The short answer
Helicopter charter Chester uses Hawarden Airport at Broughton in Flintshire, Wales, which has a 2,093 metre runway and a business-aviation handling area. Liverpool is about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter, Manchester 20 to 25, Leeds and Birmingham 30 to 40, and London 65 to 80. Customs need 24 hours' notice. We arrange permission with your booking.
Flying from Chester and Cheshire? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Serving site
- Hawarden Airport, Broughton, Chester (in Flintshire, Wales)
- Hours (as published, checked 29 Sep 2026)
- Mon to Fri 08:00 to 21:00; Sat and Sun 08:30 to 18:00; may vary with operational needs
- Runway
- 04/22, 2,093 m by 45 m, grooved
- Customs
- By arrangement with 24 hours' notice
- Prior permission
- Required; we arrange it
- Jet capable
- Yes, with a dedicated business-aviation handling area
- Flagship journey
- Hawarden to Liverpool in about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter against 49 minutes by road
Where Chester and Cheshire flights start and end
The map shows Hawarden Airport, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. Hawarden Airport is at Hawarden Airport, Broughton, Chester. Open it in Google Maps.
Hawarden Airport (Chester)
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Sites that serve Chester and Cheshire
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
Hawarden Airport (Chester) EGNR / CEG
- Address
- Hawarden Airport, Broughton, Chester
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- Mon–Fri 08:00–21:00; Sat–Sun 08:30–18:00 (may vary with operational requirements). Customs and immigration by arrangement with 24 hours' notice
- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement / prior notice
- Runway
- 04/22 – 2,093 m × 45 m concrete/asphalt (grooved)
Does Chester have an airport for a helicopter?
For helicopter charter Chester trips: Chester itself has no airport, but Hawarden Airport sits a few miles to the west, over the Welsh border at Broughton in Flintshire. It is owned by Airbus and runs alongside the plant that builds the wings for the company's airliners. A 2,093 metre grooved runway and a dedicated business-aviation handler mean it can take helicopters, turboprops and jets.
Weekday hours are 08:00 to 21:00 and weekend hours 08:30 to 18:00, although these can vary with operational needs. Weekend hours are shorter, so it matters when planning a Saturday evening return. Customs and immigration are by arrangement with 24 hours' notice. All visits need prior permission, which we arrange.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has been arranging private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011; Cheshire and Merseyside are among our busiest corners.
Journey times from Hawarden Airport
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 10 nm (12 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 49 min (32 mi) | 36 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 18 nm (21 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 55 min (42 mi) | 37 min |
| Manchester | 27 nm (32 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 10 min (45 mi) | 47 min |
| Birmingham | 62 nm (72 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 05 min (93 mi) | 1 h 30 min |
| Leeds | 63 nm (72 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 1 h 57 min (93 mi) | 1 h 22 min |
| York Racecourse | 81 nm (94 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 13 min (117 mi) | 1 h 28 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 83 nm (95 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 38 min (126 mi) | 1 h 53 min |
| Silverstone | 97 nm (112 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 57 min (141 mi) | 2 h 07 min |
| Oxford | 101 nm (116 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 3 h 07 min (151 mi) | 2 h 12 min |
| Cardiff | 108 nm (124 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 45 min (167 mi) | 2 h 47 min |
| Bristol | 108 nm (125 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 36 min (175 mi) | 2 h 38 min |
| Newcastle | 121 nm (139 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 4 h 02 min (201 mi) | 2 h 59 min |
| Cambridge | 129 nm (148 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 32 min (178 mi) | 2 h 24 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 135 nm (155 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 40 min (186 mi) | 2 h 32 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 136 nm (156 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 50 min (193 mi) | 2 h 42 min |
| London Heathrow | 138 nm (159 mi) | 60 to 80 min | 3 h 48 min (193 mi) | 2 h 38 min |
| London | 145 nm (167 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 4 h 12 min (198 mi) | 2 h 59 min |
| Southampton | 147 nm (169 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 4 h 20 min (218 mi) | 3 h 07 min |
| Epsom Downs | 150 nm (173 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 4 h 13 min (214 mi) | 2 h 58 min |
| Norwich | 157 nm (181 mi) | 70 to 85 min | 4 h 47 min (239 mi) | 3 h 29 min |
| London Gatwick | 159 nm (183 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 29 min (232 mi) | 3 h 09 min |
| Goodwood | 162 nm (186 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 54 min (246 mi) | 3 h 34 min |
| Edinburgh | 167 nm (192 mi) | 75 to 90 min | 4 h 50 min (251 mi) | 3 h 27 min |
| Glasgow | 170 nm (195 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 43 min (254 mi) | 3 h 18 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
How much quicker is a helicopter from Chester?
Hawarden is unusually well placed for Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Liverpool is about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter and 49 minutes by road. Aintree is 15 to 20 minutes against 55 minutes. Manchester takes 20 to 25 minutes against 1 hour 10 minutes.
Birmingham is typically 30 to 40 minutes against 2 hours 5 minutes, and Leeds the same against 1 hour 57 minutes. London is about 65 to 80 minutes by helicopter and 4 hours 12 minutes by road, and Cardiff 50 to 65 minutes against 3 hours 45 minutes. Road times are free-flowing minimums, and the A55 and M56 can be slow. For the capital see the London page; the London Heliport in Battersea is the central landing.
Why do people in Cheshire charter helicopters?
Cheshire and North Wales have a strong manufacturing and logistics base, including aerospace at Broughton itself, automotive and chemicals, and large financial and professional-services offices in Chester and Manchester. A helicopter makes it possible to visit several sites in one day, and to reach Liverpool or Manchester without the congestion of the M56 and M62. See business helicopter charter and same-day business trips.
Racing and football add their own weekends. Chester Racecourse, on the Roodee beside the city walls, is among the oldest in Britain still used for racing, and the Grand National meeting at Aintree is just 15 to 20 minutes away: read Aintree Grand National by helicopter. Football fans can see Liverpool FC at Anfield. Cheshire estates also host shooting parties, with lawful carriage of guns explained on shooting by helicopter.
Neighbouring bases and regions
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is 10.5 nautical miles away, Manchester Airport 27 and Blackpool 36. See helicopter charter Liverpool, helicopter charter Manchester and helicopter charter Blackpool. Because Hawarden is in Wales, its place in the Wales region page and the North West region page are both relevant. Every site we use is listed in the UK heliports and airfields directory.
How to book from Chester
Send us date, route and passenger weights. We confirm the aircraft and timings and apply for prior permission. Arrive 10 minutes before departure with luggage in soft bags where the hold is small. Landing at a country house, hotel or venue is subject to landing permission and site suitability.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For prices see helicopterhireprices.co.uk; for a jet from the same field see charter-private-jet.com.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to Hawarden Airport, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Which airport serves Chester for charter?
Hawarden Airport at Broughton in Flintshire, just over the Welsh border. It has a long runway, customs by arrangement and a business-aviation handler.
What are the opening hours at Hawarden?
Monday to Friday 08:00 to 21:00 and Saturday and Sunday 08:30 to 18:00, subject to operational needs. Checked on 29 September 2026.
How long is Chester to Liverpool by helicopter?
About 10 to 15 minutes, against 49 minutes by road.
Can I fly from Chester to the Grand National?
Yes. Aintree is about 15 to 20 minutes away by helicopter. Book early, as slots fill. See our Aintree page.
Do I need 24 hours' notice for customs?
Yes, for international trips from Hawarden. Tell us your plans early.
