possibility is real, and a party that absolutely must be somewhere the next morning should know that before departure rather than at Porto Santo.
Common questions
How long is a private jet flight from London to Funchal?
About 3 hr 00 min estimated airborne time over a great-circle distance of 1,318 nm. Allowing for taxi at both ends, indicative block time is about 3 hr 20 min. Actual routing varies with airways, ATC, weather and operational requirements.
How much does a private jet from London to Funchal cost?
About £34,500 one way in a super-midsize aircraft, for roughly 3 hr 00 min airborne. Whole aircraft. Subject to date, availability and positioning. Final quotation confirms aircraft, seating, baggage and all applicable charges.
Who operates the flight?
Your enquiry is handled directly by a commercial pilot. Flights are sourced from certificated operators, whose identity is provided with the quotation.
Is Madeira a difficult airport for private jets?
It requires specific crew qualification and is known for challenging wind conditions. Not every operator is approved for it, which narrows aircraft choice.
What happens if we cannot land at Madeira?
Porto Santo is the usual diversion, a short hop away, with Lisbon and Faro as mainland alternatives. It is worth planning for.
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Get a quote for
London to Funchal
Tell us the dates, passenger numbers and what you are bringing. We review runway suitability, range, payload and availability before recommending an aircraft.