Private aviation has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for luxury travel options, expedited travel times, and enhanced privacy. As a result, airports catering specifically to private jets have evolved, offering unparalleled services and facilities. With ever-increasing demand for these services, Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) and private terminals have begun to invest more in their services to attract more customers.The most traveled airports in the world, flown into by private aircraft, are usually popular based solely on location. You can expect cities like New York City, New York, or Paris, France, to have the most popular private jet airports due to their population size. With that said, we’ll explore the world’s most visited airports for private aviation and look at some extravagant FBOs with the best ratings in the world. Read on as we delve into some of the world’s most popular and the world’s best-rated private jet airports, highlighting their unique features, services, and surroundings.
Owners and operators don’t fly their jets to visit the airport; they fly to visit destinations. So it makes sense that the airports most traveled to by private jet are not airports with a large selection of luxuries and amenities, but airports near city centers that are generally traveled to most by the general public. With that said, these private jets don’t share the same terminals as we commoners. Below are the most popular airports for private jet travel and their subsequent private terminals for their elite passengers.
TEB – Teterboro Airport
Teterboro Airport (TEB), located in Teterboro, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from New York City, New York, is a public airport primarily serving private and corporate jets that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey runs. The airport has two intersecting runways, each with a length of 6,013 feet (1,833 m) and 7,000 feet (2,134 m), respectively, that were designed to carry no more than 100,000 lb (45,000 kg), making the airport limited to general aviation aircraft.
Teterboro is by and far the most popular airport for private jet travel, with more than 74,000 individual departures and arrivals tabulated in 2023 alone. Teterboro shares its runway with five different private FBOs that serve the thousands of passengers who fly into the airport. Companies like Jet Aviation, owned and operated by General Dynamics, offer a variety of services to its select clientele, like private executive lounges with full-service catering, sleeping rooms for crew and passengers, private TSA security screening, fitness centers, etc. Passengers can also clear customs at Teterboro.
The FBOs also offer a range of services for aircraft, including heated hangars for aircraft storage, aircraft refueling, and de-icing (both de-icing and anti-icing), which are crucial for flying in the frigid winters in the Northeast United States. Companies also offer maintenance services for a variety of aircraft at the airport.
LBG – Paris Le Bourget
Paris Le Bourget Aéroport is the second most popular airport for private jets in the world, and is also the most popular in all of Europe. In 2023 alone, there were 56,000 different aircraft movements, with thousands of passengers flying in and out of the airport. Located just outside of Paris, France in the city of Le Bourget, Paris Le Bourget is similar to Teterboro in that it’s less the amenities that make it popular and more the location. Paris is, after all, one of the top tourist destinations in the world. The airport is a general aviation airport only, making it closed to commercial aircraft use.
The airport has three active runways for use, with the longest running 9,843 feet (2,990 m) and the shortest running 6,053 feet (1,847 m). There are seven different FBOs that operate out of Paris Le Bourget, including Dassault Falcon Service, whose headquarters is also located in Paris. There are training services offered by Flight Safety, multiple hotel accommodations, and plenty of restaurants for passengers to take part in.
There are many international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that operate out of the airport as well and provide manufacturing and maintenance services, including companies like:
These OEMs effectively cover most of the business aviation market that would ever fly into the airport. Paris Le Bourget is also home to the Paris Air Show each year.
KPBI – Palm Beach International Airport
The third most popular for private jets is back in the United States, and is the Palm Beach Internation Airport, located in Palm Beach, Florida. Of the top three busiest airports we’ve listed, Palm Beach International is the only airport that also serves commercial flights as well as general aviation flights. Of the private aviation flights, there were a total of 42,700 different aircraft movements in 2023, though this is close to almost half of the movements of Teterboro Airport that same year.
There are three usable runways for general aviation aircraft to land on and take off from, with the longest length being 10,000 feet (3,048 m) and the shortest being 6,900 feet (2,113 m) in length. There are only three FBOs to choose from for private jet passengers, as well as NetJets for charter services as well. Like the other airports previously mentioned, the FBOs at KPBI offer similar services, like hangar space, private security screening, refueling services, and maintenance services.
One of the most unique things about the airport (and perhaps the most annoying to pilots) is that it is the airport of choice for President Donald Trump to fly into whenever he frequents his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach. There are often Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) placed on the airspace whenever the President makes a trip, with the famous
Air Force One
usually being the aircraft of choice (at least when he’s president). The President, before his first presidential victory, had actually sued the airport over a potential runway extension that could put more aircraft above his Mar-a-Lago estate, however, he eventually dropped the lawsuit after his electoral victory, since the FAA would put flight restrictions over his property for security purposes.
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As a result, Donald Trump, the current President of the United States, could potentially miss out on flying onboard the VC-25B.
Million Air White Plains at Westchester County Airport
While usually folks fly for the destination, there are some locations that have the best amenities right at the airport. Some FBOs cater specifically to those few elite travelers who are used to only having the best of the best. Here’s a look at a couple FBOs that provide some of the most luxurious services for their patrons.
Located just north of New York City in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County Airport hosts the FBO Million Air White Plains, which advertises itself as a luxury experience for its passengers. Inside the state-of-the-art FBO, Million Air provides a luxurious relaxation area that looks out of place for an airport. They also provide other rooms for their guests to use, including conference rooms and business centers, as well as a dedicated flight planning room.
In addition, the FBO features a hospitality bar for its guests as well as a golf simulator to keep passengers entertained while they wait for their aircraft to be serviced. There is also a separate pilot lounge for crew members to relax and take a break from their work. The FBO will even bring a customer’s aircraft over from Customs to the FBO at no extra charge to the guests. When shuttling passengers around, they can expect to be whisked away in one of the luxury Mercedes crew vehicles the FBO uses.
Jetex Dubai at Al Maktoum International Airport
Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is known for its luxury and elegance; just look at the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. Located in Dubai is the Al Maktoum International Airport, where Jetex sits as one of the airport’s FBOs. Jetex caters to the world’s elite, trying to provide the most luxurious atmosphere as they travel through one of the world’s wealthiest cities. Like Million Air in White Plains, Jetex provides ample lounge space for its guests, with plenty of meeting space for both work and flight planning.
Though one item that is probably missing from the Jetex lounges that the wealthy are usually accustomed to seeing at these luxury FBOs is alcohol. Since the FBO is located in the UAE, alcohol is very restricted due to the country’s laws. With that said, if passengers still want to give in to one of their vices, Jetex provides a lavish cigar lounge to smoke in.
While passengers flying through Dubai are used to traveling in luxury in the air, they can also experience it on the ground. Jetex provides a fleet of Rolls-Royce vehicles for transportation on the ground.
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