Precious metals and bullion transport by private jet moves gold, silver, platinum, and palladium between vaults, refineries, and central bank reserves under armed-escort logistics. First, every shipment carries concentrated value – a single 400oz gold bar (LBMA standard) is worth roughly USD 800,000 at current prices. Second, vault-to-vault transfers happen continuously across the global precious metals market. Therefore, secure charter aviation is the only realistic option for time-critical movements.
For private banks, bullion refineries, central bank reserves, and private collectors, precious metals and bullion transport requires armed escort, insurance-compliant protocols, and continuous chain-of-custody. Indeed, our Geneva-London-Zurich-Singapore network sits directly on the global precious metals trade corridor.
Vault-to-vault precious metals transfer? Our secure transport desk runs under NDA. Armed escort, dedicated chain-of-custody, full Lloyd’s insurance compliance.
Why precious metals and bullion transport demands charter
Three structural reasons:
- Concentrated value. A single charter mission may carry USD 50-500 million in bullion. Therefore, commercial cargo is not an option.
- Vault timing. Refinery output, central bank settlements, and ETF custodial movements run on hard deadlines. As a result, charter delivers vault-to-vault timing.
- Confidentiality. Origin vault, owner identity, and destination are sensitive. Indeed, broker discretion matters as much as physical security.
Major precious metals corridors
Typical precious metals and bullion transport routes:
- Switzerland to UAE – Geneva (GVA) and Zurich (ZRH) refineries supply Dubai gold trade
- Switzerland to Asia – Geneva and Zurich to Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai
- London to New York – LBMA London vaults to NYMEX-eligible vaults Delaware/NYC
- Australia to Asia – Perth Mint to Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai
- South Africa to international – Rand Refinery (Johannesburg) to global buyers
- Russia to Asia – historically; restrictions vary by sanctions environment
Furthermore, the LBMA (London Bullion Market Association) governs standards across this corridor.
LBMA Good Delivery standards
Most institutional precious metals and bullion transport involves LBMA Good Delivery bars:
- Gold Good Delivery bar – 350-430 troy oz (typically 400 oz / 12.4 kg), 99.5% pure minimum
- Silver Good Delivery bar – 750-1100 troy oz (typically 1000 oz / 31 kg), 99.9% pure
- Platinum/Palladium Good Delivery bar – 32-192 troy oz, 99.95% pure
Specifically, every bar carries a unique serial number, refinery hallmark, fineness, and weight stamped on the bar. Therefore, chain-of-custody documentation can track individual bars across the transport.
Aircraft selection for precious metals and bullion transport
Bullion is dense – 1 tonne of gold occupies roughly 50 litres of volume but weighs 1,000 kg. Aircraft selection focuses on weight capacity, not cabin volume:
- Mid-size jet (Challenger 350, Falcon 2000) – up to 800 kg cargo, 25-65 gold bars
- Heavy jet (Falcon 7X, Global 6000) – up to 2,000 kg, ~160 gold bars
- Ultra-long-range (Gulfstream G650, Global 7500) – transcontinental with full weight
- Freighter (Beechcraft 1900, BAe 146 QC, 727F) – for very large shipments above 5,000 kg
For broader aircraft cabin and cargo capacity see our fleet overview.
Armed escort and security protocols
Standard security protocols include:
- Armed escort at origin and destination – typically 2-4 licensed agents per mission
- Plate-changing vehicles for ground transport from vault to ramp
- Sealed transport containers with tamper-evident locks
- Continuous courier presence – bullion never leaves licensed handler control
- NDA-bound aircraft crew
- Restricted ramp access at FBO origin and destination
- Insurance coverage – all-risk in-transit, typically Lloyd’s syndicates
High-value vault transfer. Single broker contact. Armed escort coordinated. Dedicated chain-of-custody throughout. NDA-bound.
Working with private banks and refineries
Most precious metals and bullion transport is commissioned by:
- Bullion refineries (Valcambi, PAMP, Argor-Heraeus, Metalor, Rand Refinery, Perth Mint)
- Private banks with vault custodial services
- Central bank reserves transfers
- ETF custodial movements (HSBC, JP Morgan, ICBC Standard)
- Gold-backed sovereign wealth funds
- Private collectors for high-value coin and bar acquisitions
Furthermore, our team is set up to interface directly with bank vault custodians and insurance underwriters. Therefore, paperwork runs in parallel with aircraft dispatch.
Customs and documentation for precious metals and bullion transport
Cross-border precious metals shipments involve:
- Customs declaration with declared value at current spot prices
- Origin certification – LBMA Good Delivery certificate or refinery hallmark verification
- Insurance certificate – all-risk in-transit, Lloyd’s syndicate-approved
- Sanctions screening – origin country compliance with current OFAC/EU sanctions
- Beneficial owner declaration where required
- Cash transaction reporting if applicable
Our operations team coordinates paperwork via specialised customs brokers in each major bullion jurisdiction.
Insurance considerations
In-transit insurance covers:
- Loss or theft during transport
- Damage in handling
- Aviation accident coverage
- Sanctions and confiscation risk in certain corridors
Premiums typically run 0.05-0.15% of declared value. Therefore, a USD 100M shipment carries premiums of USD 50,000-150,000 against full coverage.
Pricing factors for precious metals and bullion transport
Pricing depends on:
- Aircraft type and range – heavy jet vs ultra-long-range vs freighter
- Mission weight – cargo density drives aircraft minimum
- Insurance band – declared value drives premium share of charter cost
- Security level – armed escort tier, vault access protocols
- Route sensitivity – sanctions-screened corridors add lead time
Indicative pricing:
- Zurich (ZRH) – Dubai (DXB), heavy jet, USD 50M shipment: EUR 95,000-130,000 charter + insurance
- London (FAB) – New York (TEB), ultra-long-range, USD 150M shipment: EUR 165,000-225,000 + insurance
- Hong Kong (HKG) – Singapore (SIN), mid-size, USD 25M shipment: EUR 28,000-42,000 + insurance
Why Elysium Jet for precious metals and bullion transport
- Geneva-Zurich-London-Singapore-Dubai coverage – sitting on the global precious metals trade corridor
- Avinode network – access to specialised cargo and freighter aircraft
- Insurance-aligned protocols – established working relationships with Lloyd’s syndicates
- Confidentiality – broker model preserves consignor and counterparty privacy
- Armed escort coordination – specialised secure transport partners at origin and destination
Request a precious metals transport quote
Tell us the shipment details – origin vault, destination vault, declared value band, weight, and preferred timing. Quotes issued under NDA on request.
NDA-bound vault-to-vault quote. Armed escort. Continuous chain-of-custody. Full insurance compliance.
Related reading
- Fine art transport by private jet – same chain-of-custody discipline.
- Auction house consignment flights – Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Phillips parallel discipline.
- Watches and jewelry transport – same insurance and security family.
- Fleet overview – aircraft suitable for high-value cargo missions.
