New York City’s airport system is known globally for congestion and delays, with three major facilities at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), and LaGuardia Airport (LGA). There is, however, one other facility that sees hundreds of flights per week, at times even more, and it is located outside the city in Northern New Jersey and yet is relatively unknown.

Teterboro Airport (TEB) has long been a favorite of the world’s rich and famous, and the facility offers a relatively overlooked outpost for private jet operations in the New York Area. Much like smaller airports like Farnborough and Biggin Hill in the London Area, Teterboro handles most traffic for the area’s wealthiest private and corporate travelers.

While there are several smaller operational facilities in the greater New York metropolitan area, Teterboro has stood out and become the undeniable favorite among private jet operators worldwide. In this article, we will look deeper at five reasons why this airport is so popular for private jets.

1 No commercial jets

Private jet operators will never run into commercial passenger traffic at TEB

According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages Teterboro Airport alongside all other major facilities in the New York Area, TEB is officially classified as a general aviation relief airport. Officially, this means that the airport does not offer scheduled airline service nor permit any aircraft in excess of 100,000 pounds on any surface.

Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock

The purpose of the airport is to remove non-scheduled general aviation and private aircraft from heavily congested commercial facilities, a critical factor in reducing delays. However, for those flying private jets, the value of avoiding commercial traffic is not to be understated, and delays are also rarely encountered.

2 Multiple runways

Over 170,000 aircraft take off and land annually

Teterboro Airport is one of the relatively few private jet-focused facilities offering multiple runways, allowing airport operations to occur far more efficiently. While two runways are nothing for a major commercial facility, for a smaller business aviation hub, it is plenty more than enough and allows for impressive landing and takeoff rates, especially during the business parts of the day.

These runways are noticeably shorter than those at many commercial airports, both of which are just a bit longer than a mile in length. However, they do not need to be as lengthy as they do not handle any of the large commercial jets that typically require extended landing strips, as they would all exceed the facility’s weight restriction, according to Air Nav.

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Nonetheless, efficiency is one of the most essential factors why private operators choose to avoid commercial flights in favor of executive jets. With two runways and bountiful facilities to support speedy operations, Teterboro provides the ideal set of circumstances for those flying private to get into the air as quickly as possible.

3 An optimal location

Proximity to the city is critical for those traveling on business

Executive travelers have long touted the importance of efficiently getting from their private jets to their downtown offices, which can prove a challenge for major New York Airports that sit on major traffic-prone highways. While a drive from Teterboro to Manhattan’s Wall Street certainly is not immune to traffic, it can often prove far speedier than trekking through Queens to JFK or to Newark, according to Uber.

Photo: Joby Aviation

The potential of eVTOL is also one of the key technologies that will benefit Teterboro in the long run. With extremely efficient and speedy electric rotorcraft, traveling from TEB to Manhattan offices will soon become easier than ever, making the time savings and appeal of flying private even stronger.

4 Around-the-clock operations

The airport is open for movements at all hours of the day

While many smaller airports have more limited operational schedules, Teterboro is open at all hours of the day and night. Optimized for corporate travelers, Teterboro is prepared to handle large amounts of traffic during the airport’s busiest hours but will also manage flights at any time of the day.

Photo: JonathanCollins | Shutterstock

Not only is the airport’s tower open 24 hours a day, but it will continue to manage operations under almost any conditions. According to the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the facility remains operational throughout the entire year and does not close on any major holidays, a critical asset for the business traveler.

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5 An easier airport to learn at

The airport is appealing to private operators with ambitions for a pilot’s license

Teterboro is among the most popular facilities for private operators who are either just learning to become pilots or have newfound interests in the field. The airport is easy to land at, and a lack of commercial traffic makes the facility optimal for younger pilots.

There are some unique safeguards that also ensure operations at the airport are conducted as safely as possible. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, both runways at TEB are equipped with Engineering Materials Arresting Systems (EMAS), which are utilized to prevent aircraft from overshooting the runway, incidents that have been on the rise in the private aviation industry in recent years.