New York's private jet airports
JFK beside Teterboro, Westchester and Newark: weight limits, customs hours and which suits each part of the city.
Compare the New York airports
JFK Private Jet Terminal
Private flights at JFK use one terminal: the Modern Aviation FBO at Building 145, in the north-west corner of the airport, open 24 hours with US customs on its ramp. Bank transfer in any major currency; crypto also accepted.
Bank transfer or cryptoFor the charter.
Photograph: KenzieAbraham, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
One private terminal, open around the clock.
JFK has six airline terminals and one for private aircraft: the general aviation terminal, Building 145 on General Aviation Way, run by Modern Aviation. It sits in the north-west corner of the airport by Hangar 18, near the end of runway 13R and well away from the passenger terminals and their traffic. Modern Aviation bought it from Sheltair in February 2022 and is the only private jet operator, or FBO, at JFK. Signature, which older guides still name here, runs the private terminals at Teterboro and Newark, not JFK.
The terminal is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Passengers have a lounge with refreshments and an executive conference room, and the car comes to the terminal rather than to a kerb in the airline traffic. The FBO handles everything from a light jet to a widebody: it advertises VIP handling for state and royal flights, and the north ramp regularly holds Boeing and Airbus business jets too heavy for Teterboro. A helipad sits beside the building.
Arriving from abroad.
US Customs and Border Protection processes every international private flight at JFK in the general aviation terminal, at any hour. The aircraft parks on the Modern Aviation ramp and passengers clear in the building, without a taxi to a separate customs ramp. That makes JFK one of the two New York airports, with Newark, where a private flight from London or Paris can land and clear after 11.15 pm, when customs at Teterboro and Westchester has closed.
The operator asks customs for permission to land by email before the aircraft leaves abroad and at least two hours before arrival. The permission covers 30 minutes either side of the planned time, so a long delay means asking again. The passenger manifest goes through the CBP eAPIS system no later than 60 minutes before departure. We file both through the operator when we book, and agree the arrival with the FBO at the same time.
The JFK private terminal at a glance.
The facts that decide a private flight into or out of JFK, from the Port Authority, the FAA, US Customs and the FBO itself.
| At JFK | Detail |
|---|---|
| Private terminal | Modern Aviation, General Aviation Terminal, Building 145, 145 General Aviation Way, Jamaica, NY 11430 |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Customs | 24 hours, in the general aviation terminal by Hangar 18; permission to land requested at least 2 hours ahead |
| Aircraft weight | No general limit: light jets to Boeing and Airbus widebodies |
| Runways | Four; the longest, 13R-31L, is 14,511 ft |
| Slots | The FAA caps scheduled airline flights from 6 am to 11 pm; private flights need no FAA reservation, only a booking with the FBO |
| To Midtown | About 15 miles by road, usually 45 to 90 minutes by car; about 5 minutes by helicopter from the terminal |
| Codes | JFK (IATA), KJFK (ICAO) |
Checked on 12 October 2026: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 2025 traffic report, FAA airport data via AirNav, the US Customs JFK general aviation fact sheet of 18 November 2025, the Federal Register order of 23 June 2026 and Modern Aviation's JFK page. Drive times are indicative.
When JFK is the right airport.
Most private flights to New York use Teterboro, the closest airport to Midtown and the one with no airline traffic. JFK is the answer in three cases. The aircraft is too heavy for Teterboro's 100,000 lb limit, as the Boeing and Airbus business jets and the Lineage 1000 are. The flight lands from abroad late at night, after customs at Teterboro and Westchester has closed. Or the passengers are heading to Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island or the Hamptons, which are closer by road from JFK.
The trade-off is the airline traffic. More than 460,000 aircraft used JFK in 2025, of which only about 4% were private, government or helicopter flights, so taxi times are longer and a private departure is fitted around the airline schedule.
Boeing Business Jet
An airliner cabin with a bedroom and a shower, too heavy for Teterboro.
The BBJ 737 MAX 7Embraer Lineage 1000
Up to five cabin zones, built from an airliner; it flies from JFK or Newark.
The Lineage 1000Flights from New York.
Each route page has the flight time, the airports at both ends, the aircraft that suit it and an indicative price. Any of them can leave from JFK when the aircraft or the timing calls for it.
New York to London
Overnight to Farnborough or Luton; JFK for a VIP airliner or a late departure.
Private jet New York to LondonNew York to Paris
Overnight to Le Bourget; the largest cabins leave from JFK.
Private jet New York to ParisNew York to Miami
About three hours south, to Opa-locka or Miami International.
Private jet New York to MiamiNew York to Los Angeles
Coast to coast to Van Nuys, non-stop in a super-midsize or larger jet.
Private jet New York to Los AngelesHow we arrange a JFK flight.
Tell us the trip and we come back with priced aircraft options, usually the same day, and send the contract within an hour of your choice. Bank transfer in any major currency; crypto also accepted.
The FBO booking
We book the arrival or departure with Modern Aviation. In UN General Assembly week each September it requires reservations in advance and charges event fees.
Customs and the manifest
Permission to land and the eAPIS manifest are filed through the operator before the aircraft leaves abroad.
Flying with a pet
Pets in a private jet cabin come through the general aviation terminal with you. The ARK at JFK is a cargo terminal for animals flying as freight.
Pet-friendly jet charterWhat it costs
Hourly rates by aircraft size and indicative prices for New York routes.
Private jet charter costsFrequently asked questions
Is there a private jet terminal at JFK?
Yes, one. The general aviation terminal, Building 145 on General Aviation Way, is run by Modern Aviation and is the only private terminal at JFK. It is open 24 hours, with US customs in the building.
Where is the private jet terminal at JFK?
In the north-west corner of the airport, by Hangar 18 and near the end of runway 13R, away from the airline terminals. The address is 145 General Aviation Way, Jamaica, NY 11430.
Can a private jet clear customs at JFK at night?
Yes. Customs processes private flights at the general aviation terminal 24 hours a day, provided the operator has asked for permission to land at least two hours ahead. Teterboro and Westchester close to customs at 11.15 pm, so late arrivals from abroad often land at JFK.
Do private flights need a slot at JFK?
No FAA reservation is needed for a private flight at JFK; the FAA order limits scheduled airline flights. The flight does need a booking with the FBO, which is required in busy weeks such as the UN General Assembly.
Is JFK or Teterboro better for a private jet?
Teterboro for most flights: it is closer to Midtown and has no airline traffic. JFK for aircraft over Teterboro's 100,000 lb limit, for international arrivals after 11.15 pm and for trips to Brooklyn, Long Island or the Hamptons.
How long is the drive from JFK to Midtown Manhattan?
About 15 miles by road, usually 45 to 90 minutes depending on traffic. A helicopter from the pad beside the general aviation terminal reaches a Manhattan heliport in about 5 minutes.
Flying into or out of JFK?
Tell us the route, the date, the time and how many are flying. We come back with priced aircraft options and book the terminal and customs for you.