Private jet charter from New Orleans

New Orleans private jets: two airports, one city of festivals

New Orleans private jets fly in and out of a city unlike any other in the United States: a port, an energy and shipping centre, a medical and university hub, and one of the country's great destinations for music, food and festivals. Carnival season, the spring music festivals, big college and professional football games and a steady stream of conventions all bring people who want to arrive on their own schedule. And for those who live and work here, Houston, Atlanta and Dallas are all less than two hours away by private aircraft.

This page explains how private flying from New Orleans works: the two airports in our data and when to choose each, what our pricing model estimates for common trips, how festival weekends and hurricane season affect planning, and how we arrange the flight. There is no curated New Orleans corridor on our list yet, so the trips below are example estimates rather than route pages.

We are a charter broker. We do not own or operate aircraft; we compare what licensed operators have available, explain the options and stay with the trip until you land. The JetPriceCheck homepage explains how we work.

New Orleans Lakefront Airport: the city's business aviation airport

New Orleans Lakefront Airport sits on the southern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, north-east of the French Quarter and the Central Business District. It is a general aviation airport used by charter, private and business aircraft, with no scheduled airline service, which makes it the natural choice for many private flights.

It is also one of the most striking airports in the country. According to the airport's own history, its Art Deco terminal was dedicated in 1934, and Lakefront was New Orleans' airline airport until airline service moved to what is now Louis Armstrong International in the 1940s. Hurricane Katrina flooded the terminal in 2005; a long restoration uncovered the original Art Deco facade, which had been hidden for decades behind a later concrete shell.

For travellers staying in the French Quarter, the Garden District, the Central Business District or the lakefront neighbourhoods, Lakefront is often the quicker airport to reach. The approach over the lake, with the city skyline behind, is also a memorable way to arrive.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is in Kenner, west of the city, and is the region's airline airport. Private aircraft use it too. It can make more sense than Lakefront if you are staying on the west side of the metro, connecting with an international airline flight, or flying a larger aircraft that needs its facilities.

The choice between the two usually comes down to where you are starting, the aircraft and the time of day. On festival weekends, traffic across the city and on I-10 can decide it. Our guide to what an FBO is explains the private terminals at airports like these, and our airports directory lists the airports we cover.

Trips from New Orleans: estimates from our model

These sample trips come from our pricing model, which uses published market rates. They are estimates, not quotes, and these trips do not have their own pages:

Trip from New Orleans	Distance	Est. flight time	Est. one-way (smallest nonstop category)
Houston	274 nm	1 h 30 min	$5,000–$8,500
Atlanta	371 nm	1 h 50 min	$6,000–$10,500
Dallas	388 nm	1 h 55 min	$6,000–$10,500
Miami	573 nm	2 h 35 min	$8,000–$14,500
Chicago	714 nm	3 h 5 min	$10,000–$17,500
Washington, D.C.	819 nm	3 h 30 min	$11,000–$19,500

The Gulf South triangle

Houston, Atlanta and Dallas are all under two hours in a turboprop in our model. These are the trips where a private flight most clearly beats the alternatives: the drive to Houston along I-10 takes most of a day, and airline trips still need time at both ends. A same-day return, with the aircraft waiting, is simple to arrange.

Miami, Chicago and Washington

The longer trips run from about two and a half to three and a half hours. Our model uses a turboprop as the smallest nonstop category, but many travellers choose a light or midsize jet for these distances, trading a higher hourly rate for a faster, quieter flight and more room for bags. It is worth comparing the two before you book.

Mardi Gras, festivals and big-game weekends

New Orleans' calendar is the main thing that changes how private flying works here.

• Carnival and Mardi Gras. The weeks before Lent bring huge crowds, parades and road closures. Getting across the city to the airport can take much longer than usual, and aircraft parking may be limited. Plan the ground journey as carefully as the flight.
• Spring music festivals. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and other spring events draw visitors from across the country for consecutive weekends.
• Football. The Sugar Bowl, professional games and, in some years, the Super Bowl bring very heavy private traffic, with many aircraft arriving over a short period.
• Conventions. Large conventions run throughout the year and add business traffic.

On these dates, book early, expect higher prices and less choice, and stay flexible on times. Arriving a day before the crowd and leaving a day after it often avoids the worst of the congestion. For groups, see our group charter page; for artists and production teams, entertainment charter; and for trips that need extra privacy, VIP charter.

Hurricane season and summer weather

New Orleans sits close to the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center. When a storm threatens, airports can close, operators move aircraft away from the coast and demand for departing flights can rise sharply at the same time. Outside storm events, summer brings heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms that can cause short delays.

If you are travelling in late summer or early autumn, keep your plans flexible and make sure we can reach you. If a storm is forecast, the operator makes the final safety decision, and we work with you on alternative times or airports.

Who flies private from New Orleans

• Energy, shipping and industry. The port, the petrochemical corridor along the Mississippi and offshore energy work generate trips to Houston and across the Gulf South. See corporate jet charter.
• Sports teams and fans. Professional and college teams travel on tight schedules with large groups; see sports team charter.
• Medical travel. For non-emergency travel to or from specialist hospitals, see medical private jet charter. Flights are arranged with licensed air-ambulance operators, and it is not an emergency service.
• Weddings, celebrations and leisure. New Orleans is a popular city for weddings, milestone birthdays and bachelor and bachelorette weekends, often with groups travelling together. Families travelling with pets can see pet-friendly private jets.

Choosing the right aircraft

• Turboprops are efficient on trips of up to about two hours, such as Houston, Atlanta and Dallas, and they are the category behind our estimates.
• Light jets suit business trips of up to about three hours, with five to seven seats and limited luggage space.
• Midsize and super midsize jets have stand-up cabins and bigger baggage holds, useful for Chicago or Washington and for festival groups with plenty of bags.
• Larger jets suit big groups and long flights.

Our aircraft guide compares categories side by side, and the guide to private jet sizes explains seats, cabin height and luggage in practical terms.

What decides the price of a private jet from New Orleans

The estimates above show the lowest-cost category for each trip. The price an operator offers depends on:

1. Positioning. If the aircraft has to fly to New Orleans to collect you, or return home empty afterwards, those hours are usually included.
2. Event demand. Carnival, festival and big-game weekends raise demand and prices, and aircraft may drop passengers and leave rather than wait.
3. One-way or return. A same-day return often gives better value than a one-way trip with an empty flight home.
4. Aircraft category. A larger jet costs more per hour than it saves in time on a short trip.
5. Fees. Landing, handling, parking and crew overnight costs vary between Lakefront and MSY and by date.

Our private jet cost guide explains these factors in detail, and the methodology page shows how our estimates are built. For lower-cost options, see cheap private jet flights, semi-private flights and our empty legs page. Empty legs are repositioning flights that operators sometimes sell at a lower price; after a big event, many aircraft leave New Orleans at the same time, but the dates and times are fixed and the flight can be withdrawn if it is sold as a full charter.

Short-notice flights

Outside peak weekends, short-notice charter from New Orleans is often possible. When a big event ends, or a storm approaches, aircraft get scarce quickly. The last-minute private jet page explains what is realistic.

Safety and documents

Charter flights in the United States are flown by operators certificated under 14 CFR Part 135, the federal rules for on-demand air carriers. We work with licensed operators, and the operating carrier is named on your confirmation. Adults need valid photo ID for domestic flights and a passport for international trips. Our guide to private jet security and passports explains what to bring.

How we arrange your flight

1. Tell us the trip. Where you are staying, destination, dates, passengers, bags, pets and any fixed times.
2. We choose the airport. Lakefront or MSY, depending on your address, the aircraft and the event calendar.
3. We compare operators. We ask licensed operators with suitable aircraft and present two or three options with the trade-offs.
4. You confirm and fly. The named operator flies the trip, and we stay in touch until you land.

To have the drive to the airport arranged too, see private jet with chauffeur. For routes from other cities, use the private jet charter directory.

Checklist before you book

• Check the event calendar for your dates; parade routes and road closures can add a lot of time to the drive.
• For Carnival, festival and big-game weekends, book as early as you can.
• Between June and November, watch the Gulf forecast and stay flexible.
• Tell us where you are staying, so we can compare Lakefront and MSY on real drive time.
• Count bags, instruments and equipment; they can decide the aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport do private jets use in New Orleans?

Many private flights use New Orleans Lakefront Airport, a general aviation airport on Lake Pontchartrain close to the city centre. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International in Kenner also handles private aircraft and suits some trips.

How long is a private flight from New Orleans to Houston?

Our model estimates about 1 hour 30 minutes in a turboprop for the 274-nautical-mile trip, with an estimated one-way range of $5,000 to $8,500. These are estimates, not quotes.

How much is a 2 hour private jet flight from New Orleans?

In our pricing model, trips of just under two hours from New Orleans, such as Atlanta or Dallas, are estimated at roughly $6,000 to $10,500 one way in a turboprop. Larger jets cost more.

Is it hard to find a private jet for Mardi Gras?

Demand is high around Carnival, and aircraft and parking space can be limited. Book early and allow extra time for the drive to the airport.

Can hurricanes affect private flights from New Orleans?

Yes. During hurricane season, storms can close airports and move aircraft away from the coast. We monitor the forecast with the operator and change the plan if needed.

Do you go through TSA on a private jet from New Orleans?

Charter passengers using a private terminal, such as the one at Lakefront, normally do not go through the airline security checkpoint. The operator checks each passenger's identification and the passenger list before departure, and some larger charter aircraft follow specific security programs.