Charter and private flights

Who flies the aircraft: our role

The aircraft do not belong to us, and we do not hide it. The flight is operated by a licensed air operator; we choose the operator, agree the terms and arrange everything before and after the flight.

We tell you the operator's name before you sign. That is normal practice, and if anyone refuses to disclose it, that alone is reason enough to look elsewhere.

Why a charter rather than a scheduled flight

A scheduled flight is almost always cheaper, and we say so plainly. A charter only makes sense when a scheduled flight cannot do the job: it does not fly there, it flies at an awkward time, or the group will not fit.

The second reason is time. Sometimes you need to see two cities in one day, and with connecting flights that is impossible. Here a private flight preserves not just time but the whole plan.

A private jet: what the price is made of

The price of a private flight does not depend on flying hours alone. The part most often overlooked is positioning: if the aircraft is based in another city, the empty flight to reach you is included in the price as well.

The rest is airport charges, ground handling, the crew's overnight stay if the flight returns the next day, and catering on board. The operator itemises all of it, and we show it to you the same way.

That is why two identical flights can cost different amounts. In one case the aircraft is in Tbilisi, in the other two hours' flying away. The difference is always visible in the quote.

Empty legs

When an aircraft flies home empty after dropping a client, the operator often sells that flight for much less. It is a good opportunity, but only if your plans are flexible.

The date and time are tied to the main client's schedule. If they change their plans, the empty leg changes or is cancelled too - sometimes as little as a day before the flight.

So we only recommend an empty leg when you have a fallback. For an important meeting or a date that cannot move, it is not suitable.

Group charter

A whole airliner for a group - wedding guests, a sports team or a large corporate trip. Everyone flies together and lands at the same time, which also makes the transfers simpler.

This format is planned months ahead. The aircraft, an airport slot and the crew all have to line up, and in season everything is booked well in advance.

The contract here is strict: advance payment and cancellation terms are far tougher than an airline's usual rules. We explain those terms in detail before you sign.

Regional flights to Mestia and Ambrolauri

Scheduled flights to Mestia and Ambrolauri leave from Natakhtari airfield near Tbilisi. The aircraft is small, with fewer than twenty seats, and the flight is short - about an hour to Mestia, against eight or nine hours by car.

Seats are few and sell quickly in summer. So if you are planning Svaneti by air, we book the flight before the other parts of the route.

The timetable is not daily and changes with the season. If there is no flight on your dates, the alternative is to charter a whole small aircraft - which for a group is often the logical choice anyway.

Natakhtari: getting to the airfield

Natakhtari is not Tbilisi International Airport - it is a separate airfield north of the city, roughly half an hour's drive depending on traffic. A common mistake is to go to the international airport instead.

That is why the transfer to the airfield is always part of our package. The driver knows exactly where to take you and how early.

The airfield is small and the formalities are simple - but arriving early is still essential. Bags are weighed and the passenger list is checked, and a small aircraft will not wait for anyone who is late.

Luggage on a small aircraft

On a small aircraft the baggage limit is strict and often lower than on an ordinary flight. Sometimes passengers are asked their own weight too - that is not rudeness, it is the balance calculation.

A large suitcase is often a problem. So we suggest taking only what you need to the mountains and leaving the rest in storage in Tbilisi - we arrange that.

Skis and special equipment are a separate question. Sometimes it is better to send them by road, and they may even reach the mountains before you do. We settle that when you book.

Weather and mountain airfields

Flights to mountain airfields depend on visual conditions. Cloud or fog over a pass cancels the flight, and that is not rare, especially in spring and autumn.

So we always plan a mountain flight with a backup: if the flight does not go, a car is ready and you travel by road the same day. The drive is long, but the day is not lost.

And one important piece of advice: do not plan an international flight on the same day as your flight back from the mountains. A day's margin is essential here.

To neighbouring countries by private flight

From Tbilisi, Yerevan, Baku and Istanbul are short flights, and with a private aircraft you can even visit two capitals in one day. For a business trip that is often the only realistic option.

Each country has its own entry rules. Depending on a passenger's nationality, a visa may be needed there even when none is needed for Georgia - we check this in advance.

Some routes are restricted for political or legal reasons. In that case we tell you at once and suggest an alternative route.

Permits and the passenger list

For a private flight the operator obtains landing and overflight permits. For that we need the passenger list with passport details in advance - not a whim of ours, but a rule of aviation.

If a passenger changes at the last moment, the list is resubmitted. That is usually possible but takes time, so tell us about any change straight away.

In some countries a permit takes several days. So for an international private flight 72 hours is the minimum, not the maximum.

Border and customs on a private flight

A private flight still crosses a border, so passport control and customs still happen. The difference is that business-aviation passengers are usually processed separately and there is no queue.

You drive up to the terminal, clear control in a few minutes and board. On arrival the same happens in reverse.

Customs rules are the same as for everyone: cash, the amount of wine, valuables. A private aircraft does not change those rules, and we say so in advance.

Animals and special cargo

On a private aircraft a pet often travels in the cabin, with you. The operator decides, and we check when you book.

The rules for bringing an animal in are unchanged, though - veterinary documents are needed in every format. A private flight does not remove them.

Special cargo - cases of wine, hunting weapons, musical instruments - has to be agreed in advance. Some items need the operator's permission, others a customs declaration.

Food on board

On a private flight the catering is chosen in advance and appears as its own line in the price. It can be a Georgian spread - from khachapuri to local wine - if you want your guests to taste Georgia from the first minute.

Halal or kosher catering can often be arranged in Tbilisi through specialist suppliers, but only in advance. We check this when you book and tell you exactly what we can guarantee.

On a small aircraft to the mountains there is no catering - the flight is short and space is tight. Bring water and a light snack yourself.

How we choose an operator

The first criterion is a licence and valid insurance. Without them we do not talk to an operator at all, however cheap their offer.

The second is experience on the specific route. Flying into a mountain airfield is a different skill from flying into a large airport, and the crew must have it.

The third is how the operator behaves when something changes. Delays, weather, cancellations - that is when you see who is worth working with. We know this from experience, not from advertising.

When it is not worth it

For two people going to Istanbul or Dubai, business class on a scheduled flight is almost always enough. A private jet is far more expensive there and rarely offers anything that justifies the difference.

A private flight pays off when the group is large, the hour is non-standard, or there are several stops in one day. In those cases it can even come out cheaper than scheduled flights, if you count business class for everyone.

So we always compare both options. If a scheduled flight is better, we will say so - selling charters is not our goal.

Booking lead times

A private jet can often be arranged within 72 hours, sometimes faster - if an aircraft and crew are free and the permit comes through quickly. We cannot promise that, though.

A group charter is planned months ahead, and seats on regional flights in summer several weeks ahead. The earlier, the more choice.

If your dates are not yet fixed, we can still discuss the flight in advance. That way you will know the operator's availability and a price guide early.

Cancellations and changes

Charter cancellation terms are stricter than airlines': the closer the flight, the larger the share that stays with the operator. Those terms are written into the contract, and we explain them before you pay.

If a mountain flight is cancelled because of the weather, any refund follows the operator's rules. Our part - the backup car - is ready that day anyway.

Changing the date is often easier than cancelling. If your plans are wobbling, let us look at moving the flight first - that often avoids a loss.

Air and road: one route

The most interesting routes are often combined. An hour's flight to Mestia and the drive back by car through the Enguri valley - that way you save time in one direction and see the road in the other.

The driver then waits for you in Mestia or gets there before your return. If the flight is cancelled, the same car is the backup plan.

The combination can span two countries too: a flight to Yerevan and the drive back across the border. We put it together as one plan, with one coordinator.

Private flights into Batumi and Kutaisi

Private aircraft do not only land in Tbilisi. In summer Batumi is a frequent destination - the airport is close to the city, and you are at a seafront hotel in ten minutes.

Kutaisi is a convenient starting point for western Georgia: Gelati, the canyons and the wine cellars of Imereti are an hour away. If the route begins in the west, you do not need to pass through Tbilisi at all.

At both airports we arrange ground handling and the transfer, just as in Tbilisi. The difference is that some services there need to be agreed further in advance.

Children, older travellers and fear of flying

A small aircraft is not like a large one. It is noisier, it often bumps over the mountains, and there is usually no toilet on board. On an hour's flight that is not a problem, but it is better to know beforehand.

For children the flight is often an adventure - the mountains look close through the window. For older travellers the main issue is getting on and off: the steps are narrow, and we take that into account when booking.

If someone in the group is afraid of flying, a small aircraft will make that fear worse. In that case we will tell you directly that the road, long as it is, is the better choice.