The Heli Shuttle from London Biggin Hill

Why it is on the list

Biggin Hill is the only dedicated business aviation airport in London.¹ It lies 12 miles from central London, is a UK port of entry and has no runway slots.² The shuttle is flown for the airport by Castle Air from a fleet of AgustaWestland 109 and 139 helicopters kept on the airfield, and it takes six minutes to The London Heliport, the shortest transfer from any London airport.³ Because the helicopters are based at Biggin Hill, flights can be requested at very short notice.³ A chauffeured car takes the passenger from the heliport to a home, office or hotel.⁴ The private terminal has direct ramp access for helicopter transfers and shares its building with UK Border Force, so clearance and the change from jet to helicopter happen in one place.⁵

The airport is open 06:30 to 23:00 on weekdays and 08:00 to 22:00 at weekends and on public holidays, local time.¹ It is the wrong choice in poor weather: Castle Air cancels without charge when it judges a flight unsafe or impracticable, and the captain has the final word on timings and destinations.⁶ For a landing west of London, take the private terminal at Farnborough Airport instead.

How to get it

Book through the London Heli Shuttle team at Castle Air on +44 1959 576 017 or shuttle@castleair.co.uk, or through the enquiry form on the shuttle's site.⁴⁷ Ask for the London Heli Shuttle to The London Heliport and name the aircraft: a transfer costs a fixed GBP 2,400 plus VAT in the AW109 and GBP 3,300 with no VAT in the larger-cabin AW139.³ The airport's page says the shuttle serves both London heliports, while the shuttle's own site names only The London Heliport; ask before planning on any other landing site.⁴⁸ Arriving by private jet, the Biggin Hill Executive Handling team (+44 1959 578 552, handling@bigginhillairport.com) coordinates the helicopter transfer from the ramp; the airport's second FBO, JETEX London, is on +44 1959 528 743 and fbo-bqh@jetex.com.⁵

Every booking depends on helicopter slots and landing permission, and a change of time, date or passengers, a delay or extra flying is charged on top.⁶ Cancellation costs 10% of the charter price inside seven days, 25% inside 48 hours, 50% inside 24 hours and the full price for a no-show.⁶ For Royal Ascot, the Cheltenham Festival, the Epsom Derby, the British Grand Prix, the Open, Goodwood and corporate events, 75% of the charter price is due on any cancellation from the moment of booking, the full price for a no-show, and the slot is paid in advance and not refunded.⁶ The slot fee at The London Heliport, Battersea, is GBP 50 plus VAT and not refundable, and a helicopter left on the ground there for more than 15 minutes is charged at GBP 350 plus VAT an hour.⁶ Sporting weapons and ammunition must be declared to Castle Air and approved in advance.⁶

Discretion

Each transfer is priced as a charter of the whole helicopter, so the cabin carries only the party that booked it.³⁶ Passengers pass through a private terminal, where Border Force clearance is in the same building and ground and helicopter transfers leave straight from the ramp.⁵ From the heliport a chauffeured car drives the passenger to the final address.⁴