New York to Atlanta

New York Departure: Teterboro Airport (TEB)

Located just 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan, TEB is the busiest private aviation hub in the world. It's strictly for private aircraft (no commercial airliners), ensuring fast departures without competing for runway space with Delta or United.

Top FBOs at TEB:

• Meridian Teterboro: Top-rated FBO known for white-glove service and handling high-profile entertainment industry clients. Excellent for VIP travelers.
• Signature Flight Support (South): The newest and busiest terminal at TEB. Often used for "splash and dash" business trips with quick turnarounds.
• Jet Aviation: Massive facility preferred by corporate flight departments and owners of larger heavy jets. Excellent hangar space.

Atlanta Arrival: DeKalb-Peachtree (PDK) vs Hartsfield (ATL)

PDK (Recommended): Located 10 miles northeast of downtown, closer to Buckhead and Lenox. Zero commercial traffic means no taxi delays. Most private flyers strongly prefer PDK.

ATL (If Necessary): Located 10 miles south of downtown. While you can fly into Hartsfield-Jackson, it's the busiest airport in the world. Taxi times can exceed 30 minutes due to Delta hub congestion. Only use ATL if connecting to a commercial flight.

FBOs at PDK:

• Epps Aviation: The original and most established FBO at PDK. Strong reputation with corporate clients.
• Atlantic Aviation: Full-service FBO with modern facilities and excellent ground transportation coordination.

FBO at ATL:

• Signature Flight Support: The sole FBO at Hartsfield. Located separately from commercial terminals for privacy, but you still share runways with heavy airline traffic.

"Hollywood of the South" Demand

Atlanta is a major film and television production hub, creating constant traffic between New York and Atlanta. This demand is unique to this route:

• Entertainment Industry: A steady flow of talent, executives, and crew move between NYC and ATL for productions, auditions, and meetings
• Awards Season: Film festivals and awards shows can tighten availability on Super Midsize jets (preferred by VIP talent)
• Production Starts: When major films begin shooting in Atlanta, demand spikes for jets with large baggage capacity

Major Event Pricing

The Masters (April): While the tournament is in Augusta, demand overflows to Atlanta airports. Parking at PDK and ATL fills up, leading to "drop fee" pricing and limited availability.

SEC Championship / College Football: Atlanta hosts major collegiate games throughout fall. Friday and Sunday pricing during these weekends can spike 20-30% due to alumni charters.

Super Bowl / Major Conferences: When Atlanta hosts major events, expect premium pricing and book 4-6 weeks ahead.

Summer Thunderstorms

From June through August, Atlanta faces severe afternoon thunderstorms that can disrupt operations:

• Ground Stops: FAA may halt all arrivals at ATL during severe weather
• Holding Patterns: Your jet may circle for 30-45 minutes waiting for storms to pass
• Cost Impact: If forced to hold, you're billed for that extra flight time at hourly rates

Year-Round Consistency

Unlike Florida routes with dramatic seasonal swings, NY-ATL pricing is relatively stable. There's no "snowbird season"—demand is driven by business and entertainment year-round, making costs more predictable.

At just 748 miles, this is a quick hop that works perfectly for all jet categories. The flight is under 2.5 hours, so you're choosing based on cabin size and luggage needs, not range.

Light Jets (Most Efficient)

Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3+: The most economical choice for this route. The flight is short enough that the smaller cabin is perfectly acceptable for most travelers.

• Capacity: 6-7 passengers
• Flight Time: ~2 hours
• Best For: Corporate commuters, couples, or small executive teams
• Luggage: Handles 6-7 mid-sized suitcases. Tight for film equipment.

Midsize Jets (Speed & Headroom)

Learjet 60 or Citation Excel/XLS: The Learjet 60 is a "rocket" that climbs above commercial traffic quickly and makes the trip in under 2 hours. The stand-up cabin (5'8") offers better comfort for conducting business meetings in flight.

• Capacity: 7-8 passengers
• Flight Time: ~1 hour 50 minutes
• Best For: Executive teams who want to work during the flight, or music touring groups
• Why it works: Real conference capability, Wi-Fi more commonly available

Super Midsize (Status & Luggage)

Challenger 300 or Citation X: When you're traveling with 15+ cases of production equipment, wardrobe, or instruments, the massive baggage hold of a Challenger is necessary.

• Capacity: 8-9 passengers
• Flight Time: ~1 hour 45 minutes
• Best For: Entertainment talent, touring bands, C-suite executives, or film crews
• The real value: Baggage capacity, not speed—a Super Mid only saves 10-15 minutes over a Light Jet on this route

How Empty Legs Work on This Route

New York to Atlanta is a year-round business route, so empty leg availability is more consistent than seasonal leisure routes. The patterns follow business travel rather than vacation calendars.

Best Times to Find Empty Legs TEB → PDK

Sunday Evening (Positioning for Monday): Many corporate jets based in Atlanta fly to New York for weekend events or Friday meetings, then return home Sunday night. To pick up Monday morning business travelers, NY-based operators position aircraft in Atlanta on Sunday—creating southbound empty legs.

Mid-Week (Tuesday-Wednesday): Unlike leisure routes that peak on weekends, NY-ATL sees heavy traffic on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for business meetings. Look for empty legs returning to base on these days when planes have dropped off executives and need to reposition.

Northbound Empty Legs (Return Trip)

Sunday Night: Jets that flew NY→ATL for the weekend return empty on Sunday nights. If you need to fly Atlanta to New York on Sunday, excellent empty leg opportunities exist.

Thursday-Friday: After mid-week business meetings conclude, planes often return north, creating ATL→TEB empty legs late in the week.

Event-Based Opportunities

Post-Masters (April): After The Masters ends, a flood of jets depart Augusta and Atlanta heading back to the Northeast. Excellent northbound empty leg availability the Monday after the tournament.

Post-Football Weekends: Sunday night and Monday after SEC games see heavy northbound repositioning.

Realistic Savings

A typical one-way charter runs $15,000-$20,000. When you find a true empty leg:

• Light Jet: $8,000-$12,000 (vs $15,000-$18,000 retail)
• Midsize Jet: $10,000-$14,000 (vs $20,000-$25,000 retail)

Should I land at ATL or PDK?

Unless you're connecting to a commercial flight at Hartsfield-Jackson, PDK (DeKalb-Peachtree) is almost always better. PDK is closer to Buckhead and Midtown Atlanta, has zero commercial traffic delays, and offers faster "car-to-plane" transfer times. You'll save 30-45 minutes compared to navigating Hartsfield's congestion.

Is Wi-Fi guaranteed on this route?

Not on all Light Jets. While the flight is short (about 2 hours), business travelers often require connectivity for emails and calls. You must specifically request a "Wi-Fi equipped" jet when booking, as many older Citation CJ2s or Learjet 45s don't have it installed.

Can I fly this route late at night?

Yes. Both TEB and ATL/PDK operate 24/7, though TEB has a voluntary noise curfew late at night that most operators respect. Flying at 2:00 AM is possible but requires advance notice and may incur "after-hours" crew call-out fees of $500-$1,000.

How much luggage can I bring on a Light Jet?

A Phenom 300 can hold roughly 6-7 mid-sized suitcases in the baggage compartment. If you're a film crew traveling with hard-shell Pelican cases or heavy equipment, you'll likely need to upgrade to a Midsize or Super Midsize jet to accommodate the bulk and weight.

Is there a "snowbird" season for Atlanta?

Not really. Unlike Florida, Atlanta doesn't see a massive winter migration of seasonal residents. Demand is steady year-round, driven by business and the entertainment industry rather than weather patterns. This makes pricing more predictable than Miami or Palm Beach routes.

What's the flight time difference between jet types?

Minimal on this short route. A fast Midsize jet (like a Citation X) might save only 10-15 minutes compared to a standard Light Jet. On a 748-mile trip, you're paying for cabin size and luggage capacity, not significant time savings.

What's Included in the Price?

Understanding private jet charter costs helps you budget accurately. Here's exactly what you're paying for on this route:

Base Hourly Rates (2025)

Light Jet (Phenom 300, Citation CJ3): $6,500/hour

• Flight time: ~2.1 hours
• Base cost: $13,650
• Capacity: 4-6 passengers

Midsize Jet (Learjet 60, Citation Excel): $9,000/hour

• Flight time: ~1.9 hours
• Base cost: $17,100
• Capacity: 7-8 passengers

Super Midsize (Challenger 300, Citation X): $10,500/hour

• Flight time: ~1.8 hours
• Base cost: $18,900
• Capacity: 8-9 passengers

Additional Fees & Taxes (Included in Quote)

Our estimates include a 15% markup that covers:

• Federal Excise Tax (FET): 7.5% on domestic flights
• Fuel surcharges: ~3-5% (varies by fuel prices)
• Landing fees: $200-$400 (PDK is reasonable; ATL is higher)
• Crew expenses: Included in hourly rate

What's NOT Included (Optional Add-Ons)

• De-icing (winter departures from TEB): $1,500-$6,000 if needed
• Catering: $25-$75 per person (most skip it on a 2-hour flight)
• Ground transportation: $100-$200 for car service
• After-hours fees: $500-$1,000 for late-night departures requiring crew call-out
• Wi-Fi: Usually included on newer jets, but some older aircraft charge $50-$100
• Holding time: If summer storms force your jet to circle, you pay hourly rate for wait time

Why Prices Fluctuate

Major events: The Masters (April), SEC Championship, Super Bowl = 20-30% premium

Entertainment demand: Film production starts or awards season can tighten Super Midsize availability

Day of week: Friday departures and Sunday returns are busiest

Booking window: Last-minute (< 48 hours) = 15-25% premium

Summer weather: Afternoon flights in June-August risk holding delays