New York to Miami

New York Departure: Teterboro Airport (TEB)

Located 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan, TEB is the dedicated executive hub for NYC. It strictly bans commercial airline traffic, ensuring faster taxi times than JFK or LaGuardia. From car to wheels-up is often under 15 minutes.

Top FBOs at TEB:

• Meridian Teterboro: Widely rated as one of the best FBOs in the Northeast. Known for exceptional personalized service and a "boutique" feel despite its size. Perfect for first-time charter clients.
• Jet Aviation: Massive facility often favored by corporate flight departments and large-cabin heavy jets. Excellent for Gulfstreams and Global aircraft.
• Signature Flight Support: TEB has three separate Signature terminals. "Signature South" is the newest and most popular for charter travelers with modern amenities.

Miami Arrival: Opa-Locka Executive Airport (OPF)

Located 10 miles north of downtown Miami, OPF handles the vast majority of private traffic to avoid Miami International's (MIA) congestion. Zero commercial airline traffic means faster arrivals.

Top FBOs at OPF:

• Fontainebleau Aviation: The most famous FBO at OPF. Features a massive covered canopy that covers aircraft during boarding (crucial for Miami's frequent rain and sun) with resort-quality amenities. If you're arriving for Art Basel or to impress clients, this is your FBO.
• Signature Flight Support: Trusted nationwide network with extensive ramp space. Ideal for busy event weeks when OPF is at capacity.
• Atlantic Aviation: Known for privacy and efficiency. Often used by owners who want a quick exit away from the main FBO crowds. Excellent for quick ground transportation pickups.

Seasonal Demand (The #1 Price Driver)

Peak High Season: Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. This is the classic snowbird migration—New Yorkers fleeing winter for Florida. Prices for southbound charters can double during Christmas and New Year's weeks due to extreme demand.

Secondary Peak: March through April. Return migration as residents head back north creates aircraft shortages in Florida, driving up prices for northbound flights (but southbound is cheaper).

Lowest Prices: Late August through early November (excluding Thanksgiving). Summer heat keeps many away from Miami. You'll find excellent pricing during this off-peak window.

Art Basel (Early December)

The "Super Bowl" of Private Aviation in Miami: Art Basel is the single biggest event for private jets at OPF. Parking sells out, "special event fees" apply, and slot restrictions activate. Expect 40-60% premiums during the first week of December. Book 3-4 weeks ahead.

F1 Miami Grand Prix (May)

Creates extreme congestion at OPF. Similar premiums to Art Basel but during a typically slower season, making it particularly expensive.

Presidential TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions)

When the President is in Palm Beach (Mar-a-Lago), airspace restrictions can create delays for OPF arrivals. This is unpredictable but can add 15-30 minutes of holding patterns, slightly increasing billable flight time.

Winter Weather (TEB Departure)

Flying from Teterboro between December and March carries a high risk of de-icing expenses. A moderate snow or frost event can add significant costs:

• Light Jet: $1,500-$2,500
• Midsize Jet: $2,500-$4,000
• Heavy Jet: $4,000-$6,000

At 1,090 miles, this route is perfectly suited for light and midsize jets. Flight time is typically 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on aircraft type and seasonal wind patterns.

Light Jets (Most Popular)

Phenom 300 or Citation CJ3: The most popular choice for this route. Easily handles the 1,090-mile distance nonstop and lands at TEB/OPF efficiently.

• Capacity: 6-7 passengers comfortably
• Flight Time: ~2 hours 45 minutes
• Best For: Couples, small families, or business commuters with moderate luggage (~$20k-$25k one-way)
• Note: A Phenom 300 can hold about 6-7 medium suitcases. Soft-sided luggage recommended to maximize space.

Midsize Jets (The "Sweet Spot")

Citation Excel/XLS or Hawker 800XP: Offers a stand-up cabin (approx 5'8" height) which makes the 2.5-hour flight significantly more spacious than a light jet.

• Capacity: 7-8 passengers
• Flight Time: ~2 hours 30 minutes
• Best For: Groups of adults or travelers with golf clubs/heavy luggage. If you have 6 passengers + 6 large hard-shell bags + golf clubs, this is mandatory.
• Trade-off: About 20-25% more expensive than light jets

Super Midsize (Executive Choice)

Challenger 300 or Citation X: Speed and connectivity. A Citation X can fly this route in roughly 2 hours 15 minutes, shaving off valuable time.

• Flight Time: ~2 hours 15 minutes
• Best For: C-level executives and VIPs needing a "flying office." Guaranteed Wi-Fi and flight attendant service are standard in this class.
• Trade-off: 40-50% more expensive than light jets

How Empty Legs Work on This Route

New York to Miami is the highest volume empty leg route in the world, but timing is everything. This route follows the "contra-flow" rule—you'll rarely find cheap empty legs going with the crowd.

Best Times to Find Empty Legs TEB → OPF

Peak Empty Leg Season: March through April

As snowbirds return north in spring, operators need to reposition aircraft from Miami back to New York to pick up returning residents. This creates a surplus of empty legs heading south (against the northbound flow), often at 30-50% discounts. This is the absolute best time to find deals on southbound flights.

Secondary Opportunity: Late August through October

Before the main snowbird migration begins in November, some aircraft reposition south early for maintenance or pre-season positioning. Not as many empties as spring, but still good availability.

Worst Times (Almost No Empty Legs)

Thanksgiving through January: This is peak southbound season. Everyone wants to fly New York → Miami, so empty legs are virtually non-existent and pricing is at maximum premiums. During Art Basel and Christmas/New Year's, forget about finding empty legs entirely.

How to Find Them

• Be flexible with dates: Empty legs are last-minute by nature. If you can move your travel by 1-2 days, you'll find significantly more options.
• Book 24-72 hours out: Operators post empty legs when they know a plane needs to reposition. Check daily during March-April for best results.
• Tuesday/Wednesday are golden: Most full-price charters fly Thursday-Sunday. Midweek repositioning flights are most common.
• One-way bookings work best: If you only need TEB → OPF (not a round trip), you're the ideal empty leg customer.

Realistic Savings

This route is highly directional. When you find a true empty leg in March/April, expect pricing like this:

• Light Jet: $10,000-$14,000 (vs $20,000-$25,000 retail)
• Midsize Jet: $14,000-$19,000 (vs $28,000-$34,000 retail)

Why fly out of Teterboro instead of JFK or LaGuardia?

TEB is dedicated solely to private aviation. You avoid the 45+ minute taxi times and ATC holds common at commercial hubs like JFK. From car to wheels-up at TEB is often under 15 minutes.

Is there a weight limit or curfew at Teterboro?

Yes. TEB has a 100,000 lb weight limit (prohibiting large airliners like BBJs or A319s) and a voluntary curfew from 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM. While you can fly at night, it's discouraged, and loud aircraft may be fined or banned.

Can I bring my pet?

Absolutely. This is a top "pet commuter" route. Ensure your broker verifies the specific aircraft owner's pet policy. At OPF, cars can usually pull up to the jet to transfer pets directly, avoiding hot tarmac.

How much luggage fits in a Light Jet?

A Phenom 300 can hold about 6-7 medium suitcases. However, if you have 6 passengers + 6 large hard-shell bags + golf clubs, you must upgrade to a Midsize Jet. Soft-sided luggage is always recommended to maximize space.

Is Wi-Fi guaranteed?

Not on all Light Jets. While standard on Super Mids (Challenger 300), many older Light and Midsize jets do not have it. If staying connected is critical for the 2.5-hour hop, explicitly request a "Wi-Fi equipped" tail number.

How early should I arrive at TEB?

15-20 minutes before departure is standard at Teterboro. There's no TSA and no long check-in lines—you drive up, walk through the FBO, and board. One of the biggest advantages of flying private.

What's Included in the Price?

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

Base Hourly Rates (2025)

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

• Flight time: ~2.75 hours
• Base cost: $17,875
• Capacity: 4-6 passengers

Midsize Jet (Hawker 800XP, Citation Excel): $9,000/hour

• Flight time: ~2.5 hours
• Base cost: $22,500
• Capacity: 7-8 passengers

Heavy Jet (Gulfstream G450, Falcon 2000): $15,000/hour

• Flight time: ~2.25 hours
• Base cost: $33,750
• Capacity: 10-12 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: $250-$500 per airport
• Crew expenses: Included in hourly rate
• Overnight fees: Only if crew stays (typically not on this route)

What's NOT Included (Optional Add-Ons)

• Catering: $25-$75 per person (budget $200-$400 total)
• Ground transportation: $100-$300 for luxury car service
• De-icing (winter departures from TEB): $1,500-$6,000 if needed
• Pet cleaning fee: $100-$200 if bringing animals
• WiFi: Usually included, but some older aircraft charge $50-$100

Why Prices Fluctuate

Seasonal demand: Peak snowbird season (Nov-Apr) = 10-20% premium

Event pricing: Art Basel (Dec) and the Miami Grand Prix (May) often cause temporary price spikes.

Day of week: Friday departures and Sunday returns are most expensive

Booking window: Last-minute (< 48 hours) = 20-30% premium

Empty legs: Repositioning flights = 40-60% discount (when available)