Nantucket's season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and in July and August the island's airport is one of the busiest summer destinations for private flights from the New York area. Most travelers are families heading to summer houses and weekend guests coming out for Friday-to-Sunday stays. Ramp space at Nantucket Memorial is limited at peak times, so aircraft often drop passengers and leave rather than wait on the island. Fog is a real factor on the island in early summer and can delay arrivals.
| Airport | IATA / ICAO | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teterboro | TEB / KTEB | departure · 338 km to ACK | Business-aviation airport in New Jersey with no scheduled airline traffic, about 12 miles from Midtown Manhattan; the default choice for private flights to New York. |
| Westchester County, White Plains | HPN / KHPN | departure · 306 km to ACK | Alternative. |
| John F. Kennedy International | JFK / KJFK | departure · 320 km to ACK | Alternative. |
| Nantucket Memorial | ACK / KACK | arrival | Island airport with heavy private traffic in summer; ramp space can be tight on peak weekends, so arrival plans should be set early. |
Source: OurAirports, great-circle.
| Class | Example (published range) | Verdict for 338 km | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light jet | Phenom 300 (3,650 km) | Non-stop | 45 min |
| Midsize jet | Citation XLS+ (3,889 km) | Non-stop | 45 min |
| Ultra-long-range jet | Global 6000, Falcon 8X, Gulfstream G650 (11,112 km) | Non-stop | 40 min |
Rule: non-stop needs 15% range margin. Times are estimates.
6-8 passengers, 3,650 km of published range: 10.8 times this route.
See the aircraft ›9-12 passengers, 7,408 km of published range: 21.9 times this route.
See the aircraft ›13-19 passengers, 13,890 km of published range: 41.0 times this route.
See the aircraft ›| When | What happens | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Late June to Labor Day | High season. Friday afternoon arrivals and Sunday evening departures are the busiest windows of the week, and parking on the ramp is tight. | Book summer weekends well ahead and expect the aircraft to reposition rather than wait on the island. |
| May and September to October | Shoulder season: quieter, easier to arrange, and many houses are still open. | A good time for owners to open or close a house with fewer constraints. |
Your dates and group size for Nantucket.