Roberta Aguirre
The British royal family's air travel is provided by a variety of military and civilian operators, including the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the King's Helicopter Flight. The royals also fly on private charters, commercial flights, and private planes. The Queen is the only member of the royal family who does not need a passport to travel abroad, as all UK passports are issued in her name. The royal family has a private lounge at Heathrow Airport, where they embark on most of their international trips.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who uses the airport | The British Royal Family |
| Air transport provided by | Military and civilian operators |
| Examples of operators | Airbus Voyager of the Royal Air Force (RAF), No. 10 Squadron, the King's Helicopter Flight, Civil aircraft, scheduled commercial flights |
| First aircraft ordered for the royal family | Westland Wapitis, delivered to No. 24 Squadron at RAF Northolt in April 1928 |
| Airport with a secret terminal for the royal family | Heathrow Airport |
| Airport with a private lounge for the royal family | Heathrow Airport (Terminal Five) |
| Air travel cost for the financial year 2023-24 | £4.2 million |
| Air travel cost breakdown for the financial year 2023-24 | £2 million on helicopters, £1.1 million on charter flights, £300,000 on scheduled flights, £600,000 on train travel, and £200,000 on motorcars |
| Go-to airline | British Airways |
| Number of countries visited by the royal plane | Over 100 |
| Number of journeys made on royal helicopters between April 2018 and April 2019 | 204 |
| Cost of journeys made on royal helicopters between April 2018 and April 2019 | £688,845 |
Explore related products
The Queen's Flight
The history of The Queen's Flight dates back to 1928 when the first aircraft specifically ordered for the royal family, two Westland Wapitis, were delivered to No. 24 Squadron at RAF Northolt. Over the years, the unit has operated various aircraft, including Vickers Viking, Avro York, de Havilland Heron, and Westland Whirlwind, among others. In 1977, Queen Elizabeth II travelled aboard Concorde for the first time, marking the occasion as the first visit by a Concorde aircraft to Barbados.
The royal family's travel arrangements are determined by the Royal Travel Office, which takes into account security, cost, and logistics. While the royals have access to private charters and military or government aircraft, they also occasionally fly commercial, supporting their own country by opting for British Airways when possible. The royal plane is estimated to have touched down in over 100 different countries, showcasing the extensive travel of the royal family.
Austin Airport: Size, Scale, and Expansion Plans
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The King's Flight
Historically, the aircraft for British royalty was known as the King's Flight or the Queen's Flight, depending on the reigning monarch. The first aircraft ordered specifically for the royal family's transport were two Westland Wapitis, delivered to No. 24 Squadron at RAF Northolt in 1928. The King's Flight initially used the King's own de Havilland Dragon Rapide, commanded by his personal pilot, Edward 'Mouse' Fielden. Over the years, the unit operated various aircraft, including Vickers Viking, Avro York, Westland Whirlwind, and Westland Wessex.
While the King himself does not travel on scheduled flights, other members of the royal family do so whenever possible, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who have been spotted flying British Airways Economy and Club Europe. For official business, the royal family may fly on private jets or charter planes, ensuring their security and enabling them to stop over in multiple countries during their trips. The cost of royal travel is detailed in the annual Sovereign Grant Report, with the 2023-24 report showing expenditures of £4.2 million, including £2 million on helicopters and £1.1 million on charter flights.
Body Scanners: European Airports' Security Measures Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Helicopters
The Queen's Helicopter Flight currently has two helicopters in operation, which are based at RAF Odiham, a Royal Air Force station in the English town of Odiham. The Royal Household also has a Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter, bearing the civilian registration G-XXEB.
The 32 (The Royal) Squadron, commonly known as The Queen's Flight, flies Agusta Westland AW109 helicopters, which are used for short-range travel.
The use of helicopters by the royal family is permitted under regulations that allow them to use public funds for travel between residences. Between April 2018 and April 2019, 204 journeys were made on royal helicopters, costing a total of £688,845.
In addition to helicopters, the royal family also travels by private and commercial planes, trains, and yachts. The cost of royal travel for the previous financial year ending March 31 is documented annually in an Appendix to the Sovereign Grant Report. For the 2023-24 financial year, £2 million was spent on helicopters out of a total of £4.2 million spent on travel.
Frankfurt Airport: Global Entry Access Explored
You may want to see also
Commercial flights
The British Royal Family has access to a variety of aircraft for their official and personal travel, including military and civilian aircraft. While the Royal Family has been known to use private jets and helicopters, they also occasionally travel on commercial flights.
The Royal Family's travel arrangements are determined by the Royal Travel Office, which takes into account security, cost, and logistics. Commercial flights are deemed more appropriate for certain visits, such as when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle travelled first class with Qantas for their tour of Australia and New Zealand in 2018. Similarly, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, have been spotted flying on budget airlines such as EasyJet and Flybe. The couple has also travelled first class with British Airways to St. Lucia for vacations in Mustique.
British Airways is the preferred airline for commercial travel abroad and has been used by the Royal Family for official visits and state visits. For example, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip took a British Airways Concorde on their state visit to the USA in 1991, and the Queen chartered a British Airways Boeing 777 for an 11-day tour of Australia in 2011. The Royal Family may also charter commercial aircraft where required, especially for access to more isolated Commonwealth countries.
The Royal Family has also been known to use the RAF Voyager A330 aircraft, which is available to royals and British government officials. This aircraft is primarily used for military purposes but can be used for VIP transport when not in use by the military.
Punta Gorda Airport: Size, Scope, and Scale
You may want to see also
Private jets
The British royal family's air travel is provided by a variety of military and civilian operators, including an Airbus Voyager of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the King's Helicopter Flight, which is part of the Royal Household. The family also travels via private charters, either large fixed-wing aircraft, small fixed-wing aircraft, or helicopters, depending on the distance and the size of the official party. The Queen's Flight, or No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron, operates BAe 146 jets and an Agusta Westland AW109 helicopter, all outfitted with VIP interiors. These are used for short-range travel, while long-haul flights require other aircraft.
The Queen herself does not travel on scheduled flights but has chartered British Airways planes for official business numerous times. For example, in 2011, she chartered a British Airways Boeing 777 for an 11-day tour of Australia with the Duke of Edinburgh. She has also chartered Concorde in the past, including a trip to Barbados in 1977, which was the first visit by a Concorde aircraft to the country. The Queen can also charter military or government aircraft, such as the specially converted Airbus A330 operated by the RAF, which is often used to fly the British Prime Minister and other senior government officials.
Other members of the royal family have also flown on private jets, but only for official business. The royal family's travel budget for the previous financial year is documented in an Appendix to the Sovereign Grant Report, which showed that for the 2023-24 financial year, £1.1 million was spent on charter flights. While the royals don't always fly private, they never fly without their top-notch security team of trained experts. Each member of the royal family has particular security concerns that must be addressed.
The Royal Family also has access to a private lounge at Heathrow Airport, located behind a hidden door in Terminal Five. This allows the royals to avoid the queues that regular travellers face and provides a comfortable space to wait before their flights.
Airport Gate Slots: Who Buys Them and How?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The British royal family uses a variety of airports depending on their travel needs. They frequently travel by helicopter within the UK, with the King's Helicopter Flight (TKHF) providing transport for the monarch and the royal family from RAF Odiham. When flying overseas, the royals tend to fly from larger commercial airports. They have been known to fly from London Heathrow, as well as regional airports such as Norwich and Aberdeen.
The British royal family travels by both commercial and private flights. The Queen and the King do not travel on scheduled commercial flights but other members of the royal family do so whenever possible. The Queen travels on chartered British Airways planes for official visits, and other members of the royal family have been spotted on budget airlines. However, private jets are usually restricted to official business trips.
The British royal family uses a variety of aircraft, including private planes, helicopters, and chartered flights. The Queen has used a chartered British Airways Boeing 777 and the British Airways supersonic Concorde. The King's Flight and Royal Squadron provide transport for the royal family and are equipped with VIP-configured aircraft. The royals also have access to military aircraft, such as the Airbus A330 operated by the Royal Air Force.
