Private Jet Charter to Roatán, Honduras: RTB Airport, Routes, Rates & Bay Islands Connections

A Roatán private jet charter flies nonstop from Florida in under two hours, straight onto the island. Airline service from many US cities needs a connection, and several routes run only seasonally. A chartered jet sets its own timetable, and a turboprop can reach Utila or Guanaja the same day.

• Direct island arrival: customs and immigration happen at Roatán itself.
• Jet-capable runway: 6,857 feet takes everything up to heavy jets.
• Island hopping: Utila is 24 nautical miles away and Guanaja 36.

Juan Manuel Gálvez International (RTB) is the closest airport to Roatán, on the island's southwest side near Coxen Hole. Its asphalt runway, 07/25, measures 6,857 feet at 20 feet elevation. International arrivals clear customs and immigration at the terminal. Jet fuel is available.

Can a large private jet land at Roatán airport?

Yes, jets up to heavy size can land at Roatán airport (RTB), where runway 07/25 is 6,857 feet long. A Roatán airport private jet arrival suits midsize, super midsize and heavy jets such as the Challenger 650. VIP airliners land at La Ceiba (LCE) instead.

Roatán is the Bay Islands gateway because it is the only island airport with customs and a jet-length runway. Utila and Guanaja have shorter strips and no customs. A Bay Islands private jet trip therefore clears in at Roatán. Turboprops or light jets then hop to the smaller islands.

Which Bay Islands airports can private jets use?

Private jets up to heavy size can use Roatán (RTB), the only Bay Islands airport with customs. Roatán's runway is 6,857 feet long. Private light jets and smaller can also land on Utila (UII), at 4,265 feet, after a Roatán customs stop. Guanaja (GJA), at 3,990 feet, takes private turboprops only.

A private flight to Roatán from the US takes from under 2 hours to about 4 hours nonstop. A private jet Miami to Roatán flight covers 667 nautical miles in about 1 hour 45 minutes. Private jet charter flights to Roatán from Texas and Atlanta take roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. New York suits a super midsize cabin.

• Fort Lauderdale: about 1 hour 50 minutes by private light jet.
• Dallas: about 2 hours 50 minutes by private midsize jet.
• Toronto: about 3 hours 50 minutes by super midsize private jet.
• Belize City: about 45 minutes by private turboprop.

Private jet hourly rates to Roatán start at $1,300 for a turboprop and $2,300 for a light jet. Midsize jets run $2,800 to $5,500 an hour, and super midsize jets $4,500 to $7,500. Roatán private flights in every category through ultra-long-range land on the island. Only VIP airliners route via La Ceiba.

• Passports: a valid passport is needed for each passenger. Visitors of other nationalities should check Honduras's requirements for their own passport.
• Six months: US passports must remain valid six months past arrival.
• Visa-free stays: up to 90 days for US citizens.
• Regional allowance: Honduras shares that 90-day limit with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua under the CA-4 agreement.
• Declaration: each passenger submits the Honduran online customs form before flying.

Flying a dog or cat to Roatán requires a veterinary health certificate showing the pet meets Honduran import rules. A USDA endorsement on the certificate is not needed for Honduras. 

INFOAGRO, the Honduran agricultural information service, publishes the current requirements. Confirm the charter operator's cabin pet policy before booking.

Aircraft category and hours in the air drive most of the quote. For a private jet to Roatán, the departure city matters most, since Texas needs a larger cabin than Florida. Peak holiday weeks lift demand. Island hops to Utila or Guanaja add short turboprop legs.

• Origin city: Florida departures fit a light jet; farther cities need midsize or larger.
• Island hops: extra turboprop legs to Utila or Guanaja.
• Positioning: aircraft often start in Florida or Texas.
• Holidays: Semana Santa and the winter holidays are the busiest weeks.

What is the cheapest way to fly privately to Roatán?

The cheapest way to fly privately to Roatán is a regional turboprop at $1,300 to $2,500 per hour. La Ceiba is 25 minutes away by turboprop, and Belize City about 45. US travellers pay least with a Miami or Fort Lauderdale light jet, at $2,300 to $3,800 hourly. Empty legs can cut the price further on flexible dates.

Empty legs from Roatán are one-way repositioning flights, often heading back to Florida or Texas after a drop-off. Operators sell the whole aircraft on that leg below the usual price. Legs into Roatán also appear when a jet flies in to collect departing guests.

Times follow the original booking, and the leg can move or be withdrawn if that trip changes. A return flight is not included, so the other direction is booked separately.

Send your travel window and passenger count to charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573 to check Roatán empty legs.

March to May is the driest stretch and the best time for diving around Roatán. Visibility can reach 36 metres in those months. June 1 to November 30 is Atlantic hurricane season. Nearby La Ceiba records its heaviest rain from October to December.

Does hurricane season close Roatán airport?

Hurricane season does not close Roatán airport (RTB), though a passing storm can halt flights temporarily. Atlantic storms are possible from June 1 to November 30, with most activity from mid-August to mid-October. Operators reschedule when a storm threatens the Bay Islands, so a spare day protects late-summer trips.

Roatán's main visitor areas are West Bay and West End, at the western end of the north coast. Coxen Hole, the main town, sits beside the airport on the south side. French Harbour lies further east on the south coast, followed by Oak Ridge and Punta Gorda. Distances on the island are short, so transfers from RTB are quick.

Roatán is built around the reef, with diving and snorkelling along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. The Roatán Marine Park, founded in 2005, protects those reefs and tracks turtle nesting on the east end. Onshore, Bay Island English culture sits alongside Garifuna heritage. Nature parks and gardens fill the days between dives.

• Gumbalimba Park: macaws, monkeys and a 300-foot suspension bridge in West Bay.
• Carambola Botanical Gardens: tropical gardens in Sandy Bay on the north coast.
• Roatán Museum: also in Sandy Bay, close to the gardens.
• Punta Gorda: a north-shore village with deep Garifuna roots.
• Island hops: day trips by turboprop to Utila or Guanaja.

• Diving: leave about a day between the final dive and the flight out.
• Cruise days: check ship calls at Coxen Hole and Mahogany Bay when timing transfers.
• Weddings: groups may need a heavy jet or two aircraft.
• Fishing: rods and coolers affect baggage planning.

Roatán uses the Honduran lempira and stays on Central Standard Time all year, with no daylight saving. The Roatán control tower is listed as open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. 

A Level 3 State Department advisory, reconsider travel, has applied to Honduras since August 25, 2026. Its only Level 4 area is Gracias a Dios on the mainland, not the Bay Islands.

Hogani Jets plans each Roatán trip end to end, from the nonstop jet to any island hop. As a private jet booking service in Roatán, it matches the aircraft to your group, bags and route. Founder Matt Hogan has organised more than 2,000 charters in over 90 countries. Aircraft size and payload are checked first on each VIP private jet charter to Roatán.

Every operator's Part 135 certificate, insurance coverage, and safety record is independently reviewed before booking, with ARGUS, Wyvern, or IS-BAO ratings considered where they exist as one part of that review.

• Direct arrivals: nonstop jets matched to the 6,857-foot runway.
• Island links: turboprop connections to Utila and Guanaja planned in.
• Group ready: heavy jets or two aircraft for weddings and families.

To book private jet charter to Roatán, contact Hogani Jets at charter@hoganijets.com or +1-855-660-0573.