Private Jet Charter to Long Island, Bahamas

Long Island is one of the most scenic and unspoiled of the southern Bahamas, a long, narrow island of dramatic cliffs, quiet beaches, and the famous Dean's Blue Hole. It is a remote, low-density destination with limited commercial service, drawing divers, beach travelers, and those seeking seclusion over a built-up resort scene. With two short-runway airports spread along an 80-mile island, private aviation is the practical way in, and aircraft selection is the central planning point.

Dean's Blue Hole and World-Class Diving

Long Island is home to Dean's Blue Hole, one of the deepest known blue holes in the world at over 600 feet, and a world-renowned freediving site. Combined with wall diving and reef sites along the coast, diving is the island's signature draw and a major reason travelers charter out here. It is a niche, high-intent destination.

Remote Luxury and Seclusion

Long Island offers a quiet, remote-luxury character rather than a large-resort scene. A small set of well-regarded beach resorts and lodges sits along the coast, suited to travelers who want striking scenery, excellent diving, and genuine seclusion. Interest in this kind of off-the-beaten-path Bahamas experience has been growing steadily.

Two Airports for a Long Island

Long Island stretches more than 80 miles north to south, so airport choice matters. Stella Maris in the north and Deadman's Cay in the centre and south each serve different parts of the island. Matching the arrival airport to the final destination, the way a private charter can, avoids a long ground transfer along the island's single main road.

Long Island has two public airports, one in the north and one in the centre and south. Airport selection is destination-driven, since the island is long and ground transfer between regions takes time.

Stella Maris (MYLS) is served by Hawkline Aviation with Jet-A fuel and customs during daytime hours, the better-maintained of the two fields. Deadman's Cay (MYLD) has basic, operator-arranged handling with daytime customs. Hogani Jets coordinates fuel and ground services ahead of each flight.

Yes, with the right aircraft. Private jets fly nonstop into Long Island from South Florida and Nassau. The Bahamas requires a valid passport; U.S. citizens need no visa for stays under 8 months. Both airports have customs during daytime hours, which is built into arrival timing.

Direct Routes Into Long Island

• Miami and Fort Lauderdale: approximately 1 hour 15 to 30 minutes by turboprop or very light jet. The primary departure market.
• Nassau: approximately 45 to 60 minutes by turboprop, the common inter-island leg.
• New York and the Northeast: approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours, typically with a technical stop given the short runways and aircraft limits.

Long Island's two runways, 4,019 ft at Stella Maris and 4,042 ft at Deadman's Cay, are both short by jet standards and well under the 5,000 ft threshold where larger jets become feasible. Turboprops are the natural fit; very light jets operate under short-field conditions; select light jets are possible only on a performance review. Midsize and heavy jets are not feasible at either airport.

Aircraft Feasibility by Airport

Flight Logistics and Arrival Planning

Long Island is a long, low-density, distributed destination, so planning centres on matching aircraft to runway and airport to final settlement. Both fields are daytime only. Pre-departure documentation and arrival handling are coordinated ahead of each flight through the Part 135 operators Hogani Jets works with.

• Arrival airport is chosen to minimise ground transfer: Stella Maris for the north, Deadman's Cay for the centre and south.
• Customs operates during daytime hours at both airports; arrival timing is planned around this window.
• Passengers disembark at the general aviation area; ground transfer to the resort or settlement follows, with travel time depending on distance along the island.
• A valid passport is mandatory. No visa required for U.S. citizens on stays under 8 months.

Aircraft selection for Long Island is governed by the two short runways, the route, and the group. Cruise speed is included below as a reference. Turboprops are the standard; very light jets are conditional, and light jets are limited to Stella Maris on review.

Long Island charter traffic is short-haul from South Florida and Nassau, almost entirely by turboprop and very light jet. The arrival airport is matched to the final destination.

Private jet charter to Long Island starts at $6,000+ one way for a turboprop from Nassau, with direct turboprop and very light jet charters from South Florida starting around $9,000+. Reliance on smaller aircraft keeps pricing relatively stable. All prices are starting points; the final quote reflects the specific aircraft and schedule.

Note: 
Prices are standard one-way estimates based on the hourly rate of the suggested aircraft category. Positioning, landing, handling, customs costs, and taxes are included in your all-in quote. These are typical rates we see on these routes, but market conditions can affect pricing. Please inquire for specific pricing.

Hourly Charter Rates by Aircraft Category

One-way charter prices include flight time plus repositioning, fuel, crew, taxes, and international handling fees. The hourly rates below show the underlying cost per flight hour for each aircraft category. 

Rates shown are hourly charter rates by aircraft category. Your quote shows one all-in price, including taxes, permits, and handling.

Pricing Factors Specific to Long Island

• The short runways limit the aircraft pool to turboprops and very light jets, which keeps pricing relatively stable since midsize and heavy jets are not a factor.
• Lower traffic volume means a smaller pool of positioned aircraft, so availability and repositioning affect price more than at busy hubs.
• Both airports operate daytime customs, which factors into aircraft and crew scheduling on a remote island.
• International handling fees on arrival and departure typically run $500 to $1,000 and are included in your all-in quote.

Long Island operates year-round, with diving conditions and weather shaping demand.

• Peak season (December through April): Best weather and prime diving conditions with excellent visibility. Book 2 to 6 weeks ahead, more for holidays.
• Diving and freediving season: Dean's Blue Hole and the reef sites are excellent much of the year; the calmest seas generally fall in the winter and spring months.
• Shoulder season (May and November): Favorable conditions with pricing below peak and better availability.
• Hurricane season (June through October): Weather risk, particularly August and September. Flexible scheduling is important given the limited aircraft pool.

This guide is written for travelers arriving by private jet. The focus is on the arrival sequence, the island's diving-and-seclusion character, and the limited but well-suited accommodation.

Where to Stay on Long Island

Long Island is a remote-luxury and diving destination rather than a large-resort scene, and its accommodation reflects that honestly: a small set of well-regarded beach resorts and lodges along the coast. The three properties below are the leading options for charter clients.

Places to Visit on Long Island

The following spots are the most requested by visitors.

• Dean's Blue Hole: One of the deepest blue holes in the world at over 600 feet, a world-renowned freediving site near Clarence Town. The island's signature landmark.
• Cape Santa Maria Beach: A long stretch of white sand and turquoise water in the north, regularly rated among the finest beaches in the Bahamas.
• Clarence Town: The island's main southern settlement, known for its twin hilltop churches and harbour.
• Wall diving and reef sites: Long Island's coast offers dramatic wall diving and healthy reefs, a major draw alongside the blue hole.
• Columbus Monument: A monument on the northern cliffs marking the island's place in Columbus's voyages, with sweeping views.

Activities That Affect Flight Planning

• Scuba diving and freediving: FAA recommends a 24-hour interval between diving and flying. With Dean's Blue Hole a major draw, schedule dive days at least 24 hours before departure.
• Beach and nature days: No flight planning impact.
• Boat trips and reef excursions: Same-day trips do not affect departure scheduling.

Practical Considerations

Long Island uses the Bahamian dollar, pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, so no currency exchange is required. The island is long and remote: services are limited, settlements are spread along the single main road, and a rental vehicle or resort transfer is essential. Cell coverage is patchy outside the settlements. There are no major medical facilities; serious events require evacuation to Nassau, a genuine consideration given the island's length and remoteness.

Hogani Jets coordinates all private jet charters through licensed Part 135 operators. Hogani Jets does not operate the aircraft directly. Every charter is conducted by a licensed Part 135 direct air carrier whose crew, maintenance, and operations remain under that carrier's independent operational control, with certifications and safety records reviewed as part of every booking.

Contact Hogani Jets at charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573 to plan a Long Island charter or Bahamas diving itinerary.