Travelers flying private jet are granted the highest levels of flexibility and privacy when traveling. The convenience of operating a private jet goes hand in hand with the increased number of airports that travelers can fly out of and fly to. This is mostly due to a private jet’s ability to land on shorter, smaller runways.
These airports are typically smaller, which means they can be placed much closer to larger metro areas, whereas large international airports are typically located further from city centers. One of these unique airports is Teterboro Airport (TEB).
Photo: NBAA
Teterboro Airport is a general aviation airport that is located in Teterboro, New Jersey. However, many aviation enthusiasts overlook this unique airport because of its location near Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The airport is about 12 miles from Manhattan in New York, which means it is the premier business jet airport in the New York City metro area. Teterboro Airport is used almost exclusively for private aviation or general aviation travel.
Last year, Teterboro Airport recorded the most private flight departures of any airport in the United States. Per Private Jet Card Comparisons, the airport recorded 74,577 private aviation flight departures in 2023. This slightly increased compared to 2022, when it recorded 73,564 private flight departures, about 1.4% less than in 2023.
5 Reasons Why Teterboro Is The Airport Of Choice For Private Jets Flying To New York City
The facility has become a well-known private jet operational hub.
Per AirCharter Advisors,
“Teterboro (TEB) is the most important and widely used private aviation airport in the United States for private aviation, and the #1 business jet airport in NYC. Teterboro has a 7,000-foot asphalt runway, which can accommodate helicopters, pistons, turboprops, and private jets. Teterboro’s Airport is easily accessible and the most convenient airport for travelers visiting New York City for business or pleasure.”
Let’s take a closer look at this unique airport and how it came to lead the United States in private aviation flights.
Brief history
Teterboro Airport is actually the oldest airport in the New York City area. Walter C. Teter originally acquired the property in 1917. After World War I concluded, the site was turned from a manufacturing plant into a base of operations for one of the world’s most famous airplane designers, Anthony Fokker. The first flight out of the airport site was conducted in 1919.
Photo: JonathanCollins | Shutterstock
During World War II, the United States Army took over the airport for basic operations. However, after the war concluded, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey purchased the airport site and leased it to Pan American World Airways. This lease ended on December 1, 2000, when the Port Authority resumed complete airport control.
Stats of Teterboro
The airport occupies about 827 total acres, which includes:
- Aircraft hangars and offices: 90 acres
- Runways/ taxiways: 408 acres
- Undeveloped land: 329 acres
Overall, Teterboro Airport has nineteen hangars that occupy over 400,000 square feet of space. The main office buildings are centrally located, with one of the buildings housing the Department of Homeland Security. These have a combined area of 133,418 square feet. Other office space and maintenance hangars take up an additional 165,000 square feet of space. The airport uses over 4.2 miles of taxiways to facilitate aircraft movement.
Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock
The airport has two runways that are both asphalt and are both 150 feet wide. These runways were designed with the following dimensions:
|
Direction |
Length (m) |
Length (ft) |
|---|---|---|
|
01/19 |
2,134 meters |
7,000 feet |
|
06/24 |
1,833 meters |
6,013 feet |
Both runway 01 and runway 19 are equipped with runway end identifier light (REIL) systems. However, runway 01 includes a visual approach slope indicator (VASI) system, whereas runway 19 utilizes an instrument landing system (ILS) and precision approach path indicator (PAPI). Runway 06 has high-intensity runway lights (HIRL), an ILS, and a medium approach lighting system (MALS-R). Runway 24 utilizes a PAPI system and a REIL system.
Other notable features
Teterboro Airport offers customs in two convenient locations. The first is in Hangar #1, and the second is Jet Aviation FBO. The airport is open 24/7, including during holidays, although customs is only open from 07:30 to 23:30 local time. Last March, Jet Aviation updated its FBO with a revamped interior, suitably opulent for its discerning guests.
One of the most unique features of Teterboro is its lack of passenger traffic. Teterboro Airport is officially classified as a general aviation relief airport. This means that it cannot offer any scheduled airline service. Beyond this, beginning in 1977, no aircraft greater than 100,000 pounds has been permitted to operate from Teterboro Airport. This was implemented to reduce excessive noise in the airport’s residential areas.
Perhaps the most appealing feature of flying out of Teterboro Airport is its optimal location. As previously mentioned, Teterboro Airport is just 12 miles from Manhattan. This drive can typically be completed in 30 to 45 minutes. This is significantly faster than it would take to get to Manhattan from the nearby JFK or Newark airports. In support of this, the airport is also accessible by bus and train routes.
