Van Nuys is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the United States (per FAA traffic counts), and it’s the default jet airport for the west San Fernando Valley and the west side of Los Angeles. If your trip starts or ends anywhere near Sherman Oaks, Encino, Calabasas, Burbank, or the west side, VNY is almost always the right call over LAX.
Fly Bitlux arranges charter flights in and out of VNY on Part 135 operators — light jets for short hops to Vegas or Scottsdale, midsize and super-midsize for Aspen or cross-country runs, large-cabin for bigger groups or longer legs. We’re one of only 19 ARGUS-Certified charter brokers worldwide, and every flight is operated by a certified carrier, not by us.
| ICAO / IATA | KVNY / VNY |
| Name | Van Nuys Airport |
| Runways | 16R/34L: 8,001 ft, ILS-equipped. 16L/34R: 4,011 ft, VFR training runway. |
| FBOs | Signature Aviation (East and West ramps), Clay Lacy Aviation, Jet Aviation, Castle & Cooke Aviation, Pegasus Elite Aviation |
| Curfew | Nighttime noise curfew 10:00 PM–7:00 AM for aircraft exceeding the airport’s noise limit (74 dBA on takeoff per FAA AC 36-3H); propeller aircraft also restricted from repetitive touch-and-go operations overnight |
| Tower hours | 6:00 AM–10:45 PM daily |
VNY runs five full-service FBOs on one field, which is unusual — most reliever airports have two or three. That matters for charter: more ramp capacity means less chance of a ground-handling bottleneck on a busy holiday departure bank, and more competition among handlers on fuel and service.
Signature Aviation (East & West). Van Nuys’ largest FBO presence, with two terminals on opposite sides of the field. Full-service fuel, customs coordination, and the deepest ramp capacity at VNY — usually the default for larger cabins and busy departure banks.
Clay Lacy Aviation. A Van Nuys institution and one of the best-known names in West Coast business aviation. Full FBO services plus maintenance and aircraft management on-site.
Jet Aviation Van Nuys. Part of the global Jet Aviation network, offering full handling, fuel, and concierge services on the field’s east side — a frequent choice for international and large-cabin arrivals.
Castle & Cooke Aviation. A polished, service-forward FBO popular with passengers who want a quieter, boutique arrival experience without giving up full handling capability.
Pegasus Elite Aviation. A boutique operator and FBO focused on personalized charter and aircraft management service at VNY.
Light jets — e.g. the Embraer Phenom 300: ideal for Vegas, Scottsdale, or the Bay Area with 5–7 seats. Midsize — e.g. the Cessna Citation XLS: more cabin and baggage for Aspen or cross-country legs. Super-midsize — e.g. the Bombardier Challenger 350: true transcontinental range and a stand-up cabin. Large cabin — e.g. the Gulfstream G450: long-range, stand-up cabins for bigger groups or coast-to-coast-plus missions.
Plan to arrive at your FBO about 15–20 minutes before departure — private terminals mean no TSA lines, but crews still need a few minutes to finish fueling and load bags. For late departures, mind the 10:00 PM–7:00 AM noise curfew: quieter aircraft can operate within limits, but it’s worth confirming at booking. On peak holiday banks (Thanksgiving, the Friday before a long weekend), build in a little extra buffer — VNY’s multiple FBOs spread the load, but the whole LA basin moves at once on those days. Your Fly Bitlux desk will pre-coordinate the FBO, parking, and any ground transport so there’s nothing to sort on arrival.
VNY vs. LAX. LAX is a commercial hub first. GA traffic gets worked in around airline banks, taxi times can run long, and curb-to-cabin logistics mean driving across a busier, more congested airport perimeter. VNY is GA-only, no mixing with airline queues, shorter taxi, and FBO parking steps from your car. For most charter passengers on the west side, VNY saves real time door to door even though it’s a few extra highway minutes from some addresses.
VNY vs. Burbank (BUR). Burbank is the other major LA-basin reliever, better positioned for the east Valley, Pasadena, and the Hollywood Hills. BUR has a tighter curfew and a shorter primary runway profile for larger cabin aircraft. VNY’s 8,001-foot main runway handles a broader range of large-cabin jets without the restrictions BUR can impose on bigger metal. If your trip is super-midsize or larger, VNY is usually the more flexible field.
VNY vs. Santa Monica (SMO). Santa Monica no longer functions as a general jet-charter airport, the field’s runway was shortened and its operational rules tightened under the city’s agreement with the FAA, and it is not a practical option for charter jets today. Anyone still searching “Santa Monica private jet” is better served looking at VNY, which is a short drive from the same west-side addresses SMO used to serve.
The VNY–Las Vegas run is one of the most popular private-jet routes on the West Coast — about 199 nautical miles, roughly a 55-minute flight. It’s short enough that a light jet like the Phenom 300 is often the sweet spot: you’re wheels-up from Van Nuys and on the ground at Harry Reid (LAS) or Henderson Executive (HND) before a commercial passenger would clear the LAX security line. For groups or those who want more cabin, a midsize or super-midsize steps up the comfort without changing the math much on a hop this short. Weekend demand into Vegas is heavy, so the earlier the desk can lock an aircraft, the better the pricing and availability — especially around fight weekends, major conventions, and holidays.
Indicative one-way ranges — not quotes. Built from current market charter data (November 2026). Actual pricing varies by date, aircraft, availability, and one-way vs. round-trip positioning. Request a live quote for your dates.
| Route | Light Jet | Midsize | Super Midsize | Large Cabin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VNY → Las Vegas (LAS) | $9,900–$11,500 | $10,100–$14,900 | $14,300–$19,900 | $18,000–$26,000 |
| VNY → Aspen (ASE) | $14,000–$19,000 | $17,000–$23,000 | $22,000–$30,000 | $30,000–$42,000 |
| VNY → Scottsdale (SCF) | $11,000–$14,500 | $12,500–$17,500 | $16,000–$22,000 | $21,000–$30,000 |
Ranges reflect typical one-way market pricing by cabin class and route distance; Aspen’s higher figures reflect its longer distance and mountain-airport operating requirements. Not a quote or an offer.
We also fly daily into Naples, Key West, Nashville, Charleston, Jackson Hole, Palm Springs and everywhere else. Tell the desk where you’re going.
Which VNY FBO should I use for a private charter? It depends on your cabin and ramp preference — Clay Lacy and Jet Aviation sit on the west side of the field, Signature operates ramps on both the east and west sides, and Castle & Cooke and Pegasus Elite round out the remaining options. Your Fly Bitlux coordinator assigns the FBO based on your operator’s preferred handling agreement and your parking/hangar needs, not a fixed default.
Can I depart VNY before 7 AM or land after 10 PM? Sometimes. VNY’s curfew restricts aircraft exceeding a specific noise threshold and restricts repetitive propeller operations overnight — it does not blanket-ban every late-night or early-morning jet movement. Tell us your required times when you request a quote and we’ll confirm feasibility with the operator before booking.
Is Van Nuys the same as flying out of LAX? No — different airport, different experience. VNY is general-aviation-only, so there’s no commercial terminal, no airline security queue, and typically a shorter curb-to-cabin time. LAX handles GA traffic too but it’s secondary to the commercial operation there.
What cabin size do I need for a Van Nuys to Las Vegas trip? For 2–4 passengers on a short VNY–LAS hop, a light jet is usually the efficient choice. Larger groups or anyone wanting more cabin space for a quick turnaround trip should look at midsize or super-midsize — ask the desk for a cabin recommendation based on headcount and bags.
Bitlux Jet Service Inc. acts solely as an air-charter broker (14 CFR Part 295), not a direct air carrier or air operator. All flights are arranged on our clients’ behalf and are operated by FAA-certified Part 135 (or foreign-equivalent) air carriers that maintain full operational control at all times.
