*Includes fuel, landing fees & FET. One-way pricing. Eastbound timing shown.
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The Los Angeles to New York corridor is America's premier bicoastal shuttle—connecting Hollywood to Wall Street, entertainment to finance, West Coast creativity to East Coast capital. At 2,450 miles, this is one of the longest domestic routes, but the jet stream makes eastbound flights surprisingly fast at just 4.5 hours. Empty legs are frequent on this high-traffic corridor, making it one of the better values in transcontinental private aviation.
Commercial flights take 5.5-6 hours plus 3+ hours of airport hassle on each end. Flying private from Van Nuys—the world's busiest general aviation airport—puts you at Teterboro just 12 miles from Manhattan in under 5 hours total. Skip LAX security, avoid JFK taxi lines, and land at a private terminal where your car meets you on the tarmac.
Super Midsize jets like the Citation X (the fastest civilian aircraft) handle this route efficiently in 4.5 hours eastbound. Heavy Jets like the Gulfstream IV offer sleeping configurations for the return trip when you're fighting the jet stream for 6 hours. Ultra-Long Range jets like the Global 6000 provide the smoothest ride over the Rockies for A-list talent and C-suite executives.
The jet stream blows west-to-east, which means your flight to New York is fast—sometimes under 4.5 hours. But your return flight to LA fights the wind, often taking 5.5-6 hours. This asymmetry affects scheduling and pricing. Westbound charters may quote slightly higher due to longer flight time and fuel burn.
Click any section below for insider tips on flying this route
Located in the San Fernando Valley, VNY is the busiest general aviation airport in the world and the standard hub for Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Malibu residents. It's dedicated 100% to private aviation—no commercial traffic delays.
Top FBOs at VNY:
Some ask about Burbank (BUR) as an alternative. For private jets, VNY is superior—it's dedicated 100% to private aviation. Burbank is closer to Hollywood studios but has fewer FBO amenities and shares runways with Southwest Airlines commercial traffic.
Located just 12 miles from Manhattan, Teterboro is the primary executive airport for New York City. It's where Wall Street, media executives, and entertainment industry leaders land when they need to be in the city fast.
Top FBOs at TEB:
From the Golden Globes through the Oscars, demand for flights between LA and New York explodes. This is the single biggest pricing factor on this route.
Teterboro has a strict 100,000 lb maximum takeoff weight. This creates real complications for certain aircraft:
Van Nuys has a strict noise curfew. No noisy jet departures are allowed between 10:00 PM and 7:00 AM.
Westbound flights (TEB→VNY) take longer due to headwinds—5.5-6 hours vs 4.5 hours eastbound. This means:
At 2,450 miles, this route requires serious range. Light and Midsize jets need fuel stops. The smart choices are Super Midsize and above.
Challenger 300/350 or Citation X: The Citation X is the fastest civilian jet and can cover this route in approximately 4.5 hours eastbound. The Challenger 350 is the most popular choice—reliable, comfortable, and efficient.
Gulfstream IV-SP or Challenger 605: Guaranteed nonstop range in any conditions. The larger cabin offers sleeping configurations with berthable seats—valuable on the 6-hour westbound return.
Global 6000 or Gulfstream G550: These heavy aircraft plow through turbulence better than lighter jets, offering the smoothest ride over the Rocky Mountains.
Los Angeles to New York is one of the busiest private jet corridors in America. The high volume of traffic means empty legs are frequent—but they're also competitive and book fast.
Best days: Thursday or Friday
New York-based jets fly to LA early in the week for business meetings and entertainment industry work, then return home for the weekend. Catching a ride on the return leg (positioning back to TEB) can save you 40% or more.
Best days: Sunday or Monday
LA-based jets return home after dropping clients in New York for the weekend. These westbound repositioning flights are your opportunity.
A standard Heavy Jet charter runs $60,000+ one-way. Empty leg opportunities:
No. The Boeing Business Jet exceeds Teterboro's 100,000 lb weight limit. If you're chartering an airliner-class VIP jet, you must land at Stewart International (SWF) or White Plains (HPN). Both are 45-60 minutes further from Manhattan than TEB, so factor that into your planning.
For private jets, Van Nuys is superior. It's dedicated 100% to private aviation, meaning no commercial traffic delays or shared runways. Burbank is closer to some Hollywood studios but has fewer FBO amenities and shares runways with Southwest Airlines. VNY is the industry standard for a reason.
Yes, and this is one of the most popular routes for flying with pets. Both Clay Lacy at VNY and Meridian at TEB allow you to drive your car directly to the aircraft (with prior approval) so your dog never has to enter a terminal or experience the stress of commercial pet cargo.
This depends heavily on your aircraft choice. On a Heavy Jet (Gulfstream IV), you have ample space for 15-20 large bags. On a Super Midsize (Challenger 300), limit it to roughly 1 bag per person. Overpacking is the #1 cause of delays on this route—be realistic about your cargo needs.
It depends on the Wi-Fi system installed. "Air-to-Ground" (ATG) Wi-Fi can have dead zones over the Rockies where there are no cell towers. "Ka-Band" or "Ku-Band" satellite Wi-Fi works everywhere, including over mountains and oceans. If you need to trade stocks, join video calls, or stream video, specifically request Ka-Band Wi-Fi when booking.
The jet stream blows West-to-East at high altitude. This means your flight to New York will be fast—sometimes under 4.5 hours with a strong tailwind. But your return flight to LA fights the wind, often taking 5.5-6 hours. Plan your schedule accordingly, and don't be surprised if westbound quotes are slightly higher due to increased fuel burn.
Understanding private jet charter costs on this transcontinental route helps you budget accurately. The jet stream creates pricing asymmetry between directions.
Super Midsize (Challenger 300, Citation X): $10,500/hour
Heavy Jet (Gulfstream IV, Challenger 605): $14,000/hour
Ultra-Long Range (Global 6000, G550): $16,500/hour
Our estimates include a 15% markup that covers:
Direction: Westbound = 5-10% higher due to longer flight time and fuel burn
Awards season (Jan-March): 20-30% premium, limited availability
Day of week: Sunday/Monday westbound and Friday eastbound see highest demand
Booking window: Last-minute (< 48 hours) = 15-25% premium
Aircraft positioning: If jet must reposition from another city to pick you up, add $5,000-$15,000
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