Davos / World Economic Forum — private jet charter
Private jet charter for the WEF Annual Meeting
Davos is the highest-stakes private aviation event in the world — heads of state, Fortune 500 CEOs, sovereign wealth fund principals, and global media converge on a Swiss village of 11,000 for one week each January. Zurich (ZRH) handles the heavy aircraft, with Friedrichshafen (FDH, Germany) and St Gallen-Altenrhein (ACH, Switzerland) acting as overflow FBOs. From Zurich, attendees transfer by helicopter (~30 min flight time, ~€2,800) or by car/train (90-110 min). The Swiss government enforces strict aviation slot allocation during WEF week — bookings open in early November and sell out within days. Private charter remains the dominant arrival method for senior delegates because the WEF schedule begins at 06:30 with breakfast sessions and runs to 22:00 dinners daily.
Why charter for Davos / World Economic Forum
WEF is one of the few global events where private charter genuinely is the default for the attendee class. Commercial flights into Zurich + 2 hours of ground transport in winter weather is impractical for back-to-back meeting schedules. The helicopter shuttle from Zurich Kloten to Davos heliport is the marquee onward leg. Security and discretion considerations make private aviation effectively non-optional for principals with public security exposure.
Booking strategy
Slot allocation opens early November. Book outbound flights by mid-November for January dates. ULR aircraft (Global 7500, G650) needed for non-stop from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Helicopter shuttle (Air-Glaciers, Eagle Helicopter Services, BB Heliservices) must be booked 6+ weeks ahead. Empty legs become available the Friday/Saturday following the WEF close — outbound to London, Frankfurt, Dubai at 40-60% discount.
Common feeder origins
Typical aircraft for this route
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Brokers will quote against Davos / World Economic Forum availability + active empty leg listings.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is Davos so expensive to fly to?+
Davos has no commercial airport. The closest is St Gallen-Altenrhein (ACH, 75 min by car) or Zurich (ZRH, 110 min). During WEF, slot allocation at all three airports is restricted by Swiss authorities and pricing is 2-3x normal charter. The 30-min Zurich-Davos helicopter shuttle is itself ~€2,800 each way.
Friedrichshafen as alternative?+
Yes — Friedrichshafen (FDH, southern Germany) is a 90-min drive to Davos and sees ~40% the WEF slot pressure of Zurich. Many delegations use FDH specifically to avoid Zurich slot lottery. Crossing Swiss border in winter weather adds 30+ minutes versus Zurich.
Helicopter from Zurich, how to book?+
Air-Glaciers, Eagle Helicopter Services, and BB Heliservices all run Zurich-Davos shuttles during WEF. Book 6+ weeks ahead. Cost ~€2,800 per person one-way. Some private jet operators bundle the heli leg into their quote — ask when requesting your charter.
Best time to leave Davos?+
The WEF closes Friday afternoon. Empty legs out of Zurich on Friday evening and Saturday morning are heavily oversupplied as operators reposition. Discount can reach 65-75% off normal pricing on these return legs.