Farnborough, built for business jets

How long does the drive from Farnborough take?

The airport is close to the M3, which runs north-east to the M25 and on towards London. West London and Surrey are reached quickly; the City and Docklands take considerably longer because the route crosses the whole of London.

Times come from road routing between the airport and each area, with a rush-hour allowance in the last column.

How does a pickup at Farnborough work?

Your chauffeur goes to the terminal building and waits there for your arrival. Tell us the expected landing time, the aircraft registration if you have it, and the name of the operator or handling contact, so the chauffeur can confirm the flight on the day.

Business aviation passengers usually move from aircraft to car in minutes, so the chauffeur arrives well before the scheduled landing. If your departure point is delayed, let us know or ask the operator to pass on the new time; the chauffeur will adjust.

Is Farnborough convenient for the south coast?

Very. Southampton is about 48 miles away and a little over an hour by the M3, which makes Farnborough a natural arrival point for passengers joining a cruise or heading to Hampshire, Dorset or the New Forest. Guildford, Windsor and Ascot are also close.

For cruise passengers flying privately to Southampton, we can plan the transfer around the ship’s embarkation window, and a larger vehicle for cruise luggage.

Which car suits a Farnborough arrival?

The S-Class is the usual choice for one to three passengers after a private flight, with a quiet cabin for calls or rest. Groups arriving together fit in the V-Class, and we can coordinate several vehicles for a larger party so that everyone leaves the terminal at the same time.

Private flights often carry more luggage than scheduled ones. Tell us what to expect, including golf bags, sports equipment or long-stay cases, and we will size the vehicles to match.

Which route does the chauffeur take into London?

For central and west London, the usual line is the M3 north-east to the M25, a short stretch of the M25 north, and then the M4 into London past Heathrow, joining the A4 at Chiswick. It is motorway almost all the way to the edge of central London, which is why Kensington and Mayfair are reachable in about an hour when traffic is light.

For south-west London, such as Richmond, Kingston and Wimbledon, the chauffeur will often stay on the M3 to its end at Sunbury and continue on the A316, avoiding the M25 altogether. For the City and Docklands, there is no quick route: every option crosses central London, and we plan the pickup time around that.

How should you plan a departure from Farnborough?

Business aviation departures are far quicker than airline check-in, but the aircraft slot is fixed, and arriving late can mean losing it or delaying the crew. Your operator will tell you when they want you at the terminal, usually a short time before departure. Work back from that with a generous allowance for traffic on the M3 and M25, which can be heavy on weekday mornings and Friday afternoons.

Tell us the slot time and the operator when you book. We will suggest a pickup time with that margin built in, and the chauffeur will message you when they are outside.

Can you handle a return trip on the same day?

Yes. Many Farnborough passengers fly in for a meeting in London or Surrey and fly out the same evening. We can keep the same car and chauffeur for the day, waiting near your meeting and taking you back to the terminal when you are ready, or arrange two separate journeys if that suits your plans better.

An hourly booking is often simpler for a day with several stops. Your bags stay in the car and you do not need to wait for a second pickup at the end of the day.

What happens during the Farnborough Airshow?

The airshow brings very large numbers of visitors to the area for a week in July in even-numbered years, and the roads around the airport become much busier. If you are flying in or out during airshow week, tell us early. We will plan routes and timings around the event traffic, and allow more time than usual for the final miles to the terminal.