Los Angeles → Mammoth Lakes
Part 135 on-demand charter · Los Angeles departures · Mammoth Lakes arrivals
Expect $12K–$16K for this route, assuming mid-week, shoulder season travel. Flight time ranges from 0h 42m–0h 43m depending on aircraft type and headwinds.
Estimates based on Q2 2026 market data. Actual quotes vary by availability and demand.
Part 135 is the FAA standard for on-demand charter operations: ATP-rated crews, certified aircraft, and direct safety accountability.
Top 3 Aircraft: Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes
Pilatus PC-24
Pilatus · Light Jet
“The PC-24 was built for airports like Mammoth. Short-field certified, designed for high-altitude and austere runways. 7,000 feet of runway at 7,128 feet elevation is exactly the environment Pilatus engineered this aircraft to handle. The cargo door in the back loads ski gear without the Tetris game you play with other light jets. This is the aircraft for KMMH.”
Phenom 300E
Embraer · Light Jet
“The Phenom handles KMMH at 206 nm with comfortable reserves. It lands and departs on 7,000 feet at 7,128 feet elevation, but with less margin than the PC-24. Summer density altitude on hot afternoons can tighten the performance envelope. If the PC-24 is not available, the Phenom is the next call.”
Citation Latitude
Cessna · Midsize Jet
“The Latitude can operate at KMMH but with tighter margins than the lighter aircraft. Runway length and elevation combine to reduce performance. Check with the operator on weight restrictions, especially in summer. For groups of 7-9 where the PC-24 is too small, the Latitude is the step up.”
206 nautical miles, 42 minutes. But this is not a normal 42-minute flight. Mammoth Yosemite Airport sits at 7,128 feet elevation with a single 7,000-foot runway surrounded by mountain terrain. This is an extreme-ops airport. Density altitude on a warm day can exceed 10,000 feet. The approach is visual through a mountain valley. Weather changes fast in the Sierra. Only light jets are recommended for KMMH. The PC-24 is purpose-built for exactly this kind of airport.
I talked to a crew that diverted from Mammoth three times in one ski season. Each time, the weather looked good on departure from Van Nuys and deteriorated during the 42-minute flight. Sierra weather moves fast. Clouds build over the ridgeline and drop into the valley in 20 minutes. The crew filed Bishop (KBIH) as the alternate every time. Twice they waited in Bishop for conditions to improve and completed the flight an hour later. Once they drove the hour to Mammoth from Bishop. The lesson: always have Bishop in your back pocket.
Crew duty day limits do not matter on a 42-minute flight. What matters is whether your crew can get in. Mammoth is weather-dependent in a way that most charter airports are not. If your crew flies up and cannot land, they divert to Bishop. You drive an hour. If conditions do not improve, you might drive 4.5 hours from Bishop to Mammoth anyway. Build flexibility into your schedule. This is mountain flying, not a shuttle.
Departure Airports from Los Angeles
| Airport | Code | Distance from Loop | FBO | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Nuys Airport | KVNY | 20 mi | Signature Flight Support | Default for Mammoth ski trips. Highest charter volume in LA. |
| Hollywood Burbank Airport | KBUR | 12 mi | Atlantic Aviation | Closest to Hollywood and West LA for early morning Mammoth flights. |
| John Wayne Airport | KSNA | 40 mi | ACI Jet | Orange County departures. Adds distance but avoids the drive to the Valley. |
Mammoth Yosemite Airport (KMMH)
Mammoth Yosemite Airport is an extreme-ops field. 7,128 feet elevation with a single 7,000-foot runway in a mountain valley. Density altitude on warm days can exceed 10,000 feet. The approach is visual through terrain that demands experienced mountain crews. Only light jets are recommended. The PC-24 is the best-suited charter aircraft for this field. Weather changes rapidly in the Sierra Nevada, and diversions to Bishop (KBIH) are common in winter.
Alternative: Bishop Airport (KBIH)
40 mi south from Mammoth Lakes. Lower elevation (4,124 ft), longer runway. 1-hour drive to Mammoth.
Seasonal Pricing: Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes
Mammoth is LA's mountain. Peak ski season drives heavy charter demand from Southern California. Holiday weeks and Presidents' Day are the most expensive windows. Weather diversions are most common during this period.
Mammoth often stays open through late May or June. Spring skiing with base pricing. Best value for snow and the most stable flying weather of the ski season.
Mountain biking, hiking, and Yosemite access drive summer demand. Density altitude is the main concern. Morning-only operations on hot days. Weather is more predictable than winter.
Quietest window. Fall colors and fishing. Lowest pricing and best availability. Weather is generally stable until late November.
Flight Operations into KMMH
KMMH is operationally demanding year-round. At 7,128 feet elevation with a 7,000-foot runway, density altitude is the primary concern. On a 70-degree day, effective altitude exceeds 9,000 feet. On a 90-degree summer afternoon, it can top 10,000 feet. Only light jets with appropriate performance margins should operate here. Winter operations add mountain obscuration, icing, and rapidly changing conditions. Diversions to Bishop (KBIH) are routine, not exceptional. Your crew should file Bishop as the alternate on every flight. The drive from Bishop to Mammoth is about an hour on US-395. Ground transportation from KMMH to Mammoth Lakes village takes 15 minutes.
Round-Trip Cost: $20K
Same-day round trips are possible at 206 nm but weather-dependent. Total block time is under 2 hours. The risk is getting stuck at Mammoth if weather closes the airport. Build an overnight option into your plan. If conditions hold, the day trip works. If they do not, you drive to Bishop or stay the night.
Pre-Flight Briefing: Mammoth Lakes
How much does a Los Angeles to Mammoth charter cost?
A Pilatus PC-24 runs around $12,000 in shoulder season. The Phenom 300E steps up to $13,500. The Citation Latitude comes in at $15,500. Peak ski season (December through March) adds 35-40%. All prices are all-in estimates.
How long is the flight from LA to Mammoth?
42 to 43 minutes depending on aircraft and winds. Distance is 206 nautical miles. Compare that to the 4.5 to 5 hour drive on US-395.
Can any jet land at Mammoth?
No. Mammoth Yosemite Airport sits at 7,128 feet elevation with a 7,000-foot runway. Only light jets are recommended. The PC-24 is purpose-built for this kind of field. Larger aircraft should use Bishop (KBIH), 40 miles south at a lower elevation with a longer runway.
What happens if weather closes Mammoth?
Your crew diverts to Bishop Airport (KBIH), 40 miles south at 4,124 feet elevation. Bishop has a longer runway and lower terrain. From Bishop, you drive about an hour to Mammoth on US-395. Diversions are common in winter and should be expected, not feared.
Is Bishop Airport a better option than Mammoth?
Bishop (KBIH) is more reliable. Lower elevation (4,124 ft), longer runway, and less weather disruption. The tradeoff is a 1-hour drive to Mammoth instead of a 15-minute ride. If schedule reliability matters more than convenience, Bishop is the safer bet.
Los Angeles to Mammoth: 206 nm, 0h 42m to 0h 43m. PC-24, Phenom 300E, or Citation Latitude. $12K to $15.5K base pricing with 35-40% premiums in peak ski season. Mammoth Yosemite Airport (KMMH) at 7,128 ft elevation with 7,000 ft runway. Extreme-ops airport. Light jets only recommended. PC-24 is purpose-built for this field. Bishop Airport (KBIH) 40 mi south serves as the reliable alternate. Weather diversions are common in winter.
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Phelipe
ATP-Rated Airline Pilot · E175 Type Rating · CFI/CFII/MEI · 7+ Years Aviation
Verify Airman CertificateData sources: Pricing: Aviapages Q2 2026 · Airport data: FAA NASR · Aircraft performance: Published POH · Analysis: ATP-rated airline pilot