Private helicopter hire in France
Riviera hops, Alpine transfers, Paris connections and event days. What a helicopter costs per hour, where it can land, and the operators allowed to fly you.
- Private hire
- €1,420 to €4,130/hr
- On French charter fleets
- 175 helicopters
- Paris heliport landing
- €200 + VAT
- Licence to carry you
- DGAC CTA
How helicopter hire works in France
A private helicopter typically costs €1,420 to €4,130 per flight hour for the whole aircraft, before VAT and fees. Positioning, landing fees and waiting time are added: landing at the Paris heliport in Issy-les-Moulineaux costs €200 plus VAT, and parking €50 per half hour. On the Riviera, operators publish fixed fares, such as Nice to Saint-Tropez from €2,100 for the whole helicopter, and seats on the Nice to Monaco line start at €195 per person.
You hire the whole helicopter and its pilot, on your schedule, from an airport or heliport near you to anywhere it can legally land.
Paid passenger flights must be operated by a company holding an air operator certificate, called a CTA (certificat de transporteur aérien) in France. The DGAC's list of 2 December 2025 names 36 French helicopter operators with a valid CTA, from the Alps to Réunion. 175 helicopters fly in the charter fleets of French certificate holders, and the Airbus H125 is the most common type.
Altivo Jets is a broker: we match your trip to a certified operator, name that operator and the full price before you book, and handle the paperwork with the landing site.
One route runs like a scheduled service: Monacair's line between Nice airport and Monaco leaves every 30 minutes and sells seats from €195 per person. Everywhere else, you charter the whole helicopter.
Sources:DGAC: helicopter operators holding a valid air operator certificate (CTA), list of 2 December 2025 (PDF)DGAC, November 2022: Mon vol est-il légal? Passenger leaflet on illegal public air transport (PDF)Groupe ADP: tariff guide for airport charges at the Paris heliport, Issy-les-Moulineaux Valérie André, in force from 1 April 2025 (PDF), checked 19 October 2026French AIP, helicopter VAC AD 3 LFPI Paris Issy-les-Moulineaux (SIA, AIRAC 1 October 2026, PDF)Assemblée nationale, written question no. 6920: ministry of the economy answer on the 10% VAT rate for passenger transport, Journal officiel 24 June 2025 (PDF)Monacair: Nice to Monaco regular line, checked 19 October 2026
Helicopter hire by city
The Issy-les-Moulineaux heliport, for transfers to Le Bourget and beyond. Sightseeing loops cannot depart from it.
Cannes in about 10 minutes from €1,000, Saint-Tropez in about 20 from €2,100, whole helicopter.
The line from Nice airport takes about 7 minutes and runs every 30 minutes, from €195 per person.
Sources:French AIP, helicopter VAC AD 3 LFPI Paris Issy-les-Moulineaux (SIA, AIRAC 1 October 2026, PDF)Monacair: helicopter from Nice, routes and indicative fares, checked 19 October 2026Monacair: Nice to Monaco regular line, checked 19 October 2026
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Ski and beach resorts by helicopter
Chambéry in about 25 minutes from €2,700, Geneva in about 30 from €3,100, landing at the altiport.
Nice in about 20 minutes, landing at the Grimaud heliport or La Môle airport, about 15 km from the village.
Sources:Héli Sécurité: helicopter to Courchevel, checked 19 October 2026Héli Sécurité: helicopter to Saint-Tropez, checked 19 October 2026
Event and occasion helicopters
Nice airport to the Monaco heliport in about 7 minutes.
Nice to Cannes in about 10 minutes by helicopter.
Le Mans-Arnage aerodrome sits near the circuit.
Transfers from the Paris heliport to Le Bourget.
Fly into Paris for the tournament at Stade Roland-Garros.
Travel to Longchamp in the Bois de Boulogne.
Arrivals and getaways, and the rules for landing at a venue.
When a group is too big for one helicopter.
Sources:Monacair: Nice to Monaco regular line, checked 19 October 2026Monacair: helicopter from Nice, routes and indicative fares, checked 19 October 202624 Heures du Mans (ACO): everything you need to know to attend the 24 Hours of Le MansWikipedia: Longchamp Racecourse (Bois de Boulogne, 16th arrondissement, capacity)
Where a helicopter can land in France
Helicopters can use airports and heliports, and in many places an unprepared site.
- Away from airports and heliports, a helicopter can land on a hélisurface: a site that need not be prepared and may only be used occasionally.
- Occasional means fewer than 200 movements a calendar year and fewer than 20 a day, or more over a short, limited period.
- Inside a built-up area, a landing site needs a special authorisation from the prefect, granted as an exception.
- In some communes the prefect requires a prior declaration, which must state the landowner's agreement and is valid for the calendar year.
- The prefect can restrict or ban a site for noise, public safety, the environment or defence, including at the request of residents living within 150 m.
- Heliports set their own limits: the Paris heliport allows no more than 70 movements a day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Sources:Banque des Territoires, 10 May 2022: le contrôle des hélisurfaces renforcé (decree 2022-746 and order of 24 April 2022)DGAC, March 2022: summary of the public consultation on hélisurface rules (PDF)French AIP, helicopter VAC AD 3 LFPI Paris Issy-les-Moulineaux (SIA, AIRAC 1 October 2026, PDF)
What goes into a helicopter price
You charter the whole helicopter and its pilot, so the price is per flight, not per seat.
- Flying time at the hourly rate for the type: as a guide, €1,420 to €4,130 per flight hour for the whole helicopter.
- Positioning when the helicopter is based away from your pickup point, both to reach you and to fly home.
- Landing fees: at the Paris heliport in Issy-les-Moulineaux, €200 per landing excluding VAT, whatever the helicopter's weight (Groupe ADP tariff in force from 1 April 2025).
- Parking at Issy: €50 excluding VAT for each half hour or part of one, plus €11.92 for runway lighting on each night movement.
- VAT: passenger transport within France is taxed at the reduced rate of 10%. Flights to or from another country are exempt, even for the part flown over France.
- Waiting time if the helicopter holds for you during the day.
- On the Riviera, operators publish indicative fares per helicopter for set routes, such as Nice to Cannes from €1,000; the final quote depends on date, type and passengers.
Sources:Groupe ADP: tariff guide for airport charges at the Paris heliport, Issy-les-Moulineaux Valérie André, in force from 1 April 2025 (PDF), checked 19 October 2026Assemblée nationale, written question no. 6920: ministry of the economy answer on the 10% VAT rate for passenger transport, Journal officiel 24 June 2025 (PDF)BOFiP, BOI-TVA-CHAMP-20-60-10: VAT on international passenger transport, air transport and art. 262 II 8° CGI (version of 12 September 2012, PDF)Monacair: helicopter from Nice, routes and indicative fares, checked 19 October 2026
Check the operator holds an air operator certificate (CTA)
- A flight sold for payment is public air transport. The carrier needs an air operator certificate (CTA), an operating licence and insurance covering passenger transport.
- Check the operator's name on the DGAC list of helicopter operators with a valid CTA. The list of 2 December 2025 names 36 companies, each with its FR.AOC number.
- The DGAC warns that with an unauthorised operator, safety is not guaranteed and insurers do not cover accidents, so victims may not be compensated.
- A private flight may share costs among the people on board, but it cannot be offered for sale. The DGAC notes that unusually low prices can be a sign of an illegal operator.
- You can ask the carrier for its CTA, operating licence and insurance certificate, and report doubts to the DGAC.
- As a broker, Altivo Jets names the operator and its certificate before you book.
Sources:DGAC: helicopter operators holding a valid air operator certificate (CTA), list of 2 December 2025 (PDF)DGAC, November 2022: Mon vol est-il légal? Passenger leaflet on illegal public air transport (PDF)
Helicopters on French charter fleets
The types French certificate holders fly most. Each page shows how many fly and which operators have them.
Helicopter operators in France
DGAC air operator certificate (CTA) holders with the largest helicopter fleets on our list. 24 operators fly helicopters in France.
44 helicopters: Airbus H125, Airbus H135, Airbus H145
33 helicopters: Airbus H125, Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel, Airbus H135
18 helicopters: Airbus H130, Airbus H125, Airbus H155
10 helicopters: Airbus H125, Airbus H130
10 helicopters: Airbus H125, Robinson R44
6 helicopters: Airbus H125, Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel
5 helicopters: Robinson R44
5 helicopters: Airbus H135, Airbus H145, Airbus H125
4 helicopters: Airbus H125
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow much does it cost to hire a helicopter in France?+
As a guide, €1,420 to €4,130 per flight hour for the whole helicopter, before VAT. Positioning, landing fees and waiting time are added.
How much is the helicopter from Nice to Monaco?+
Monacair's line starts from €195 per person and takes about 7 minutes. The whole helicopter for a group of up to six is €750 (indicative, checked 19 October 2026).
Can I take a helicopter tour over Paris?+
Not from the Paris heliport. Circular passenger flights with no stop, or with a tourist stop of under an hour, may not depart from Issy-les-Moulineaux. The heliport is for transfers, not tours.
Is there VAT on helicopter flights in France?+
Yes for flights within France: passenger transport is taxed at the reduced rate of 10%. Flights to or from another country are exempt, even for the part flown over France.
Who is allowed to fly me for money?+
Only an operator holding an air operator certificate. For French companies that is the CTA, and the DGAC publishes the list of helicopter operators holding one. Altivo Jets names the operator before you book.
Can a helicopter land at my house or venue in France?+
Often, outside built-up areas. A site used only occasionally, under 200 movements a year and 20 a day, can serve as a landing area with the landowner's agreement. Inside a built-up area it needs the prefect's special authorisation.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.DGAC: helicopter operators holding a valid air operator certificate (CTA), list of 2 December 2025 (PDF)
- 2.DGAC, November 2022: Mon vol est-il légal? Passenger leaflet on illegal public air transport (PDF)
- 3.Groupe ADP: tariff guide for airport charges at the Paris heliport, Issy-les-Moulineaux Valérie André, in force from 1 April 2025 (PDF), checked 19 October 2026
- 4.French AIP, helicopter VAC AD 3 LFPI Paris Issy-les-Moulineaux (SIA, AIRAC 1 October 2026, PDF)
- 5.Assemblée nationale, written question no. 6920: ministry of the economy answer on the 10% VAT rate for passenger transport, Journal officiel 24 June 2025 (PDF)
- 6.Monacair: Nice to Monaco regular line, checked 19 October 2026
- 7.Monacair: helicopter from Nice, routes and indicative fares, checked 19 October 2026
- 8.Héli Sécurité: helicopter to Courchevel, checked 19 October 2026
- 9.Héli Sécurité: helicopter to Saint-Tropez, checked 19 October 2026
- 10.24 Heures du Mans (ACO): everything you need to know to attend the 24 Hours of Le Mans
- 11.Wikipedia: Longchamp Racecourse (Bois de Boulogne, 16th arrondissement, capacity)
- 12.Banque des Territoires, 10 May 2022: le contrôle des hélisurfaces renforcé (decree 2022-746 and order of 24 April 2022)
- 13.DGAC, March 2022: summary of the public consultation on hélisurface rules (PDF)
- 14.BOFiP, BOI-TVA-CHAMP-20-60-10: VAT on international passenger transport, air transport and art. 262 II 8° CGI (version of 12 September 2012, PDF)
Tell us where the helicopter needs to go.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.