John Wayne Airport (SNA) is the private jet airport for Newport Beach, Irvine, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach and the rest of coastal Orange County. Alta Jets is headquartered a few minutes away in Newport Beach, and more of our trips start on the SNA ramp than anywhere else in the world. If you are flying private out of Orange County, this is the page that covers how SNA works, which jets fit it, and how we put a trip together from here.
Flying private out of SNA
Private flights at John Wayne never touch the main terminal. You drive straight to a FBO (fixed base operator, the private terminal), park steps from the aircraft, and are usually in the air within minutes of arriving. No TSA lines, no gate changes, and your bags go from your car to the jet. SNA has two FBOs, and we work with both:
- ACI Jet, an Orange County based operation with an on site U.S. Customs facility, which makes international trips to Mexico, Canada and Europe simple on both ends.
- Clay Lacy Aviation, one of the most respected names in business aviation, with a large, modern facility on the airport.
We pick the FBO that fits your routing and handle catering, ground transportation, pets and any special requests before you arrive.
What makes SNA different
John Wayne is one of the most convenient private jet airports in the country, and one of the most regulated. Two things shape almost every trip we plan from here.
Noise rules and the curfew
Orange County enforces strict noise limits at SNA. In practice, private jet departures are limited to 7:00 am to 10:00 pm Monday through Saturday and 8:00 am to 10:00 pm on Sundays, with arrivals allowed until 11:00 pm. Departures off runway 20R also use a steep climb with a power reduction over the Back Bay and Newport Beach. We build every schedule around these windows so you are never stuck with a late night diversion. Our full guide to the John Wayne Airport curfew covers the details.
A shorter runway
The main runway at SNA is about 5,700 feet, which is short by private jet standards. Light jets, midsize and super midsize jets operate here every day without a second thought. Heavy and ultra long range jets fly out of SNA too, but on long nonstop trips their takeoff weight can be limited. When that happens we either plan a quick fuel stop or position the aircraft to Long Beach (LGB) or Ontario (ONT), which have much longer runways. You will know which option makes sense before you book, not on the morning of the trip.
Jets that fit John Wayne best
- Turboprops and very light jets (King Air 350, Pilatus PC-12, Phenom 100) for Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas and short hops up the coast.
- Light jets (Citation CJ3 and CJ4, Phenom 300) for Scottsdale, Cabo, Tahoe and most trips under three hours.
- Midsize and super midsize jets (Citation XLS, Challenger 300 and 350, Citation Latitude and Longitude) for Aspen, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, Texas and nonstop coast to coast with a stand up cabin.
- Heavy and long range jets (Gulfstream G450 and G550, Falcon 900, Global series) for Hawaii, transatlantic and large groups, with the runway planning described above.
Popular trips from SNA
Approximate flight times on a midsize jet:
- John Wayne to Las Vegas: about 1 hour
- John Wayne to Scottsdale: about 1 hour 15 minutes
- John Wayne to Truckee Tahoe: about 1 hour 20 minutes
- John Wayne to Cabo San Lucas: about 2 hours 15 minutes
- John Wayne to Aspen: about 2 hours
- John Wayne to Jackson Hole: about 2 hours 15 minutes
- John Wayne to Teterboro (New York): about 4 hours 45 minutes
Flying one way? Check our empty legs. Jets reposition in and out of SNA constantly, and an empty leg can cut the cost of a one way trip dramatically.
How booking works
We do things a little differently. A $500 deposit unlocks your Detailed Estimate Report, usually within about an hour: full market visibility on your trip, pricing by aircraft size, safety ratings, insurance, cabin dimensions and photos of real in network aircraft. You then have 48 hours to say no for a full refund. Say yes and we send formal quotes. Once you sign off on one, the $500 goes toward the total trip cost. If the formal quotes do not match the report on price or aircraft, the deposit is refunded too. For a sense of pricing, see our guide to private jet charter cost in Orange County.
Every aircraft we book is flown by a certified Part 135 operator that we vet ourselves, and the owner of Alta Jets is personally involved in every trip.
Other airports near John Wayne
- Long Beach (LGB): about 25 minutes north, longer runway, a good option for heavy jets and late departures.
- Fullerton (FUL): a small airport for turboprops and light jets in north Orange County.
- Ontario (ONT): a long runway and no curfew, useful for very long range trips.
- Van Nuys (VNY) and the rest of Los Angeles: see private jet charter Los Angeles.
More on flying from home: private jet charter Orange County and private jet charter Newport Beach.
Frequently asked questions
Can private jets fly out of John Wayne Airport at night?
Departures are effectively limited to 7:00 am to 10:00 pm (8:00 am on Sundays) and arrivals to 11:00 pm, because of Orange County noise limits. For a later departure we plan the trip out of Long Beach or Ontario.
Which FBOs are at SNA?
ACI Jet and Clay Lacy Aviation. Both are excellent, and ACI Jet has an on site U.S. Customs facility for international trips.
Can a Gulfstream fly out of John Wayne?
Yes. Large jets operate at SNA regularly. On long nonstop trips the 5,700 foot runway can limit takeoff weight, so we plan a fuel stop or position the jet to Long Beach or Ontario when needed.
How far ahead should I book a jet from SNA?
Holidays and big weekends in Cabo, Aspen and Las Vegas book up early, so earlier is better. We regularly arrange trips on short notice as well.
Ready to fly from John Wayne? Search your trip or contact us for VIP guests, multi leg trips, or if you want to go over the details by phone at (949) 709 9273.