Nantucket to Boston

Nantucket Departure: Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK)

Located on the south side of the island, about 3 miles from town. Unlike most airports, ACK runs its own FBO services (fuel/parking) rather than outsourcing to a chain like Signature.

Critical Summer Note:

• Parking Reservations: During peak summer weekends (July/August), the ramp becomes a "parking lot." Overnight parking reservations are mandatory and often sell out weeks in advance.
• "Drop and Go": Standard procedure for most jets in summer—aircraft drop you off and immediately fly back to the mainland to park.
• Noise Curfew: Jet aircraft generally cannot depart between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Plan departures before 9:30 PM.

Boston Arrival: Boston Logan International (BOS)

Located just 3 miles from downtown Boston, offering immediate access to the city.

FBO at BOS:

• Signature Flight Support: The sole private terminal at Logan, located on the South Cargo side. Well-separated from commercial terminals with excellent amenities.

Alternative: Hanscom Field (BED)

Many Nantucket commuters prefer Hanscom Field in Bedford (20 miles NW of Boston) to avoid Logan's congestion, high landing fees, and ATC delays. However, if you live in the Seaport or Beacon Hill, BOS is undeniably closer.

The "Fog Factor"

Nantucket is notoriously foggy, particularly in June and July mornings. If visibility drops below safe landing/takeoff limits (often <200 feet ceiling), you may be stuck waiting.

Backup Plan: On this short route, it's often faster to take the ferry to Hyannis and drive if the fog rolls in. Most operators will work with you on rebooking.

Peak Summer Weekends

The Commuter Pulse: Demand spikes on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings (ACK→BOS) as weekenders return to the city. Pricing is highest during these windows.

Ferry Competition: Because the high-speed ferry takes only 1 hour from Hyannis, private flight pricing is somewhat capped. If charter prices surge too high ($5k+ for a turboprop), many travelers opt for the boat.

"Drop and Go" Fees (The Hidden Cost)

This is the single biggest pricing factor unique to island routes:

• Because parking is scarce at ACK in summer, many aircraft must drop you off and immediately fly back to the mainland (Hyannis or Bedford) to park overnight.
• You pay for both the drop-off leg and the empty repositioning leg—essentially doubling the cost of a one-way trip.
• Typical Impact: A $3,500 one-way can become $6,000+ with "drop and go" during peak weekends.

At just 90 miles, this route barely gives jets time to reach cruising altitude. Turboprops are often the smarter choice, though jets offer speed and smooth rides above summer haze.

Turboprop (The Island Champion)

Pilatus PC-12 or King Air 350: The undisputed king of this route. The PC-12 takes ~40 minutes (vs 30 in a jet), burns significantly less fuel, and offers a massive cargo door for beach gear and coolers.

• Capacity: 8-9 passengers
• Flight Time: ~40 minutes
• Best For: Families with heavy luggage, dogs, strollers, and beach gear
• Estimated Cost: $3,000-$5,000 one-way

Very Light Jet (Economy for Small Groups)

Cirrus Vision Jet or Citation Mustang: Perfect for a couple or 3 passengers. Faster climb above summer bumps but limited luggage space.

• Capacity: 3-4 passengers
• Flight Time: ~30 minutes
• Best For: Quick romantic getaway or small business group
• Estimated Cost: $4,000-$5,500 one-way

Light Jet (Speed & Smoothness)

Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3: If you want to get there in under 35 minutes and climb above the summer haze/bumps quickly, a light jet is superior.

• Capacity: 6-7 passengers
• Flight Time: ~30 minutes
• Best For: Executives who want to maximize every minute
• Estimated Cost: $5,500-$7,000 one-way

The "Reverse Commute" Strategy

Nantucket has distinct directional flows that savvy flyers can exploit. Most people fly TO the island Friday and FROM the island Sunday. Flying against this pattern unlocks deals.

Best Times to Find Empty Legs ACK → BOS

Friday Afternoons: This is the golden window. Planes return to Boston empty after dropping off weekenders on the island. Look for deals from 2 PM onwards.

Saturday Mornings: Some aircraft reposition early Saturday after Friday evening drop-offs.

Worst Times (Almost No Empty Legs)

Sunday Evening / Monday Morning: This is peak demand for ACK→BOS. Everyone wants to fly back to the mainland at the same time. Empty legs are virtually non-existent and pricing is at maximum premiums.

Realistic Savings

When you find a true empty leg on Friday afternoon:

• Turboprop: $1,500-$2,500 (vs $3,000-$5,000 retail)
• Light Jet: $2,500-$4,000 (vs $5,500-$7,000 retail)

This rivals the cost of commercial tickets for a family of 4!

How to Find Them

• Be flexible: Empty legs are last-minute by nature. If you can leave Friday afternoon instead of Sunday, you'll save 50%+.
• Check 24-48 hours out: Operators post empty legs when they know a plane needs to reposition.
• Tell your broker: Say you're "always interested in ACK→BOS empty legs on Friday afternoons." You'll get first calls when deals appear.

Is it faster to fly or take the ferry?

Flying is much faster if you're already at the airport. The flight is 35 minutes. The fast ferry is 1 hour to Hyannis, but the drive from Hyannis to Boston can take 2-3 hours in summer traffic. Flying from ACK skips the Cape Cod traffic nightmare entirely.

Can we depart Nantucket at night?

Yes, but with restrictions. ACK has a strict noise curfew. Jet aircraft generally cannot depart between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Turboprops have slightly more leniency, but it's best to plan departures before 9:30 PM.

What happens if we can't depart due to fog?

Your pilot will check visibility conditions. If visibility is below minimums (often <200 feet ceiling), you may need to wait for conditions to improve or take the ferry to Hyannis. Fog is most common in June and July mornings and usually burns off by late morning.

Is Bedford (BED) better than Boston Logan (BOS)?

For cost and reliability, yes. BED has no commercial traffic delays and lower fees. However, if you live in downtown Boston, the Seaport, or Beacon Hill, the 45-minute drive to Bedford might negate the flight time savings. Choose BOS for city convenience, BED for suburban convenience.

How much luggage fits in a Pilatus PC-12?

A massive amount. The PC-12 has a standard cargo door that works like a hatchback SUV. You can fit golf clubs, coolers, large suitcases, and even a dismantled bicycle without issue. It's why the PC-12 dominates this route.

Do I need to book a round trip?

No. In fact, most Nantucket travel is booked as two one-ways ("point-to-point"). Holding a plane on the island for a weekend is prohibitively expensive due to daily minimums and parking fees. Just book a drop-off and a separate pick-up.

What's Included in the Price?

Understanding private charter costs helps you budget accurately. Here's what you're paying for on this short island hop:

Base Pricing (2025)

Turboprop (Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350):

• Flight time: ~40 minutes
• Base cost: $3,000-$5,000
• Capacity: 8-9 passengers

Very Light Jet (Vision Jet, Citation Mustang):

• Flight time: ~30 minutes
• Base cost: $4,000-$5,500
• Capacity: 3-4 passengers

Light Jet (Phenom 300, Citation CJ3):

• Flight time: ~30 minutes
• Base cost: $5,500-$7,000
• Capacity: 6-7 passengers

Why We Show Fixed Pricing

On short routes like ACK→BOS, hourly calculations don't apply the same way. Charter operators have minimum billing regardless of actual flight time, typically 1-2 hours. That's why a 35-minute flight costs similar to a 1-hour flight elsewhere.

Why Midsize/Heavy Jets Aren't Shown

Larger jets have 2-hour daily minimums that make them impractical for this route. You'd pay $18,000+ for a 35-minute flight. Turboprops and light jets are the only economical choices here.

The "Drop and Go" Reality

This is the biggest cost factor on island routes:

• During peak summer, aircraft can't park overnight at ACK
• Plane drops you off, then flies empty to the mainland to park
• You pay for the positioning leg (~$2,000-$3,000 extra)
• A $3,500 one-way can become $6,000+ with "drop and go"

What's NOT Included

• Catering: Most skip it—flight is 35 minutes
• Ground transportation: $50-$150 for car service
• De-icing: Not applicable (no winter departures from warm Nantucket... though BOS may need it on return)