Air Taxi and Helicopter Transfers Explained

Air taxi · 20 October 2026 · 4 min read

An air taxi is an on-demand private flight, booked for the trip rather than the seat, and usually flown on a small aircraft over a short distance. A helicopter does the same for even shorter trips, and for places an aeroplane cannot land. Here is how the two work, and when to use each.

What an air taxi is

An air taxi flies exactly where you need to go, when you need to go, with the number of seats you need. The usual aircraft are turboprops, which carry six to eight passengers in a pressurised cabin, and very light and light jets, which carry four to nine. The aircraft is chosen as the smallest that suits the party and the airfield. Our air taxi page has the typical sectors and flying times, and turboprop or light jet for short Australian flights compares the two aircraft.

When it makes sense

• Short interstate hops such as Melbourne to Canberra, Hobart or Adelaide
• Resort and island flights such as Brisbane to Hamilton Island
• Day returns for meetings, site visits and events
• Regional airfields that jets and airlines do not serve
• Last-minute trips when scheduled flights are full or inconvenient

What a helicopter adds

A helicopter flies point to point and does not need a runway, so it is the answer for city transfers, resort arrivals and remote sites. It is also the last stretch of a longer trip: fly by jet to the nearest airport and complete the journey by helicopter, where a suitable landing site is available and approved. Our helicopter hire page covers the transfers we arrange.

Fixed-wing or helicopter?

A helicopter is right for short point-to-point transfers and for sites without a runway. For anything longer, or for larger groups and luggage, a turboprop or jet is faster, carries more and costs less per passenger. Helicopters can also be more sensitive to low cloud and wind, so the flexibility of the plan matters. Tell us the trip and we will recommend one.

An air taxi day, step by step

Here is how a typical short-hop trip runs. A party of five needs to reach Canberra for a morning meeting and be home by evening. We recommend a turboprop or a light jet, the smallest aircraft that suits them, for the roughly 1 h 05 min each way. The aircraft takes them from the Melbourne airport that suits it to Canberra, waits while they work and brings them home. The route is on our Melbourne to Canberra page, and business travel by private jet covers days like it.

How much notice?

Booking ahead gives the widest choice, but short-notice flights, including same-day departures, are often possible depending on aircraft availability. Helicopter transfers depend on an approved landing site and the day’s conditions, so tell us the places you want to start and finish at as early as you can.

Safety and standards

We arrange flights only on aircraft and crews that meet strict aviation safety standards and compliance requirements, and we carry out due diligence before every flight. That applies to a six-seat turboprop and a helicopter transfer in the same way as it does to a large jet.

The limits to know

• Helicopter landing sites need approval and the owner’s permission
• Small aircraft have smaller baggage holds, so tell us about bulky items
• Short flights are flown on the day’s conditions, and plans may change; we tell you early
• On a short sector the airport, not the aircraft, can set the time

Combining the two

Many trips mix aircraft: a turboprop to a regional airfield, a car or helicopter for the last leg. We plan the whole itinerary, including the positioning and the ground transport, and quote it as one trip. For Tasmania, which suits the combination, see private jet to Tasmania.

If your trip includes the UK

This guide covers helicopter and air taxi flying in Australia. If part of your trip is in the UK, Charter-A also publishes a guide to UK helicopter hire prices at helicopterhireprices.co.uk.

How to book

1. Tell us the trip: route, date, passengers and luggage.
2. We find the right aircraft and send one clear quotation.
3. Confirm, and we handle the flight plan, the landing site and the ground arrangements.

To keep the cost down, seven ways to reduce the cost of a private jet charter applies to air taxi flights too.

Frequently asked questions

Ready to plan your flight?

Tell us the route, the date and how many are travelling, and we will come back with the right aircraft and one clear price. Request a quote or call +61 423 347 998.

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