Private Jet Charter at Marina Di Campo (LIRJ/EBA)

Elba Island's Only Runway — Bypassing the Ferry for Every Private Arrival

Marina Di Campo Airport (EBA / LIRJ) is the sole airfield on the Island of Elba, positioned on the southwestern coast roughly 5 km from Marina Di Campo town and 12 km from Portoferraio, the island's main harbour and administrative centre. For private jet passengers, landing at EBA is the only aviation alternative to the 70-minute ferry crossing from Piombino on the Tuscan mainland — a distinction that shapes the airport's entire operational profile. Peak season runs from late June through early September, when charter demand from Milan, Rome Fiumicino, and Gulf routings converges on this single strip.

Runway & Performance

EBA's runway measures approximately 1,432 metres, oriented to accommodate the island's coastal topography. This length comfortably handles light jets — Phenom 300, Citation CJ3+, and equivalents — under standard ISA conditions at 31 ft elevation, where density altitude is a non-factor. Midsize aircraft such as the Citation XLS+ or Learjet 75 require careful payload and fuel planning depending on origin and load; operators should confirm weight limitations with the handling agent prior to departure. The runway surface is asphalt, and there is no published instrument approach of the precision ILS category — VOR/GPS approaches are available, and visual conditions are typically favoured for arrival. Slot coordination is advisable during the July–August peak, as the single runway constrains simultaneous movement capacity.

Ground Handling

On-site customs clearance is available, making EBA a legal port of entry for international arrivals — relevant for itineraries originating outside the Schengen area or for yacht crews transiting from non-EU flag vessels anchored offshore. The handling operation at EBA is managed through dedicated general aviation handling; no internationally branded FBO chain (Signature, Jetex, ExecuJet) is established on field. Ground services include VIP passenger reception, catering coordination on request, fuel uplift, and basic crew facilities. Given the island's logistical constraints — all supplies arrive by sea or air — catering and specialised services should be pre-arranged with minimum 24 hours' notice. Operating hours are published as daytime with seasonal extensions; H24 operations are not structurally confirmed for off-peak periods, and late-night or early-morning arrivals should be pre-coordinated with the aerodrome authority.

Regional Access

Ground transfers from EBA cover the island exclusively. Portoferraio is approximately 15 minutes by road; the northern beaches of Biodola and Procchio are within 25 minutes. For guests connecting onward to the Tuscan mainland, helicopter transfers to Florence or to Piombino helipad are operationally feasible. The nearest major GA hub for positioning flights or heavy-iron arrivals is Florence Peretola (FLR) or Grosseto, with EBA serving as the final leg into the island. Yacht coordination is a frequent use case: EBA receives passengers who board at anchor directly from the Portoferraio or Marciana Marina moorings, making block-in time alignment with tender schedules a routine dispatcher task. Italy remains one of the highest-density private aviation markets in the Mediterranean, and EBA's role as a single-point island gateway gives it an outsized operational relevance relative to its physical size.