Private Jet Charter at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY/VNY)

America's Busiest Business Aviation Airport, Positioned Across the Hill from Hollywood

Van Nuys Airport is not a regional field with occasional charter traffic — it is consistently ranked among the highest-volume general aviation airports in the United States by jet movements, operating as Los Angeles's de facto private terminal for the San Fernando Valley, Studio City, and the broader entertainment and tech corridor north of the Santa Monica Mountains. For operators routing into the LA basin, VNY eliminates the slot pressure and airline congestion endemic to LAX while placing clients within 20 to 30 minutes of Beverly Hills, Century City, and Burbank's studio campuses via the 101 or 405.

Operational Profile

The field sits at approximately 799 ft MSL — density altitude is not operationally relevant for any jet category under standard ISA conditions. The primary runway 16R/34L measures 2,438 metres (approximately 8,001 ft), which comfortably supports midsize through heavy cabin jets including the Challenger 350, Gulfstream G450, and Falcon 2000 series. The crosswind runway 16L/34R at 1,506 metres serves lighter traffic. H24 operations are confirmed with no noise curfew exceptions applied uniformly — though VNY has historically faced community noise pressure, departure procedures (particularly the Oso SID northbound) and preferential runway use programs apply depending on wind and time of day; operators should verify current NOTAMs and confirm departure routing at booking.

Transfers & Connections

Ground transfer to Beverly Hills runs approximately 25 minutes via Sepulveda Boulevard or the 405 in off-peak hours; allow 45 to 60 minutes during peak commute windows (07:00–09:30 and 16:30–19:30 local). Burbank Media District is under 15 minutes northeast via the 170. For clients connecting onward domestically, Burbank Bob Hope Airport (BUR) is 8 miles east and offers commercial connections without LAX-scale congestion. Helicopter transfer to downtown Los Angeles or Santa Monica is available through VNY-based operators, reducing effective transfer time to under 20 minutes for Marina del Rey or West Hollywood. Connections toward Paris Le Bourget or London Luton typically position through LAX or SFO for ETOPS-capable heavy iron.

Handling & Customs

Van Nuys operates one of the most competitive FBO markets in US general aviation. Confirmed operators include Signature Aviation (two locations on field), Clay Lacy Aviation — the founding operator at VNY and one of the oldest jet management companies on the West Coast — and West Coast Charter. Million Air also maintains a presence at VNY. CBP customs clearance is available on-site with advance coordination; international arrivals should file eAPIS and confirm CBP scheduling ahead of block-in. For aircraft arriving from the UAE or transatlantic routings, customs processing is handled directly at the ramp without diversion to LAX. VNY's private ramp environment, competitive fuel pricing relative to Santa Monica (now closed), and crew amenity infrastructure — full crew rest, catering, hangar availability — make it the default choice for LA-based aircraft management and long-term basing. Operators routing to Teterboro for East Coast legs will find VNY-to-TEB the dominant transcontinental pairing for business aviation in the US.