Private Jet Flights to the U.S. Open: Best Airports, Booking Windows, and Empty-Leg Strategy

The 2026 U.S. Open Tennis Championship runs August 25 through September 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. For private aviation travelers, this two-week window is both an opportunity and a logistics challenge: New York’s private jet hubs fill fast, FBO slots get claimed weeks in advance, and the best empty leg flights appear and disappear within hours.

This guide covers the three airports that handle the majority of private traffic for U.S. Open attendees, the booking windows that matter, and how to use empty leg availability around the tournament to your advantage.

Which airport to use for the U.S. Open

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center sits in Flushing, Queens. No single airport has a clear distance advantage over the others. Private jet travelers typically choose based on where they are staying, their preferred FBO, and which airport has available slots on their target dates.

Teterboro Airport (TEB), New Jersey

Teterboro is New York’s primary private aviation hub and the default choice for most operators flying into the metro area. The airport sits roughly 25 miles west of Flushing and handles more private jet operations per year than any other single-runway facility in the country.

Drive time to the USTA center from TEB averages 45 to 60 minutes in off-peak traffic; budget 90 minutes for arrivals during rush hour or on finals weekend. The FBOs at Teterboro, including Signature, Atlantic Aviation, and Jet Aviation, are experienced with high-volume event traffic and have established ground transport networks.

Book your FBO slot at TEB at least three weeks before the Open. Ramp space fills quickly during the second week and finals weekend. Operators who arrive without a confirmed slot face significant wait times or diversions to alternate airports.

Westchester County Airport (HPN), New York

Westchester County Airport sits roughly 35 miles north of Flushing and works best for travelers staying in Greenwich, Stamford, or Westchester County. Drive time to the USTA center runs 50 to 75 minutes depending on I-95 traffic. HPN typically carries less congestion than TEB during event weeks and is a reliable alternative when Teterboro ramps are fully committed.

Republic Airport (FRG), Long Island

Republic Airport on Long Island sits approximately 30 miles east of Flushing. For travelers routing in from the Northeast or staying on Long Island, FRG offers 30 to 45 minutes of drive time to Flushing under normal traffic conditions. The airport handles light jets, midsize jets, and select heavy jets without the slot pressure TEB experiences during major events. For same-day U.S. Open travel with a flexible return, FRG is worth checking alongside TEB for available inventory.

The U.S. Open booking window: when to move

Private aviation inventory around the U.S. Open follows a predictable pattern. Understanding it helps you book at the right time rather than paying peak prices or losing access to preferred aircraft.

Six to eight weeks out: move on standard charter

If you are booking a full one-way or round-trip charter for confirmed U.S. Open dates, six to eight weeks before the tournament gives you the best aircraft selection. By three weeks out, the preferred midsize and heavy jets capable of coast-to-coast and transatlantic routing are substantially committed for the entire event window.

One to three weeks out: empty legs appear

Empty leg flights are repositioning flights operated by charter companies that have already committed an aircraft to a paying charter customer. The aircraft flies empty to pick up that customer or to return to its home base afterward. Operators list these on marketplaces like SkyAccess at 25 to 75 percent below full charter rates.

The best empty leg deals around the U.S. Open typically appear one to three weeks before departure, as operators finalize their charter bookings and identify which legs will fly empty. First-week inbound empty legs, for aircraft positioning to pick up customers arriving for the opening rounds, tend to list by early-to-mid August. Finals-week aircraft list closer to the event.

48 to 72 hours before departure: opportunistic pricing

A smaller number of high-value empty legs appear within 48 to 72 hours of departure, as late charter confirmations create last-minute repositioning needs. These can carry the steepest discounts but require schedule flexibility. Setting up flight alerts on SkyAccess for routes matching your origin and the New York metro area (TEB, HPN, FRG) captures these without requiring constant marketplace monitoring.

For a step-by-step booking walkthrough, see how to book your first empty leg flight in 5 steps.

Empty leg strategy for U.S. Open travel

The U.S. Open creates a specific supply pattern that rewards travelers who understand which routes generate the most empty leg inventory.

Inbound empty legs: opening and second rounds

During the opening rounds (August 25 through approximately September 1), the highest empty leg volume appears on routes where operators are positioning aircraft to pick up U.S. Open-bound charter customers. The most active routes for empty legs into TEB and HPN during this period include flights from Florida markets (Miami Executive, Fort Lauderdale Executive, Palm Beach International), California (Van Nuys, Hawthorne, San Jose), and mid-Atlantic origins (Washington Dulles, Baltimore).

These operators have committed a jet to a paying customer heading to New York. The leg from their home base or staging point to New York flies empty, and that is the empty leg opportunity. You book the inbound positioning flight at a fraction of the full charter price.

Return empty legs: finals weekend and beyond

Finals weekend (September 5 to 7) generates a different set of empty legs. Operators who flew customers into New York for the finals need to return those aircraft to home bases or position them for subsequent charters. The highest return-empty-leg volume appears in the 24 to 72 hours following each finals day, on routes pointing south and west: New York to Florida, New York to Texas, New York to California.

On SkyAccess’s empty leg marketplace, you can filter by departure airport (TEB, HPN, FRG) and date range to see exactly which return legs are available. For context on timing flexibility, see how empty leg departure times actually work.

Route matching is non-negotiable

Empty legs follow a fixed route. Departure airport, arrival airport, and aircraft type are all set by the original charter booking. You cannot adjust the cities. To take advantage of U.S. Open empty legs, your origin and destination need to match what is naturally in supply.

If your origin does not match available legs precisely, check near-match airports. Teterboro, Westchester, and Republic are within close range. A traveler from Miami who prefers HPN may find that a TEB-bound leg works just as well, given the short drive between the two airports on arrival.

Aircraft types and pricing context

The mix of aircraft on U.S. Open charter routes reflects the event’s clientele: primarily midsize, super-midsize, and heavy jets from Florida, California, and international gateways.

Midsize jets (Hawker 800, Citation XLS, Phenom 300) are the most common on shorter routes, such as New York to Florida and New York to the mid-Atlantic corridor. Passenger capacity on these aircraft is typically 7 to 9. Heavy jets (Challenger 605, Gulfstream G450, Falcon 2000) appear more frequently on longer routes and for international arrivals. Ultra-long-range aircraft (Gulfstream G650, Global 7500) cover transatlantic arrivals from European markets.

On SkyAccess, empty leg listings on short-haul routes into TEB (under 500 miles) currently range from approximately $5,000 to $15,000 for the full aircraft. Longer routes, such as Florida to New York or California to New York, run $12,000 to $30,000 depending on aircraft type. Full charter pricing on the same routes typically runs two to four times higher. All pricing on SkyAccess is quoted for the entire aircraft, not per passenger.

Timing your arrival around the tournament schedule

The U.S. Open 2026 schedule follows the standard two-week format:

• August 25 to 31: First and second rounds. Lower private aviation demand overall. Good time to fly in on an empty leg at a favorable price and watch opening matches.
• September 1 to 4: Third and fourth rounds (Round of 16). Traffic at TEB increases as corporate travelers join individual attendees. Return empty legs from this period are worth monitoring.
• September 5: Quarterfinals. Peak FBO congestion begins. Arriving by mid-morning helps avoid ramp delays.
• September 6 to 7: Semifinals and Finals. The busiest period for private aviation at TEB and HPN. Confirm your FBO slot and ground transport well in advance.

For travelers attending only the finals, flying in on the morning of the match and departing on a return empty leg the same evening is operationally realistic if timing aligns. Check how far in advance to book an empty leg for benchmarks on when to start looking.

Empty leg or full charter: which to book for the U.S. Open

See the full comparison at empty leg vs. charter: what is the difference? For U.S. Open travel specifically:

• Book an empty leg if your dates are flexible within a two-to-three day window, your route matches available repositioning inventory, and you are comfortable with the 10 to 15 percent industry cancellation rate (source: NBAA) that applies when an operator’s original charter falls through.
• Book a full charter if you need guaranteed availability on specific dates, require a particular aircraft type, or need a round-trip commitment that holds regardless of what else happens to the operator’s schedule.

Many travelers split the approach: an empty leg for the inbound flight (lower stakes if it cancels, since alternative arrangements can be made days in advance) and a full charter for the return (missing the flight home is a harder problem). On SkyAccess, an empty leg marketplace, you can compare available empty leg inventory against full charter pricing on the same routes to see which option makes sense for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Which private jet airport is closest to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center?

In light traffic, Republic Airport (FRG) on Long Island offers the shortest drive, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Teterboro (TEB) is roughly 45 minutes. Westchester County Airport (HPN) is approximately 55 minutes. In heavy traffic, all three times can extend significantly. Most travelers choose TEB for its operator density and FBO quality rather than distance.

Are there landing restrictions at Teterboro during the U.S. Open?

Teterboro does not have event-specific landing restrictions for the U.S. Open. The airport operates under standard FAA noise abatement procedures year-round. FBO ramp slots fill quickly due to demand spikes, not regulatory limits. Contact your operator’s handling team to confirm slot availability as soon as your dates are set.

Can I fly internationally into Teterboro for the U.S. Open?

International arrivals into Teterboro require pre-clearance through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Your operator will coordinate this through their handling agent. Budget an additional 30 to 60 minutes for customs clearance after landing. Some international travelers prefer to clear customs at a CBP-staffed international gateway, such as Newark or JFK, and then continue to TEB via car or helicopter transfer.

What happens if my empty leg to the U.S. Open is cancelled?

If the operator cancels your empty leg (typically because the original charter that created the repositioning flight fell through), you receive a full refund. The risk is disruption to your travel dates, not loss of your payment. For high-stakes events like the U.S. Open, build a backup plan: keep alternative routes visible on SkyAccess or identify a full charter option on standby. See how to protect yourself from empty leg cancellation risk for a full breakdown.

How much does a private jet to the U.S. Open cost?

Costs vary by origin, aircraft type, and whether you book an empty leg or full charter. On SkyAccess, current empty leg listings on short-haul routes into TEB (under 500 miles) range from approximately $5,000 to $15,000 for the full aircraft. Longer routes run $12,000 to $30,000. Full charter on the same routes typically runs two to four times higher. All pricing on SkyAccess is for the full aircraft, not per passenger.

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• How do empty leg flights work?
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• Empty leg flights FAQ: 30 questions answered
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