Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about private jet charter with Nowhere Average Jets — pricing, booking, permits, aircraft selection, payments, and empty legs. If your question is not answered here, contact an advisor directly.
Pricing Questions
How charter pricing works, what is included, and what drives cost variation on African corridors.
Private jet charter costs in Africa range from $3,500 for a short turboprop leg to over $100,000 for an ultra long range intercontinental flight. The most frequently requested corridors fall in this range:
- Lagos to Accra — $6,000 to $10,000 (light jet, 55 minutes)
- Lagos to Dubai — $36,000 to $52,000 (heavy jet, 6h 15m direct)
- Lagos to London — $43,000 to $62,000 (heavy jet, 6h 30m direct)
- Johannesburg to Lagos — $18,000 to $38,000 (midsize jet, 4h 45m)
- Nairobi to Dubai — $24,000 to $46,000 (midsize jet, 4h 30m)
- Luanda to Lisbon — $46,000 to $68,000 (heavy jet, 7h 15m)
Every NAJ quote includes a Price Integrity Report with every cost component itemised separately — base charter, permits, ground handling, crew, and advisory fee. The number you see is the number you pay.
Every NAJ charter quote includes the following as a single all-in price:
- Base charter rate — the operator's aircraft cost for the specific routing
- Overflight permits — for all countries overflown en route
- Landing permits — at departure and arrival airports
- Ground handling — at both departure and arrival FBO
- Crew costs — pilot per diem and positioning where applicable
- NAJ advisory fee — 8% of subtotal, always disclosed
Items not included in the base quote unless specified: in-flight catering, ground transport at destination, hotel accommodation for crew on overnight trips, and any additional fuel surcharges if Brent crude increases by more than 3% between quote date and operation date.
Several factors drive price variation beyond distance on African routes:
- Fuel pricing at departure airport: Jet A-1 ranges from $0.74/L in Cairo to $1.31/L in Luanda. A flight departing Luanda costs significantly more in fuel than the identical distance departing Lagos at $1.06/L.
- Permit complexity: Some corridors require permits from multiple countries with varying processing fees and lead times. The Luanda to Lisbon route requires overflight permits for Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Morocco each with its own cost and timeline.
- Operator positioning: If no aircraft is based at your departure airport, the operator must position an aircraft from another location. That positioning cost is reflected in the charter rate.
- Ground handling cost variation: FBO ground handling costs vary across African airports Luanda and Addis Ababa are among the most expensive on the continent.
NAJ charges an advisory and sourcing fee of 8% of the subtotal charter cost. This fee is always included in the total price shown in your quote it is never added on top after you agree to proceed.
The advisory fee covers: operator sourcing and vetting, price negotiation with operators, permit filing and management, all client communication, documentation review, and post-booking management until the flight departs. There is no separate fee for any of these services.
NAJ does not accept commissions from operators. Our fee comes from the client and our recommendation is based entirely on what is best for the client's specific requirement.
Aviation fuel (Jet A-1) prices directly affect charter costs. Fuel typically represents 25 to 40 percent of the total charter cost on African corridors, with higher percentages on longer routes.
As of June 2026, Brent crude is trading at approximately $107 per barrel due to the Strait of Hormuz supply disruption significantly above the 2024 average. This is reflected in current charter pricing, particularly on routes departing Luanda ($1.31/L) and Addis Ababa ($1.17/L).
Operators reserve the right to adjust fuel surcharges if Brent crude increases by more than 3% between quote date and operation date. NAJ quotes all prices on the basis of fuel prices at the time of quoting and communicates any material changes before confirmation.
Booking Process
How to request a quote, what information is needed, and what happens between enquiry and departure.
The fastest method is WhatsApp to +234 904 212 7614. Send your route, date, and passenger count and a NAJ advisor will respond within 2 hours with a confirmed quote.
Alternatively, email fly@nowhereaveragejets.com with the same information. For complex itineraries multi-leg, specific aircraft requirements, or group travel — email allows you to provide full details upfront and typically results in a more complete first quote.
To generate the fastest and most accurate quote, include: departure city or airport, arrival city or airport, preferred departure date and time, number of passengers, and any specific aircraft preferences or requirements.
NAJ guarantees a confirmed charter quote within 2 hours of receiving a complete enquiry during business hours. A confirmed quote includes the operator name, aircraft type, registration, flight schedule, and full cost breakdown.
For urgent departures same-day or next-day WhatsApp directly and mark the message as urgent. NAJ will prioritise accordingly. Aircraft availability for very short-notice requests depends on what is positioned near your departure airport at that time.
Booking lead time recommendations by route type:
- Intra-African short hops: 24 to 48 hours is usually sufficient
- Intercontinental (Africa to Europe or Gulf): 48 to 72 hours recommended for permit filing
- Peak periods (December, July, August): 2 to 4 weeks heavy jet availability in Africa is limited and peak period inventory books quickly
- VIP Airliner or BBJ: Minimum 2 weeks, ideally 4 weeks for large group travel
- Multi-leg international circuits: 1 to 2 weeks to allow permit coordination across multiple jurisdictions
NAJ has sourced same-day charters on multiple occasions. Short notice is manageable earlier is always better for optimal aircraft selection and pricing.
Once you confirm the booking and pay the deposit, NAJ requires the following for permit filing:
- Full legal names of all passengers exactly as on their travel document
- Passport numbers and nationalities of all passengers
- Passport expiry dates
- Preferred departure time (if not already confirmed)
This information is treated with complete confidentiality and used solely for permit applications and manifest preparation. It is never shared with third parties beyond the filing authority and the operating crew.
Changes after booking are subject to the operator's modification policy and aircraft availability at the revised date. In most cases, date changes with more than 72 hours notice can be accommodated without penalty if an alternative slot is available.
Route changes after booking may require a revised quote if the new route falls outside the originally quoted distance or requires different permits. NAJ will provide a revised quote before confirming any route modification.
Cancellation fees apply once a booking is confirmed. Typically 100% if cancelled within 3 days of departure, 40% within 21 days, and 30% within 40 days — operator terms are included in every booking confirmation.
Empty Leg Flights
How empty legs work, how to find them, and what to expect when booking a discounted repositioning flight.
When a private jet operator drops off passengers at a destination and has no return booking, the aircraft must fly back to its base empty. This repositioning flight the empty leg represents a sunk cost to the operator. To offset that cost, operators offer the empty cabin at a heavily discounted rate, typically 50 to 75 percent below standard charter rates.
Empty legs are real flights on real aircraft with the same crew, safety standards, and service as a standard charter. The discount reflects the operator's need to cover costs, not a reduction in quality.
Empty legs require schedule flexibility. The limitations to be aware of:
- Fixed route: The aircraft is repositioning from A to B. You cannot change the route. If you need London to Lagos but the empty leg is London to Abuja, that is the flight available.
- Fixed departure window: The departure time is determined by the operator's operational requirements, not your preference. Flexibility within a 2 to 4 hour window is sometimes available but not guaranteed.
- Short booking window: Empty legs appear with 24 to 72 hours notice in most cases. They require immediate decision-making an empty leg listed today may be claimed by another client within hours.
- Price on request: Many African empty legs do not display a price publicly. The operator prices on enquiry based on the enquirer's departure flexibility and the value of offsetting their repositioning cost.
- Cancellation by operator: If the original booking that created the empty leg cancels, the operator may cancel the empty leg also. NAJ discloses this risk in every empty leg booking.
NAJ publishes live empty leg deals through three channels:
- Website: nowhereaveragejets.com/empty-leg-deals — updated in near real-time from the NAJ operator network and Aviapages
- Telegram — Public Channel: t.me/NAJEmptyLegs — free public channel with African and Gulf corridor empty legs posted as they appear
- WhatsApp: Message +234 904 212 7614 and tell us your flexibility departure city, destination, and dates you can travel. NAJ will contact you when a matching empty leg appears.
For maximum access to African empty leg inventory, setting up a WhatsApp alert with NAJ is the most effective approach. African empty legs often appear and are claimed within hours a standing alert means you hear about relevant deals before they are published publicly.
African empty legs are less frequent than European or US empty legs. In Europe, the high volume of charter flights generates a continuous stream of repositioning flights. In Africa, the private aviation market is smaller and most operators run tighter routing networks with fewer positioning inefficiencies.
When African empty legs do appear particularly on West Africa to Europe or Gulf to Africa corridors they represent genuine value and are claimed quickly. NAJ also surfaces Middle East empty legs on the website given the strong commercial overlap between African client travel and Gulf corridor demand.
Operators on the African continent who partner directly with NAJ provide early notification of repositioning flights before they reach public aggregator platforms this direct relationship is the primary source of African empty leg inventory in the NAJ network.
Aircraft Selection
Choosing the right aircraft class for your route, passenger count, and requirements.
The right aircraft depends on distance, passenger count, and whether a fuel stop is acceptable. General guidance by corridor:
- Intra-Africa under 3,500km: Light jet (CJ4, Phenom 300E) — most cost-efficient, no fuel stop required
- Intra-Africa 3,500 to 6,000km: Midsize jet (Challenger 350, Legacy 500) stand-up cabin, direct on most corridors
- Africa to Europe or Gulf: Heavy jet (G550, Global 6000) — direct capability, lie-flat seats on long haul
- Africa to Americas, Asia: Ultra long range (G700, Global 7500) any destination nonstop
- Remote airstrips: Turboprop (PC-12, King Air 350) the only class that can access unpaved and short-field airstrips across East and West Africa
NAJ recommends the optimal aircraft class for every route in every quote you are never oversold on aircraft capability you do not need for the distance.
Yes. If you have a specific aircraft type preference Gulfstream G550, Challenger 350, or a specific tail number NAJ will source that aircraft or the closest available equivalent. Specify your preference in the initial enquiry.
If a specific aircraft is requested but unavailable for your dates, NAJ will present the nearest available alternative in the same class and clearly explain what differs. No substitution is made without your explicit approval.
You can also specify aircraft to avoid if you have had a negative experience with a particular type or tail number, that information is noted and the excluded aircraft is never quoted.
NAJ sources exclusively from operators holding ARGUS or Wyvern Wingman certification, or equivalent independent safety audit certification. These programmes conduct independent audits of operator safety management systems, maintenance programmes, crew training records, and operational procedures.
NAJ does not place clients on uncertified aircraft regardless of pricing or availability. Operator certification details are available in every confirmed quote on request.
Baggage allowances vary significantly by aircraft class:
- Turboprop (PC-12): Up to 1,000kg total - generous hold for the aircraft size
- Light jet (CJ4): Approximately 272kg — limited, soft bags recommended
- Midsize jet (Challenger 350): Up to 794kg — good volume for group travel
- Heavy jet (G550): Up to 1,998kg — generous allowance for extended travel
Sports equipment, musical instruments, medical equipment, and oversized items should be declared at time of booking. Some items require specific handling or may require the removal of a passenger seat. NAJ advises on baggage requirements for every booking and confirms with the operator before departure.
Permits & Compliance
Aviation permits, regulatory requirements, and what NAJ manages on your behalf across African jurisdictions.
Every international private charter flight requires:
- Landing permit: Permission from the aviation authority at the destination country to land at a specific airport
- Overflight permits: Permission from each country whose airspace the aircraft transits en route — even if not landing
- Slots: At busy airports (London Heathrow, Cairo International) departure and arrival slots must be secured in advance
NAJ manages all permit applications, submissions, and follow-ups as part of every booking. Clients do not deal with any aviation authority directly. Permit costs are included in every quote.
Current NCAA permit processing times as of June 2026:
- Lagos Murtala Muhammed (DNMM): 3.8 hours average
- Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe (DNAA): 4.2 hours average currently elevated due to NCAA processing backlog
- Port Harcourt (DNPO): 4.0 hours average
NAJ recommends confirming bookings at least 48 hours before departure to ensure permits are processed comfortably. For urgent same-day or next-day departures, NAJ can escalate permit applications through established NCAA channels, though expedited processing is not guaranteed.
Yes. Visa requirements are determined by your nationality and destination they apply regardless of how you travel. Private aviation does not confer any visa exemption.
Private terminal arrival is processed separately from commercial passengers and is typically faster, but the legal entry documentation requirements are identical. Immigration officers board private jets on arrival at some African airports for passport control.
NAJ recommends all passengers confirm their visa status for every destination at least 72 hours before departure. For ECOWAS member country citizens travelling within the ECOWAS zone, free movement provisions may apply confirm applicable rules before travel.
Current permit processing speed rankings for African private charter departures:
- Fastest: Johannesburg Lanseria (FALA) — 1.8 hours average (SACAA is the most efficient in Africa)
- Fast: Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (HKJK) — 2.1 hours average
- Fast: Kigali (HRYR) — 2.8 hours average
- Standard: Accra Kotoka (DGAA) — 2.4 hours average
- Standard: Cairo (HECA) — 2.5 hours average
- Elevated: Lagos (DNMM) — 3.8 hours average
- Elevated: Abuja (DNAA) — 4.2 hours average
- Complex: Luanda (FNLU) — 24 to 48 hours (INAVIC requirements)
Payment & Deposits
Payment methods, deposit requirements, cancellation terms, and currency options.
NAJ accepts bank wire transfer in USD, EUR, and GBP to a corporate account held by Nowhere Average Caelum Management Limited.
Full payment details account number, SWIFT code, and payment reference are provided privately in every confirmed booking confirmation document. Payment details are not published publicly and are issued exclusively to confirmed clients at the point of booking.
To receive payment details, confirm your booking with a NAJ advisor via WhatsApp or email. You will receive a formal booking confirmation and invoice with complete wire transfer instructions.
A 30% deposit of the total charter cost is required to secure the aircraft. No aircraft is held on a provisional basis without a cleared deposit. The deposit must be received and cleared before NAJ can confirm the booking with the operator.
The balance of 70% is due 7 days before departure. For bookings confirmed within 7 days of departure, full payment is required immediately on confirmation.
Wire transfers typically clear within 1 to 3 business days depending on the originating bank. Factor this into your booking timeline — the aircraft is not confirmed until funds clear.
Cancellation fees apply once a booking is confirmed and deposit is paid. Standard terms across most operators in the NAJ network:
- Cancellation within 3 days of departure: 100% of total charter cost
- Cancellation within 21 days of departure: 40% of total charter cost
- Cancellation within 40 days of departure: 30% of total charter cost
- Cancellation over 40 days before departure: Deposit only, remainder refunded
Specific cancellation terms are stated in every booking confirmation document. NAJ recommends travel insurance that covers charter cancellation for high-value bookings. Date changes with sufficient notice are generally preferable to cancellations from a cost perspective.
Charter pricing is quoted and invoiced in US Dollars. All payments are processed in USD, EUR, or GBP via wire transfer. NAJ does not currently accept NGN payments or process payments through Nigerian domestic banking channels.
Clients paying from Nigerian accounts will need to process payments through their domiciliary account or arrange international wire transfer through their bank. NAJ can provide a formal invoice for CBN Form M purposes if required for regulatory compliance on the Nigerian client side.
African Routes
Specific questions about private charter on key African corridors and routes NAJ operates.
Yes — but only on heavy jets and ultra long range aircraft. The Lagos to London great circle distance is approximately 5,106km. With ATC routing, actual flight distance is approximately 5,463km.
- Heavy jets (G550, Global 6000, Falcon 7X): Direct capability — 6h 30m flight time
- Ultra long range (G700, Global 7500): Direct capability - approximately 6h 00m
- Midsize jets (Challenger 350): Fuel stop required — typically Casablanca or Tangier, adding 1h 30m
- Light jets: Two fuel stops required not recommended for this route
For Lagos to London, NAJ recommends a heavy jet minimum for a direct flight. The cost difference between a midsize jet with fuel stop and a heavy jet direct is smaller than most clients expect once fuel stop ground handling and additional time costs are factored in.
Luanda holds the highest private aviation costs in Africa due to four compounding factors:
- Fuel pricing: Jet A-1 in Luanda is currently $1.31/L the highest on the continent and 57% higher than Cairo at $0.74/L. On a heavy jet, this fuel differential adds $8,000 to $15,000 to a Luanda departure versus an equivalent distance from another African city.
- Ground handling: FBO ground handling costs at Quatro de Fevereiro International are significantly above the African average typically $4,500 to $7,000 for a heavy jet versus $2,200 to $3,800 at Lanseria.
- INAVIC permit complexity: Angola's civil aviation authority (INAVIC) has specific permit requirements that require 24 to 48 hours processing longer than any other major African departure point. Permit fees are also higher.
- Operator positioning: Few operators base aircraft permanently in Luanda. Many charters require positioning from Johannesburg or Nairobi, adding a positioning cost to every Luanda departure.
NAJ prices Luanda charters transparently with all cost components itemised so clients understand exactly what they are paying for and why.
Yes. NAJ sources aircraft for the full East African safari circuit including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. This is one of NAJ's most distinctive service areas the combination of international arrival by heavy or midsize jet with intra-circuit transfers by turboprop to remote lodge airstrips.
A typical East African circuit itinerary handled by NAJ:
- International arrival into Nairobi or Entebbe on a midsize or heavy jet
- Pilatus PC-12 transfers between national park airstrips Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Maasai Mara, Serengeti, Ruaha
- International departure from Nairobi, Dar es Salaam or Entebbe
NAJ also partners with luxury East African ground operators to offer combined aviation and safari packages. Contact NAJ directly for East African circuit planning.
NAJ sources aircraft across the full African continent. Primary hub coverage:
- West Africa: Lagos (LOS), Abuja (ABV), Accra (ACC), Dakar (DKR), Abidjan (ABJ), Luanda (LAD), Port Harcourt (PHC), Kano (KAN)
- East Africa: Nairobi (NBO), Entebbe (EBB), Dar es Salaam (DAR), Kigali (KGL), Addis Ababa (ADD), Mombasa (MBA)
- Southern Africa: Johannesburg (JNB/FALA), Cape Town (CPT), Harare (HRE), Lusaka (LUN), Gaborone (GBE)
- North Africa: Cairo (CAI), Casablanca (CMN), Tunis (TUN)
For cities not listed, NAJ can source aircraft to any airport with appropriate facilities. Contact NAJ with your specific route and we will assess feasibility and sourcing options.