New York to Los Angeles by Private Jet (Van Nuys): Cost, Jets and Flight Time
A private jet from Teterboro to Van Nuys covers about 2,450 miles and takes roughly five to five and a quarter hours non-stop — but only in a super-midsize jet or larger. Light and midsize jets usually need a fuel stop on this route. On 8 November 2026 the Villiers estimate for the whole aircraft, one way, was about $66,200 in a heavy jet. Here is which jet to book, which Los Angeles airport to use, and the rules that catch people out.
New York to Los Angeles at a glance
- ~2,451 miStraight-line distance from Teterboro (TEB) to Van Nuys (VNY), about 2,129 nautical miles (our great-circle calculation).
- ~5h 15mNon-stop in a super-midsize jet such as the Challenger 350. Light and midsize jets typically stop once for fuel (Flycraft estimates).
- $66,182Villiers heavy-jet estimate for the whole aircraft, one way, 8 November 2026 — about $8,270 each for eight people.
- 10 hoursMaximum flight time for a two-pilot charter crew in 24 hours under FAA Part 135 — one reason a same-day there-and-back rarely works.
The short answer
New York to Los Angeles is the longest domestic route most New Yorkers fly private, and it changes the rules you may know from Florida trips. The distance, about 2,450 miles, is more than twice Teterboro to Palm Beach. That puts it beyond the comfortable range of most light and midsize jets, so for a non-stop flight you need a super-midsize jet (Challenger 350, Citation Longitude class) or a large-cabin jet. The price is for the whole aircraft, so it is the same for two people or eight. Most private flights land at Van Nuys (VNY) in the San Fernando Valley; Burbank and LAX are the main alternatives, and Santa Monica no longer takes business jets.
On 8 November 2026 the Villiers estimator returned only a heavy-jet price for this route, about $66,200 one way, and the figure barely moved with the airport: Van Nuys, LAX and Burbank were within $180 of each other, and Westchester instead of Teterboro added $373 (0.6%). On this route the choice of jet and the number of people sharing it decide what you pay per head, not the airport.
New to flying private from the city? Our New York private-jet guide covers the basics, and New York’s private-jet airports explains Teterboro, Westchester and the other departure points.
What it costs: Villiers estimates for New York to Los Angeles
We ran the Villiers estimator on 8 November 2026 for Teterboro to Van Nuys, one way and round trip, plus the reverse direction, Westchester as the origin, and LAX and Burbank as destinations. For this distance the tool gave a heavy-jet estimate only (on shorter routes such as Naples it shows light, midsize and heavy). These are indicative figures for the whole aircraft, not quotes.
| Route | Estimate | Estimated range |
|---|---|---|
| Teterboro to Van Nuys, one way | $66,182 | $48.3k–$68.6k |
| Teterboro to Van Nuys, round trip | $124,953 | $90.4k–$129.4k |
| Van Nuys to Teterboro, one way | $66,182 | $48.3k–$68.6k |
| Westchester to Van Nuys, one way | $66,555 | $48.6k–$68.9k |
| Teterboro to LAX, one way | $66,002 | $48.2k–$68.4k |
| Teterboro to Burbank, one way | $66,039 | $48.2k–$68.4k |
Villiers estimate, 8 November 2026, via the NY Jet Desk price tool; 4 passengers. Checks with 2 and 8 passengers gave the same figure, because the price is for the aircraft. Per-person figures and percentages below are our arithmetic.
What the numbers mean for you:
- Per person, group size is everything. The one-way estimate split four ways is about $16,546 per person. Eight people pay about $8,273 each, and twelve — the most a Challenger 650 is certified for — about $5,515. The operator confirms how many seats the actual aircraft has; charter cabins often have fewer.
- A round trip costs a little less than two one-ways. The round-trip estimate was 5.6% below two separate one-way flights. That is a smaller saving than on our Florida routes, so compare both if your return date is loose.
- The airport barely matters for price. LAX and Burbank came out $180 and $143 below Van Nuys. Pick the Los Angeles airport for where you are staying and when you land, not for cost.
- A smaller jet may quote lower, with a stop. The estimator did not price light or midsize jets here. An operator may still offer one with a fuel stop; weigh the lower hourly cost against a longer day, an extra landing and the fees that come with it.
Why one jet costs more than another, and what sits behind a charter price, is explained in how much a private jet costs.
Flight time, fuel stops and which jet fits
By our great-circle calculation, Teterboro to Van Nuys is about 2,451 statute miles (2,129 nautical miles); from Westchester it is about 2,468 miles. Flycraft estimates the flight at 5 hours 15 minutes non-stop in a super-midsize Challenger 350, 5 hours in a large Challenger 605 and 4 hours 50 minutes in an ultra-long-range Global 6000. Its light-jet (Phenom 300) and midsize (Citation XLS) estimates both include one fuel stop, at 6 hours 5 minutes and 5 hours 40 minutes. Flycraft lists the Citation CJ4 as able to fly it non-stop only “on a good day”, when winds and load allow.
The reason is range. Embraer quotes the Phenom 300E, one of the longest-legged light jets, at 2,055 nautical miles under its stated conditions — less than the 2,129 nautical miles of this route before any reserve for winds. A Challenger 3500 is rated at 3,400 nautical miles with four passengers (Bombardier), so it has room to spare. Flycraft’s times assume still air. The jet stream blows from west to east and can exceed 275 mph (NOAA), so the westbound flight to Los Angeles is the one that fights headwinds; in winter especially, ask the operator whether your aircraft can do it non-stop on your date with your passengers and bags.
| Category | Example | Max seats | Published range | Non-stop? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light | Phenom 300E | — | 2,055 nm | Usually 1 fuel stop |
| Super-midsize | Challenger 3500 | 10 | 3,400 nm | Yes |
| Heavy / large | Challenger 650 | 12 | 4,000 nm | Yes |
Range and seats: manufacturer figures (Embraer, Bombardier) under their stated conditions; Embraer does not state a maximum seat count on its Phenom 300E page. Non-stop: Flycraft estimates for each category on this route. Real capability depends on winds, payload and temperature.
Plan for the clock, too: Los Angeles is three hours behind New York (Flycraft). Leave Teterboro at 9 a.m. Eastern and, at the super-midsize estimate, you land in Van Nuys at about 11:15 a.m. Pacific. Coming back, a midday departure lands in New Jersey in the evening. Our light vs midsize vs heavy jet comparison explains cabin size and luggage space in more detail.
Hidden costs and time on a coast-to-coast trip
- Same-day return is rarely possible with one crew. Under FAA Part 135, a two-pilot charter crew may fly no more than 10 hours in 24 hours (14 CFR 135.267). Two legs at Flycraft’s 5 hours 15 minutes add up to 10 hours 30 minutes. Expect an overnight for the crew, or ask whether the operator can supply a fresh crew.
- Waiting days. If the jet waits in Los Angeles for your return, ask how the quote covers crew hotels and waiting time. If it flies home empty and comes back for you, ask about those repositioning legs.
- Fuel stops are not free. A smaller jet that stops on the way adds a landing, handling at the stop and more time. Ask where it will stop and for how long.
- Very large jets at Teterboro. Aircraft able to operate above 100,000 pounds must submit a weight certification to the Teterboro airport manager (FltPlan). This only matters for the biggest cabins, but the operator should handle it in advance.
Van Nuys, Burbank or LAX?
Van Nuys is Los Angeles’ main private-jet airport. It had 28,263 private-jet departures in 2025, ninth in the US and down 12.3% on 2024; Private Jet Card Comparisons links part of that drop to the January 2025 Los Angeles fires (ARGUS TRAQPak data). Its main runway, 16R/34L, is 8,001 feet long, the tower is open from 6 a.m. to 10:45 p.m., and four FBOs (private terminals) serve jets: Clay Lacy Aviation, Jet Aviation, Castle & Cooke Aviation and Signature (FltPlan). ACE Jet puts Beverly Hills about 12 miles away, roughly 25 to 40 minutes by car.
Van Nuys night and noise rules
- Noisy aircraft are banned outright: no aircraft whose take-off noise level is 77 dBA or more may arrive or depart (FltPlan).
- Night departure curfew, 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.: no take-offs by aircraft above 74 dBA in those hours, with exceptions for military, mercy and law-enforcement flights (FltPlan). The airport states that Stage 2 aircraft may not depart between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. and that landings are not restricted.
- Voluntary “Quieter Nights”: jet operators are asked to avoid flights between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. whenever possible (Van Nuys Airport).
For you this means: a late evening arrival in Los Angeles is usually fine, but a late-night departure from Van Nuys back to New York may not be. Ask the operator before you plan a red-eye.
New York to Los Angeles: price it for your dates
The Villiers estimate of 8 November 2026 was about $66,200 one way for a heavy jet, whole aircraft. Check the live price for your date and group, one way or round trip.
The alternatives: Hollywood Burbank (BUR) is closer to Burbank, Glendale and Hollywood; ACE Jet lists two FBOs there (Atlantic Aviation and Hollywood Burbank Jet Center), a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. jet curfew, and downtown Los Angeles about 13 miles away. LAX is closest to the Westside and the beaches, and is also the region’s main airline hub. Santa Monica (SMO) is not an option for jets: its runway was cut from 5,000 to 3,500 feet, which keeps business jets out, and the city aims to close the airport by the end of 2028 (Business Jet Traveler).
| Airport | Main runway | Night rules | Straight line to Beverly Hills | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Nuys (VNY) | 8,001 ft | No departures above 74 dBA 10 p.m.–7 a.m. | ~11 mi | Most private flights; the Valley, Beverly Hills, Bel Air |
| Burbank (BUR) | — | Jet curfew 10 p.m.–7 a.m. (ACE Jet) | ~9 mi | Burbank, Hollywood, Pasadena |
| LAX | — | Ask your operator | ~9 mi | Westside, Santa Monica, beach cities |
| Santa Monica (SMO) | 3,500 ft | — | — | Not for business jets; closure planned by end of 2028 |
Van Nuys runway, hours and night rules: FltPlan KVNY. Burbank FBOs and curfew: ACE Jet. Santa Monica: Business Jet Traveler. Distances: our straight-line calculation from airport coordinates; drive times depend heavily on traffic. “Best for” is our own guidance.
Empty legs: worth a look, rarely coast to coast
Empty legs are discounted one-way flights when a jet has to reposition. On 8 November 2026 the Villiers list had no empty legs to Los Angeles. From Van Nuys it showed three short or westbound repositioning flights — to San Diego (9 November), San Jose (12 November) and Maui (19 November) — and from Teterboro three flights, none to the West Coast. All were listed as still to be reconfirmed with the operator.
That is one day’s snapshot. A coast-to-coast empty leg needs a jet that happens to be going your way on your day, so treat it as a bonus for flexible travellers, not a plan. Our guides to empty-leg flights from New York and what an empty leg is explain how they work and the catches.
When to fly: the dates that matter
- Thanksgiving: in 2025 the week leading into Thanksgiving had 57,353 US private-jet departures, up 8% on 2024 (WingX data via Private Jet Card Comparisons). Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday 26 November.
- Late winter and spring: ACE Jet’s 2026 flight counts for Van Nuys peak in March and April.
- Holiday weeks: Christmas and New Year book early on every route. Our holiday booking guide covers how early to ask.
Which option fits you? A quick check
- You want to fly non-stop: book a super-midsize jet or larger, and ask the operator to confirm non-stop for your date, passengers and bags.
- Two or three people on a budget: ask for a light or midsize jet with one fuel stop and compare the total, including the extra time.
- Six to twelve people: a heavy jet; per person the cost falls to roughly $5,500–$11,000 on our estimate.
- You want to come back the same day: ask about a second crew first; one crew may not fly both legs.
- You plan to leave Los Angeles late at night: check the Van Nuys curfew, or plan an earlier departure.
- You are staying in Hollywood or Pasadena: compare Burbank; for the Westside, compare LAX. The estimate barely changes.
Planning other trips west? See Westchester to Aspen and Teterboro to Vail. All our route guides are on the NY Jet Desk guides page.
How this guide was built
Price estimates come from the Villiers estimator on 8 November 2026: Teterboro to Van Nuys one way and round trip with four passengers; the return direction; checks with two and eight passengers; Westchester to Van Nuys; and Teterboro to LAX and to Burbank. The empty legs are the Villiers lists for Los Angeles, Van Nuys and Teterboro on the same day. Per-person figures, gaps and percentages are our own arithmetic. Distances are our great-circle calculations from published airport coordinates. Flight times are Flycraft estimates; seats and range are manufacturer figures; the crew limit is from the FAA rules (14 CFR 135.267). Airport rules come from FltPlan, Van Nuys Airport, ACE Jet and Business Jet Traveler; departure counts are ARGUS TRAQPak and WingX data published by Private Jet Card Comparisons. The checklists are our own guidance based on these facts.
Sources
- Villiers indicative estimates and empty-leg lists, retrieved 8 November 2026 through the NY Jet Desk price tool.
- New York to Los Angeles private jet cost — Flycraft (flight times, fuel stops and time difference, rates checked 2 October 2026).
- Phenom 300E — Embraer; Challenger 3500 factsheet and Challenger 650 factsheet — Bombardier (range and seats).
- The Jet Stream — NOAA (direction and speed).
- 14 CFR 135.267 — FAA flight time limits for unscheduled charter crews.
- KVNY Van Nuys and KTEB Teterboro — FltPlan (runways, tower hours, FBOs, noise and weight rules).
- Noise restrictions — Van Nuys Airport (curfew and Quieter Nights programme).
- Van Nuys (KVNY) and Hollywood Burbank (KBUR) — ACE Jet directory (FBOs, curfews, drive times, peak months).
- Santa Monica Airport shortens runway ahead of planned closure in 2028 — Business Jet Traveler, January 2018.
- 2025’s busiest U.S. private jet airports — Private Jet Card Comparisons, 24 January 2026, ARGUS TRAQPak data.
- Private Jet Flight Activity Analysis – 2025 – Week 47 — Private Jet Card Comparisons, WingX data (Thanksgiving 2025).
Retrieved November 2026. Prices are estimates for the whole aircraft, not quotes; empty legs change daily; airport hours, rules and FBO names change, so confirm them with your operator before you fly.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a private jet flight from New York to Los Angeles?
About 5 hours non-stop in a large jet and 5 hours 15 minutes in a super-midsize jet. Flycraft estimates Teterboro to Van Nuys at 5 hours 15 minutes in a Challenger 350, 5 hours in a Challenger 605 and 4 hours 50 minutes in a Global 6000. Light and midsize jets usually stop once for fuel, at about 6 hours 5 minutes and 5 hours 40 minutes. These are still-air estimates; westbound headwinds can add time. The straight-line distance is about 2,451 miles (2,129 nautical miles) by our calculation.
How much does a private jet from New York to Los Angeles cost?
On 8 November 2026 the Villiers estimate for the whole aircraft from Teterboro to Van Nuys, one way, was $66,182 for a heavy jet (range about $48,300 to $68,600), and $124,953 for a round trip. The estimator returned only a heavy-jet category for this route. Split among eight people, the one-way estimate is about $8,273 each. These are indicative estimates, not quotes; only a live quote for your date is a real price.
Can a light jet fly non-stop from New York to Los Angeles?
Usually not. The route is about 2,129 nautical miles, and Embraer quotes the Phenom 300E at 2,055 nautical miles under its stated conditions. Flycraft’s light-jet and midsize-jet estimates for this route both include one fuel stop; it lists the Citation CJ4 as non-stop only on a good day, when winds and load allow. For a reliable non-stop flight, book a super-midsize jet or larger.
Which Los Angeles airport do private jets use?
Most use Van Nuys (VNY), Los Angeles’ main private-jet airport, with 28,263 private-jet departures in 2025 (ARGUS TRAQPak via Private Jet Card Comparisons). Burbank (BUR) and LAX are the main alternatives and gave almost the same Villiers estimate on 8 November 2026. Santa Monica no longer takes business jets: its runway was shortened to 3,500 feet and the city plans to close it by the end of 2028.
Can I fly from New York to Los Angeles and back on the same day?
Rarely with one crew. Under FAA Part 135, a two-pilot charter crew may fly no more than 10 hours in 24 hours (14 CFR 135.267), and two legs of about 5 hours 15 minutes add up to more than that. Ask the operator whether a second crew is possible, or plan on the crew resting overnight.
Are there empty legs from New York to Los Angeles?
Occasionally, but none were listed on the day we checked. On 8 November 2026 the Villiers list showed no empty legs to Los Angeles; the Van Nuys departures were short flights to San Diego and San Jose and one to Maui. Coast-to-coast empty legs depend on a jet happening to reposition on your day, so treat them as a bonus if your dates are flexible.
Flying to Los Angeles?
Get a free live estimate from Teterboro or Westchester for your dates and group, or see which empty legs are flying right now.
Part of the NY Jet Desk guides — data and route guides for flying private from New York.