*One-way pricing. Sunday evenings see 20-30% surge pricing.
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The Nantucket to New York corridor is the premier summer commuter route for Wall Street executives and NYC families returning from the island. Peak demand hits Sunday evenings and Monday mornings during July and August—the "exodus" back to the city. Excellent empty leg opportunities on Friday afternoons when jets return to Teterboro after dropping off weekend travelers. Nantucket's famous fog can delay morning departures, especially in June and July.
The alternative is painful: ferry to Hyannis, then a 4-5 hour drive through Cape Cod and I-95 traffic. Flying private from Nantucket Memorial (ACK)—just 3 miles from town—gets you to Teterboro (TEB) in under an hour. From TEB touchdown to Midtown Manhattan is just 20-30 minutes. Skip the Sunday traffic nightmare entirely.
Most travelers choose a Turboprop like the Pilatus PC-12—the smartest value for island hops. On a 210-mile flight, jets barely reach cruising altitude. The PC-12 takes ~1 hour (vs 45 min in a jet) and has a massive cargo door for beach gear. For speed above summer turbulence, a Light Jet like the Phenom 300 gets you there in 50 minutes. Super Midsize jets are overkill unless you have 9+ passengers.
Demand peaks Sunday evenings (4-8 PM) and Monday mornings (6-9 AM) in July and August as weekenders return to NYC. Fleet scarcity drives prices up 20-30% during these windows. Friday afternoons offer the best empty leg opportunities as jets return to TEB after island drop-offs. Fog is most common in June and early July mornings—have a backup plan for critical meetings.
Click any section below for insider tips on flying this route
Located on the south side of the island, just 3 miles from town. Uniquely, ACK runs its own FBO services rather than outsourcing to a chain like Signature. The staff handles extreme summer volume expertly, though the facility is modest compared to mainland terminals.
Critical Summer Note:
Located 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan, TEB is the dedicated executive hub for NYC. You avoid the 45+ minute taxi times common at JFK or LaGuardia.
Top FBOs at TEB:
Nantucket is famous for the "Grey Lady"—dense fog that rolls in rapidly, especially in June and July mornings.
Peak Pricing Windows:
Fleet Scarcity: On a peak summer Sunday, every charter plane in the Northeast is booked. Prices can surge 20-30% due to lack of supply.
Because overnight parking at ACK is limited and expensive, many jets don't stay on the island. You're often paying for the plane to fly empty from the mainland (White Plains or Bedford) to pick you up.
At 210 miles, this is a short over-water hop where the time difference between a turboprop and a jet is often less than 15 minutes. Choose based on comfort and luggage needs, not speed.
Pilatus PC-12 or King Air 350: The smartest value for this route. On a 200-mile flight, jets barely reach cruising altitude. The PC-12 takes ~1 hour (vs 45 min in a jet), offers a spacious BMW-style interior, and costs significantly less.
Cirrus Vision Jet or Citation Mustang: Perfect for couples or 3 passengers who want jet speed without paying for a full light jet.
Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3: If you want to fly above summer turbulence and get to Teterboro in under 50 minutes, this is the standard choice for executives.
Challenger 300: Only necessary if you have 9 passengers or excessive luggage that won't fit in a light jet.
This route has a very predictable pattern in summer. Most people fly TO Nantucket Friday and FROM Nantucket Sunday. Flying against this pattern unlocks massive savings.
This is the golden window for empty legs.
Finding a cheap ACK → TEB flight on Sunday 4-8 PM is nearly impossible. That's peak demand direction—everyone wants the same thing. Empty legs are non-existent and pricing is at maximum surge.
When you find a true empty leg on Friday afternoon:
Efficiency. TEB is dedicated to private aviation. You avoid the 45+ minute taxi times and ATC holds common at commercial hubs like JFK. From touchdown to car at TEB is often less than 10 minutes. You'll be in Midtown before you'd even clear customs at JFK.
It depends on severity. Private jets have sophisticated instrument landing systems, but if visibility is near zero (common in June/July mornings), even they cannot depart. The fog usually burns off by 11 AM. Always have a backup plan if you have a critical meeting—consider the early ferry as insurance.
Yes, it has a fully enclosed "forward lavatory" located near the cockpit. It's functional for a 1-hour flight but less private than the rear lavatory found on light jets like the Phenom 300. For most passengers, it's perfectly adequate.
Turboprops like the PC-12 actually hold MORE luggage than many light jets due to their massive cargo doors. If you have coolers, beach chairs, golf clubs, and multiple large suitcases, the PC-12 is often better than a Citation jet. Verify with your broker if you have unusual items.
Yes. The Nantucket FBO is very pet-friendly. Just ensure your dog is on a leash on the tarmac. Teterboro also has pet relief areas at most FBOs. Many families fly this route with dogs regularly.
About 10-15 minutes. A jet takes ~45-50 minutes; a turboprop takes ~1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. On such a short route, the time savings are negligible for most leisure travelers. Choose based on comfort and luggage needs, not speed.
Understanding private charter costs helps you budget accurately. Here's what you're paying for on this island hop route:
Turboprop (Pilatus PC-12, King Air 350):
Very Light Jet (Vision Jet, Citation Mustang):
Light Jet (Phenom 300, Citation CJ3):
On routes under 1.5 hours, hourly calculations don't apply the same way. Charter operators have minimum billing regardless of actual flight time. That's why a 50-minute flight can cost similar to a 1.5-hour flight elsewhere.
Larger jets have 2-hour daily minimums that make them impractical for this route. You'd pay $18,000+ for a 50-minute flight. Turboprops and light jets are the only economical choices here—unless you have 9+ passengers.
This is unique to island routes:
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