New York → Nantucket
Part 135 on-demand charter · New York departures · Nantucket arrivals
Expect $10K–$15K for this route, assuming mid-week, shoulder season travel. Flight time ranges from 0h 39m–0h 39m 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: New York to Nantucket
Citation CJ4
Cessna · Light Jet
“I pick the CJ4 for Nantucket because at 183 nm you are barely in the air. Every dollar saved on aircraft class goes directly to your bottom line. The CJ4 handles KACK's 6,303-foot runway without performance concerns, carries 5 bags, and seats up to 9. For a weekend trip with 2-4 passengers, this is the right aircraft.”
Pilatus PC-24
Pilatus · Light Jet
“The PC-24 was designed for airports like Nantucket. Short-field certified with 88 cubic feet of baggage. If you are packing for a full week on the island or traveling with 4-6 passengers and heavy bags, the extra $1,000 buys meaningful baggage capacity over the CJ4.”
Phenom 300E
Embraer · Light Jet
“The Phenom's 84 cubic feet of baggage and wider cabin make it the comfortable option for 5-6 passengers on a week-long island stay. For a 39-minute flight, the cabin time barely justifies the step up. Book the Phenom when passenger count and luggage volume demand it, not because someone told you it is the better aircraft.”
New York to Nantucket is 183 nautical miles. You are in the air for 39 minutes. At that distance, the aircraft selection is entirely about cost and baggage, not speed or range. The CJ4 saves you $2,500 over the Phenom and gets you there at the same time. KACK has a 6,303-foot runway at 48 feet elevation, and light jets handle it without performance penalties. The real question on this route is not the airplane. It is why people drive 6 hours and take a ferry when they could fly 40 minutes.
The comparison to driving speaks for itself. New York to Nantucket by car and ferry is 6 hours on a good day. Through Connecticut, across the Cape, parking at Hyannis, waiting for the Hy-Line, then the boat ride. I have had clients tell me they spent an entire vacation day just getting there. The 39-minute flight from Teterboro puts you on the island before you would have reached New Haven on I-95.
Nantucket fog is real and it does not care about your schedule. Between June and September, KACK averages 5-8 days per month with below-minimum visibility in the morning. Marine layers roll in off the Atlantic and can drop visibility to zero in 20 minutes while the Cape Cod mainland is still clear. If your schedule has no flexibility, consider flying into Hyannis (KHYA) and taking the ferry. It adds 90 minutes but eliminates the weather risk. The brokers who guarantee Nantucket arrivals in peak summer are not telling you the full story.
Departure Airports from New York
| Airport | Code | Distance from Loop | FBO | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teterboro Airport | KTEB | 12 mi | Jet Aviation | Fastest door-to-island time from Manhattan. 12 miles to the ramp, 39 minutes to KACK. |
| Westchester County Airport | KHPN | 33 mi | Million Air | Westchester and Connecticut. Saves the bridge crossing if you are north of the city. |
| Morristown Municipal Airport | KMMU | 30 mi | Signature Flight Support | Northern New Jersey. Lower fees than Teterboro for a 39-minute flight. |
Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK)
Nantucket Memorial is a small island airport with one primary runway at 6,303 feet. Light jets operate without restrictions. Midsize jets work in standard conditions. Super-midsize operations require performance analysis in summer heat with full loads. Island weather is the primary variable. Fog rolls in fast from the Atlantic and can shut down the airport in under 30 minutes. The noise curfew from 10 PM to 7 AM runs May through October.
Alternative: Cape Cod Gateway Airport (KHYA)
30 mi by ferry from Nantucket. Longer runway, no curfew. Take the Hy-Line ferry to Nantucket. Adds 60-90 minutes.
Seasonal Pricing: New York to Nantucket
Peak island season. Ramp space fills fast. Noise curfew enforced strictly. Fog risk is highest. Book FBO handling 2+ weeks in advance.
Good weather with lighter demand. Curfew in effect but ramp congestion is manageable. Best value for island access.
Base pricing. Curfew lifts after October. No crowds. Operationally the most predictable window.
Off-season. Many island businesses close. Lowest demand and pricing. No curfew.
Flight Operations into KACK
KACK enforces a noise curfew from 10 PM to 7 AM between May and October. No exceptions. Plan your arrival and departure around this window. Advection fog is the primary weather challenge. Warm moist air moves over cold ocean water and the island can go from clear to zero-zero visibility in 15 minutes while the Cape Cod mainland is still clear. This happens most frequently in June and July mornings. Your crew should always brief Hyannis (KHYA) as the alternate. The 6,303-foot runway handles light and midsize jets without issue. At 183 nm from Teterboro, this is an ultra-short hop. The flight time barely justifies taxiing.
Round-Trip Cost: $15K
A same-day round trip to Nantucket fits easily within crew duty limits. 183 nm each way, under 1.5 hours total block time. Plan for a full day on the island. The crew waits at KACK. The only constraint is the summer noise curfew. Depart Nantucket before 10 PM May through October.
Pre-Flight Briefing: Nantucket
How much does a New York to Nantucket charter cost?
A Citation CJ4 runs around $9,500 in shoulder season. The Pilatus PC-24 steps up to $14,500. The Phenom 300E tops out at $14,500. Summer peak (June through August) adds 30-40%. All prices are all-in estimates.
How long is the flight from New York to Nantucket?
39 minutes. Distance is 183 nautical miles. All three aircraft options fly the route in the same time.
Why fly instead of driving and taking the ferry?
New York to Nantucket by car and ferry is 6 hours on a good day. The drive through Connecticut to Hyannis takes 4+ hours, then you park, wait for the ferry, and ride for another hour. The 39-minute flight from Teterboro puts you on the island before you would reach New Haven on I-95.
Does Nantucket have a noise curfew?
Yes. May through October, no operations between 10 PM and 7 AM. Plan your schedule around this window. Winter months have no curfew.
What happens if fog closes Nantucket?
Your crew diverts to Hyannis (KHYA), 30 miles away on Cape Cod. From there, the Hy-Line ferry takes you to Nantucket in about 60 minutes. Build this possibility into your schedule between June and September.
New York to Nantucket: 183 nm, 39 minutes. Citation CJ4, Pilatus PC-24, or Phenom 300E. $9.5K to $12K base pricing with 30-40% premiums in summer. KACK has a 6,303-foot runway and enforces a noise curfew 10 PM to 7 AM from May through October. Fog is the primary operational challenge. Hyannis (KHYA) is the all-weather alternate. At 39 minutes vs. 6 hours by car and ferry, this is the route where charter makes the strongest case.
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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