Van Nuys Airport (VNY) is the busiest general aviation airport in the United States by operations count — a fact that surprises people who have only ever driven past it on the 405. If you have never flown private from Van Nuys, the experience is so far removed from commercial aviation that the two activities share only the word 'airport.' You drive to a private terminal, you are met at the car door, you walk through an FBO lounge, and you board the jet. The entire process takes 10–15 minutes from arrival to wheels up. This guide explains everything a first-time private flier needs to know about Van Nuys, and everything a frequent flier should know about why it remains the best-kept secret in Los Angeles aviation.
Why Van Nuys Instead of LAX
LAX handles private aviation through its FBOs — Atlantic, Signature, and others — and while the service quality is high, the experience is complicated by commercial traffic, ground delays, and a geography that makes the drive to and from LAX painful from most parts of Los Angeles. Van Nuys eliminates all of that. It is located in the San Fernando Valley, which puts it within 20–30 minutes of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Beverly Hills, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Burbank, and Pasadena. The approach and departure patterns are simple. Delays are rare. And the FBOs — Signature VNY and the independent operators — are among the best in Southern California.
The Van Nuys FBOs: What to Expect
Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) are the private aviation terminals — the buildings where you wait, where the crew preps the aircraft, and where the ground handling happens. Van Nuys has multiple FBOs, each with its own facilities and character.
Signature Flight Support VNY is the largest and most full-service. It offers a full lounge, catering coordination, fuel services, and a consistently professional ground team. Most NexAssist charter clients use Signature for its reliability and the quality of the waiting experience. The Atlantic Aviation terminal offers a similar full-service experience and is the preferred FBO for certain operators. Million Air VNY is smaller and quieter — often preferred for ultra-privacy clients who do not want to be seen in a shared lounge. Your NexAssist concierge will confirm the specific FBO for your charter based on the operator and aircraft.
Top Routes from Van Nuys
Van Nuys is the optimal departure point for the following routes — the most frequently booked by NexAssist clients from the greater Los Angeles area:
- Las Vegas (LAS) — 45 minutes in a light jet. The most popular VNY route. Cost: $4,000–$8,000 one-way. Empty legs available frequently on this route at significant discounts.
- San Francisco / Bay Area (SFO, SJC, OAK) — 60–75 minutes in a midsize jet. The business corridor. One-way cost: $8,000–$15,000.
- Cabo San Lucas (SJD) — 2.5 hours in a midsize jet. The weekend escape. One-way: $12,000–$22,000.
- Aspen (ASE) — 1.5 hours. Ski season demand makes this one of VNY's busiest seasonal routes. One-way: $10,000–$18,000.
- New York (TEB, HPN, JFK) — 5 hours in a heavy or ultra-long-range jet. One-way: $45,000–$85,000.
- Hawaii (HNL, KOA, OGG) — 6–7 hours. Requires a large cabin or ultra-long-range aircraft. One-way: $55,000–$110,000.
- Mexico City (MEX) — 2.5 hours. Increasingly popular for business and leisure. One-way: $18,000–$28,000.
Aircraft Types: Which Jet for Which Route
Private aircraft are categorized by size, which determines range, cabin experience, and cost. Choosing the right aircraft for your route and group size is one of the most important decisions, and your NexAssist concierge will guide it based on your priorities.
- Very Light Jets (VLJ): 4–5 passengers. Citation Mustang, Phenom 100. Ideal for short hops — VNY to Las Vegas or Palm Springs. Most cost-effective option. Cost from $3,500 one-way.
- Light Jets: 5–7 passengers. Citation CJ4, Phenom 300, Learjet 75. The standard domestic option. VNY to Las Vegas, San Francisco, Cabo. From $5,000 one-way.
- Midsize Jets: 7–9 passengers. Citation XLS, Hawker 900, Learjet 60. Standing cabin, longer range. VNY to New York, Aspen, the Caribbean. From $12,000 one-way.
- Super Midsize: 8–10 passengers. Citation Latitude, Challenger 300. Transcontinental range and full galley. From $18,000 one-way coast-to-coast.
- Heavy Jets: 12–16 passengers. Challenger 605, Gulfstream G450, Falcon 7X. Intercontinental range, full lay-flat beds on some. From $35,000 one-way coast-to-coast.
- Ultra-Long Range: 12–19 passengers. Gulfstream G650, G700, Global 7500. Non-stop LA to London, Tokyo, Dubai. From $75,000 one-way international.
Empty Legs from Van Nuys: The Insider's Strategy
An empty leg occurs when an aircraft needs to reposition — returning to its base after a one-way charter, or flying to pick up a client elsewhere. The operator has fixed costs either way, so empty legs are sold at steep discounts — typically 50–75% below the standard charter rate. Van Nuys generates significant empty leg inventory because of its volume, and NexAssist clients who have date flexibility frequently save substantially by booking available empty legs. The trade-off is that routing is fixed — you fly the empty leg's existing routing — and last-minute cancellation by the operator, while rare, is possible. For flexible travelers, empty legs represent the best value in private aviation.
“At Van Nuys, the difference between being at your car and being on the jet is measured in minutes, not hours. That compression of time is what private aviation actually sells.”
How NexAssist Arranges a Van Nuys Charter
Contact your NexAssist concierge with your departure date, destination, number of passengers, and any aircraft or operator preferences. The concierge sources options from its network of Part 135 certified operators, presents aircraft options with pricing, confirms your booking, and coordinates ground transportation to the FBO. If you're departing from Beverly Hills, Calabasas, or Studio City, VNY is typically 20–30 minutes away. Your driver drops you at the FBO, and the jet is ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Private jet charter from Van Nuys starts from approximately $4,000–$8,000 one-way for a light jet to Las Vegas. Midsize jets to San Francisco or Cabo run $8,000–$22,000 one-way. Heavy jets for coast-to-coast flights start around $35,000. Ultra-long-range international flights from $75,000+. Contact NexAssist for exact pricing based on your date and destination.
Signature Flight Support is the largest and most full-service FBO at Van Nuys Airport and is NexAssist's most commonly used terminal. Atlantic Aviation and Million Air are also excellent options — your concierge will confirm the FBO based on your operator and any privacy preferences.
The arrival-to-departure process at Van Nuys takes 10–15 minutes for most clients — arriving at the FBO, walking through the lounge, and boarding the aircraft. There is no commercial security queue, no terminal navigation, and no checked baggage process.
For most private aviation from the greater Los Angeles area, Van Nuys offers a significantly better experience than LAX — simpler ground access, less commercial traffic, faster turnaround, and superior proximity to the Valley, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, and the West Side. LAX is preferred for specific international routes and operators based there.
Yes. NexAssist monitors empty leg inventory from Van Nuys and notifies clients with flexible travel plans of available discounted opportunities. Empty legs on the VNY–Las Vegas route are especially frequent and offer savings of 50–75% vs. standard charter rates.
Don't just read about it.
One message gets you everything you just read about — arranged, delivered, done.
Submit Your Request →