The main private jet airports near Dallas are Dallas Love Field (DAL), about 5 miles from downtown; Addison (ADS), the business aviation airport for North Dallas and Plano; and Fort Worth Alliance (AFW), with an 11,000-foot runway. Fort Worth Meacham (FTW) and McKinney (TKI) add customs-equipped options west and north, and DFW handles private flights too.
Key takeaways
- Love Field is closest to downtown, Uptown and Highland Park, with four FBO brands and an 8,800-foot runway.
- Addison is the North Dallas airport, with a 7,203-foot runway and three FBOs, and it is a CBP user-fee airport.
- Alliance in north Fort Worth has two runways of about 11,000 feet, the longest at any of the region's business aviation airports.
- Customs is available at six airports in the area, more than in most US metros, but hours and notice rules differ.
- Summer heat and spring storms matter more in Dallas than snow, so build slack into schedules from April to September.
Which airports serve Dallas by private jet?
Seven airports handle most private flights in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Runway and FBO details are from the FAA airport data on AirNav, such as Love Field's listing, and customs status is from CBP's list of user-fee airports.
| Airport | Longest runway | Customs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Love Field (DAL) | 8,800 ft | CBP user fee | Downtown, Uptown, Highland Park |
| Addison (ADS) | 7,203 ft | CBP user fee | North Dallas, Plano, the Galleria |
| Fort Worth Alliance (AFW) | 11,125 ft | CBP user fee | North Fort Worth, Southlake, large jets |
| Fort Worth Meacham (FTW) | 7,502 ft | CBP user fee | Downtown Fort Worth, the Cultural District |
| McKinney (TKI) | 7,002 ft | CBP user fee | Frisco, McKinney, Collin County |
| DFW International (DFW) | 13,401 ft | Customs landing rights | Airline connections, the largest jets |
| Dallas Executive (RBD) | 7,136 ft | None listed | South Dallas, Oak Cliff |
To compare what each aircraft class costs from Dallas, use our charter flight cost estimator, and for airports in other cities see the top private jet airports in the US.
Why use Dallas Love Field for a private jet?
Love Field is the closest major airport to downtown Dallas, about 5 miles away in a straight line and about 4 miles from Uptown and Highland Park. It is also a busy airline airport, but private flights use separate FBO terminals.
What to know about Love Field:
- FBOs: AirNav lists Signature Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Business Jet, a family-owned operator headquartered on the field.
- Runways: the main runways are 8,800 and 7,752 feet, enough for most business jets, including many large ones.
- Customs: Love Field is a CBP user-fee airport, so international arrivals can clear customs on site with advance arrangements.
- Noise: the FAA notes noise-sensitive areas in all directions. Between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., jets and aircraft over 12,500 pounds must use the longer runway, 13R/31L.
For most trips into central Dallas, Love Field is the default choice. Expect a landing fee on the invoice, which the operator passes on; our guide to charter fees explains how airport charges appear on a quote.
When is Addison the better choice?
Addison is the closest business aviation airport to North Dallas, Plano and the Galleria area, about 8 miles from Legacy West in Plano and about 13 miles from downtown in a straight line. It has no airline service, so the ramp is busy with private aircraft rather than airliners.
- Runway: a single 7,203-foot runway, according to Addison's AirNav listing. That suits light jets, midsize jets and super midsize jets on most trips; a heavy jet leaving at full fuel for a long flight may prefer Love Field or Alliance.
- FBOs: Atlantic Aviation, Galaxy FBO and Million Air Dallas.
- Customs: Addison is a CBP user-fee airport.
- Noise: noise-sensitive areas surround the airport, and pilots are asked to follow published noise procedures.
For trips to the northern suburbs, Addison often saves 15 to 30 minutes in the car compared with Love Field, depending on traffic on the Dallas North Tollway.
Fort Worth: Alliance and Meacham
Fort Worth has two customs-equipped airports, each suited to a different part of the city.
- Fort Worth Alliance (AFW), also known as Perot Field, has two runways of about 11,000 feet, the longest of any business aviation airport in the region. Its FBO, Alliance Aviation Services, describes a newer terminal with on-site customs, and CBP lists Alliance as a user-fee airport. It is about 11 miles from Southlake and 16 from downtown Fort Worth in a straight line, and it suits large jets on long international flights.
- Fort Worth Meacham (FTW) is about 5 miles from downtown Fort Worth, with a 7,502-foot runway and FBOs run by Texas Jet and Modern Aviation. CBP lists it as a user-fee airport. For the Stockyards, Sundance Square or the Cultural District, it is usually the most convenient choice.
Alliance is also a busy cargo and industrial airport, so the operator confirms ramp and handling arrangements in advance.
McKinney, Arlington and the other options
Several smaller airports cover the outer suburbs.
- McKinney (TKI) has a 7,002-foot runway, user-fee customs and one FBO, McKinney Air Center. It is about 14 miles from Frisco and 15 from Plano, and convenient for Collin County. Noise-sensitive areas lie to the south.
- Arlington (GKY) has a 6,080-foot runway and Arlington Air Center as its FBO. It is about 6 miles from AT&T Stadium, which makes it useful for game days and concerts on light and midsize jets.
- Dallas Executive (RBD) in south Dallas has a 7,136-foot runway, about 8 miles from downtown, with FBOs Ambassador Jet Center and Jet Access Dallas. AirNav does not list customs there.
- Denton (DTO) has a 7,002-foot runway and a Sheltair FBO, convenient for Denton and the northwestern suburbs.
Can you fly a private jet into DFW?
Yes, and DFW has the longest runways in the region, but most charter passengers do better elsewhere. DFW is one of the busiest airline airports in the world, which means longer taxi times and more airspace delays. AirNav lists only limited general aviation services on the field, and nearby FBO listings point to Alliance instead.
DFW makes sense if you are connecting to an international airline flight or meeting someone at the terminal. Otherwise, Love Field, Addison or Alliance is usually faster. DFW is a customs landing rights airport.
Which Dallas airport is closest to where you are going?
Straight-line distances, in statute miles:
| Destination | DAL | ADS | DFW | FTW | AFW | TKI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Dallas | 5 | 13 | 16 | 33 | 33 | 30 |
| Uptown | 4 | 12 | 15 | 33 | 33 | 29 |
| Highland Park | 4 | 10 | 15 | 33 | 32 | 26 |
| Plano (Legacy West) | 16 | 8 | 18 | 36 | 29 | 15 |
| Frisco | 21 | 13 | 21 | 39 | 31 | 14 |
| Southlake | 18 | 17 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 36 |
| Downtown Fort Worth | 29 | 32 | 20 | 5 | 16 | 52 |
Dallas is spread out, and highway traffic at rush hour can make a short distance slow. Pick the airport nearest your first meeting or your home, not the city center by default, and arrange a car to meet you at the FBO. Our guide to what an FBO is explains what to expect on arrival.
Flying from Dallas in summer and storm season
In Dallas, heat and thunderstorms cause more delays than snow. Three things to plan for:
- Spring and early summer storms. Strong thunderstorms, sometimes with hail, are common in North Texas from spring into early summer. Air traffic control may reroute or hold departures when storms are near, and operators avoid flying through them. Leave slack before important connections on storm days.
- Hot-weather performance. On very hot days, aircraft need more runway to take off and climb more slowly, especially when heavy with fuel. On a long trip from a shorter runway, the operator may suggest a different airport, a lighter fuel load with a stop, or an early-morning departure.
- Hangars and cabin temperature. A cabin parked in the summer sun can get very hot. Ask the crew to cool the cabin before boarding, or ask about hangar space if the aircraft will wait for you.
Winter ice storms do happen in North Texas, though less often. When they do, expect de-icing charges, which are usually billed at cost.
Popular private jet routes from Dallas
Dallas sits near the middle of the country, so most US destinations are within light or midsize jet range. Straight-line distances from Love Field, with estimated still-air flight times at typical class speeds:
| Destination | Distance | Usual class | Est. time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston (Hobby) | 210 nm | Light jet or turboprop | 48 min |
| Aspen | 620 nm | Light or midsize jet | 1 h 47 min |
| Scottsdale | 760 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 07 min |
| Cabo San Lucas | 895 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 27 min |
| Las Vegas | 925 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 31 min |
| Palm Beach | 950 nm | Light or midsize jet | 2 h 34 min |
| Los Angeles (Van Nuys) | 1,085 nm | Midsize or super midsize jet | 2 h 52 min |
| New York (Teterboro) | 1,190 nm | Light or midsize jet | 3 h 09 min |
| London (Farnborough) | 4,110 nm | Long-range heavy jet | 9 h 30 min |
Westbound flights usually take longer than these still-air times because of prevailing winds, and eastbound flights are often quicker. For a few of these trips, see our guides to private jets to Aspen, private jets to Miami and New York private jet airports. For London, our guide to flying a private jet to Europe covers range and fuel stops.
Typical US charter rates run about $4,000 to $5,900 per flight hour for a light jet and $5,000 to $7,200 for a midsize jet, before taxes and fees; quotes vary with season, availability and positioning. Ask about empty legs on busy routes, such as Dallas to Aspen in ski season or Dallas to Cabo in spring.
Customs when flying into Dallas from abroad
Six airports in the area can clear international arrivals, so you can usually land close to where you are going. Love Field, Addison, Meacham, Alliance and McKinney are user-fee airports, which means customs officers are provided under an agreement with the airport and the service must be arranged in advance. DFW is a customs landing rights airport, which also requires permission to land in advance.
In practice:
- The operator files the advance information and requests customs at your arrival airport, usually at least a day ahead.
- Arrival times matter. Customs hours differ by airport, and late arrivals may need to be arranged specially or moved to another airport.
- Bring the right documents for every passenger, and follow US rules on bringing food and goods home.
Our guide to flying a private jet internationally covers customs and paperwork in full, and for the airports in another large metro, see private jet airports near Chicago.
Plan your Dallas charter
Pick the airport by where you are going and the size of the aircraft, then check customs hours if you are arriving from abroad. Estimate your trip with the private jet charter cost calculator, and request a quote with your dates, group size and destination.