Air Taxi Australia | On-Demand Short-Hop Private Flights

An air taxi is an on-demand private flight, booked for the trip rather than the seat, usually on a smaller aircraft and usually for a short hop. You choose the departure time, we find the aircraft, and you land at an airfield close to where you are going.

What air taxi flying is for

The airlines are built around busy routes and big airports. An air taxi does the opposite: it flies exactly where you need to go, when you need to go, with the number of seats you actually need. That makes it a natural fit for the short regional and city-to-city sectors that Australia has a lot of.

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

The aircraft behind an air taxi

We choose the smallest aircraft that suits your party, so you pay for the capacity you need and no more. The usual choices are:

Turboprops

Pilatus PC-12 and Beechcraft King Air class aircraft carry six to eight passengers in a pressurised cabin and can use shorter, smaller airfields than jets. They are the heart of regional air taxi flying.

Very light and light jets

Four to nine seats at jet speed, with the lowest hourly cost of any jet. They suit sectors of up to about three hours and more distant airfields than a turboprop.

For helicopter transfers, see helicopter hire. For larger groups and longer sectors, see private jet hire and the aircraft guide.

Typical air taxi sectors

Indicative flying times. The aircraft, winds and routing change them, and we confirm them in your quotation.

Route	Distance	Turboprop	Light jet
Melbourne to Canberra	470 km	about 1 h 20 min	about 1 h 05 min
Melbourne to Hobart	615 km	about 1 h 40 min	about 1 h 15 min
Melbourne to Adelaide	640 km	about 1 h 40 min	about 1 h 20 min
Melbourne to Sydney	705 km	about 1 h 50 min	about 1 h 25 min
Brisbane to Hamilton Island	890 km	about 2 h 10 min	about 1 h 40 min

Air taxi or private jet?

The difference is size and range, not service. Choose an air taxi when the trip is short, the group is small and you want the lowest cost; choose a larger jet for longer sectors, bigger groups or more luggage. If you are not sure, tell us the trip and we will recommend one, and quote the alternative if it is close.

How to book an air taxi

Tell us the trip. Route, dates, passengers and luggage, by phone or the two-minute form.
We find the aircraft. We compare suitable aircraft and send one clear quotation.
Confirm and fly. We handle the flight plan, the airfield and the ground arrangements; you arrive and board.

Air taxi FAQs

What is an air taxi?

An air taxi is an on-demand private flight, booked for the trip rather than the seat, usually on a smaller aircraft such as a turboprop, a very light or light jet, or a helicopter. It is the right tool for short hops of up to about two hours, and for places the airlines do not serve well.

Is an air taxi cheaper than a private jet?

On short sectors it often is, because a smaller aircraft costs less to fly. Cost still depends on the aircraft, the distance, the date and any positioning, so the only reliable answer is a quote for your route.

How many passengers can an air taxi carry?

Typically four to eight passengers, depending on the aircraft. A turboprop such as the Pilatus PC-12 can seat up to eight; a very light jet seats four or five. Tell us how many are travelling and what luggage you have.

Can an air taxi land at a regional airstrip?

Often, yes. Turboprops and smaller jets can use shorter runways and smaller airfields than larger jets. Whether a particular airfield suits a particular aircraft depends on its runway, surface and facilities, and we check this before we quote.

How early should I book?

Booking ahead gives the widest choice of aircraft, but short-notice flights, including same-day departures, are often possible depending on aircraft availability.

Do you arrange helicopter air taxi flights?

Yes, for city and resort transfers and places a fixed-wing aircraft cannot reach. See helicopter hire.

What happens if the flight is cancelled because of the weather?

If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.