PrivateJetSky / Routes / New York to Los Angeles
New York to Los Angeles by private jet
The transcontinental flagship route. Westbound is the easy direction; eastbound winter headwinds of 100-plus knots are what separate the aircraft classes. A super-midsize does this nonstop both ways. A light jet does not, and the fuel stop costs you 45 minutes and ramp fees.
Cost by aircraft class EST
| Class | Typical aircraft | Block time | One-way, all-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop FUEL STOP | Beechcraft King Air 360 | 8h 24m | $18K–$32K |
| Very light jet FUEL STOP | Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 | 6h 45m | $18K–$27K |
| Light jet FUEL STOP | Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen2 | 6h 10m | $22K–$35K |
| Midsize jet | Hawker 800XP | 6h 02m | $31K–$45K |
| Super-midsize | Bombardier Challenger 3500 | 5h 13m | $34K–$49K |
| Large cabin | Bombardier Challenger 650 | 5h 13m | $48K–$71K |
| Ultra-long-range | Bombardier Global 6000 | 5h 03m | $65K–$107K |
Assumes 4 passengers, spot-market rates, and the two-hour daily billing minimum where the leg is shorter. Positioning, meaning where the aircraft starts its day, is the swing factor no table can capture; it is why identical trips quote 30% apart. Recompute this route with your own passenger count, or check a quote you already have.
RATE BASIS Private Jet Card Comparisons: Q2 2026 jet card rate report privatejetcardcomparisons.com read 2026-08-31 · NATA: 2026 federal excise tax rates (IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32) nata.aero read 2026-08-31
Class rate ranges are cross-checked each quarter against five published seller rate cards, printed side by side in the cost index.
When you fly matters
Awards season, January through March, tightens westbound supply into Van Nuys. Eastbound headwinds peak December through February; if a broker quotes a light jet nonstop eastbound in January, question it.
The empty-leg angle
This corridor has genuine empty-leg supply: repositioning flights sold at 25 to 75% off. The catch is that the schedule belongs to someone else’s trip and can move or vanish. Worth playing if your dates bend. Read the empty-legs guide before treating one as a plan.
Aircraft that fit this mission
- Hawker 800XP: Aging but everywhere: the value play of the midsize charter market.
- Bombardier Challenger 3500: Widest cabin in the class; the 350/3500 line dominates US super-mid charter.
- Bombardier Challenger 650: The widest cabin per dollar in aviation. A 40-year formula, still working.
Prices apply in reverse (VNY → TEB), though empty-leg supply and peak days often differ by direction. Ready for quotes? Build a proper RFP and make brokers respond to your brief.