Private Jet Charter Phoenix: Airports, Routes and Costs

Which Phoenix airport to use

Scottsdale Airport (SDL) is the Valley's main business aviation airport. It has no airline service, an 8,249-foot runway and three FBOs: Jet Aviation, Atlantic Aviation and Signature Aviation. The city reports more than 160,000 takeoffs and landings a year, and in October 2026 it noted that a Forbes ranking of the busiest private jet airports in the US placed Scottsdale eighth. It is about nine miles north of Old Town Scottsdale and close to the resorts and the Scottsdale Airpark.

Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX), three miles east of downtown, is the closest choice for downtown Phoenix, Tempe and the stadiums. Its private terminals are run by Cutter Aviation and Jackson Jet Center, and it shares airspace with heavy airline traffic. Phoenix Deer Valley (DVT), about 15 miles north of downtown, serves the north Valley through Cutter Aviation. Phoenix-Mesa Gateway (IWA), about 20 miles southeast, has three runways over 9,000 feet and Gateway Aviation Services, and is the natural choice for Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek.

The best airport is usually the one closest to where you are going. Compare costs from each with the charter cost calculator, and read what an FBO is if you are new to private terminals.

Summer heat and aircraft performance

Hot air is thin air. The FAA explains that high temperatures raise density altitude, so an aircraft performs as if it were at a higher elevation: it needs a longer takeoff run and climbs more slowly. Phoenix-area airports sit between about 1,100 and 1,500 feet above sea level, and summer afternoons are very hot.

In practice the operator checks takeoff performance for the actual temperature. On the hottest days that can mean an early-morning or evening departure, a longer runway such as Sky Harbor or Mesa Gateway, or less fuel and baggage on a long trip. It rarely affects short flights, but it is worth asking about for full cabins on longer routes in July and August.

Customs for international trips

Scottsdale Airport offers US Customs and Border Protection service daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the user fee prepaid online before arrival. Sky Harbor is a customs landing rights airport and Mesa Gateway is a user-fee customs airport.

Flights returning from Mexico have an extra rule: most private and charter aircraft must first land at a designated airport near the border, such as Tucson, Nogales or Yuma, unless the operator holds an overflight exemption that allows clearing customs further inland. Ask about this when booking a trip to Cabo, and see our guide to international private jet travel.

Popular routes from Phoenix

Short Southwest routes suit a light jet: Phoenix to Las Vegas, Phoenix to Los Angeles and Phoenix to San Diego each take about an hour or less in the air. Phoenix to Cabo is a short international trip, and Phoenix to Chicago is a longer flight that light, midsize and super midsize jets fly nonstop.

Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year, so the time difference to California, Nevada and Chicago changes with the seasons. Check empty legs for one-way savings out of the Valley.