Private jet terminals (FBOs) explained

Key facts
Landing fee	USD 150–500 depending on aircraft size (JetFinder, 2026)
Ramp and handling	USD 100–500 per visit (JetFinder, 2026)
UK General Aviation Report	Required for international GA flights under the 2024 Regulations; changes only 2+ hours before departure (Home Office sGAR, 2026)
US arrivals	APIS manifest required for all GA arrivals and departures; CBP permission to land needed before departing the foreign airport (CBP, 2026)
NATA members	About 3,700 aviation service companies represented (NATA, 2026)

Private flights do not use the main airport terminal. They use a fixed base operator, known as an FBO, which is a business on the airfield that handles aircraft, sells fuel and provides a small building for passengers. Understanding what an FBO is and what it charges takes most of the mystery out of the last hour before a charter flight.

What is an FBO?

An FBO is a ground service provider at an airport that handles the logistics of aircraft arrivals and departures, from fuel and parking to catering and cars (NBAA, 2018).

The National Business Aviation Association lists the services a typical FBO arranges for an operator: fuel orders, catering, rental cars, hotel bookings, courtesy vehicles and hangar space (NBAA, 2018). In the United States the trade body for these businesses is the National Air Transportation Association, which represents about 3,700 member companies providing aeronautical services including fuel, ground support, passenger services, aircraft storage and charter (NATA, 2026). Not every FBO is large. Some are a single building with a fuel truck; some at major airports are terminals in their own right with lounges, meeting rooms and customs on site.

The word "terminal" oversells most of them. An FBO is closer to a well-run waiting room with a ramp outside the door. That is the point: you are in it for minutes, not hours.

What happens when you arrive?

You are met at the FBO, your identity and any border paperwork are checked, your bags go straight to the aircraft, and you walk or are driven to the aircraft steps.

The sequence varies by airport and country, but the core is the same. There is no check-in desk in the airline sense. The operator has filed the passenger list in advance. On a domestic flight the FBO staff confirm who you are against that list. On an international flight a border officer may check passports at the FBO, or you may be asked to present them at the aircraft. Security screening exists but is proportionate to the flight; expect it to be quick. The crew will normally ask you to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before departure, and that figure comes from operators rather than a regulator, so check the time on your confirmation.

The drawbacks are worth knowing. FBO catering is ordered ahead, not chosen on the spot. Lounges at small airfields are basic. At some large airports the FBO is on the far side of the field from the airline terminal, and taxi times can be long. And an FBO is a business serving the operator, so a problem with your flight is solved by calling the operator or your broker, not the FBO desk.

What does an FBO charge, and who pays?

FBOs charge for landing, ramp parking, handling, hangarage and fuel, and on a charter flight those charges reach you through the operator's quote rather than as a bill at the desk.

NBAA names the standard charges an operator tracks at each FBO: fuel pricing, ground handling fees, landing fees, ramp fees and hangar fees (NBAA, 2018). JetFinder's 2026 cost estimator puts landing fees at USD 150 to 500 depending on aircraft size and ramp and handling at USD 100 to 500 per visit (JetFinder, 2026). Some quotes bundle these into the total; a well-written quote lists them as separate lines.

Charge	What it covers	Published range
Landing fee	Use of the runway, set by the airport by aircraft weight	USD 150–500 (JetFinder, 2026)
Ramp and handling	Marshalling, ground power, baggage, passenger facilities	USD 100–500 per visit (JetFinder, 2026)
Parking or hangar	Overnight or multi-day storage of the aircraft	Varies by airport; not quantified in the sources fetched
Fuel	Uplift at the FBO's posted price, paid by the operator	Varies daily; ask whether the quote's fuel surcharge covers it
Catering and cars	Ordered through the FBO or operator at cost plus service charge	Priced per order

Model estimate, not a quote. Airport charges are set by each airport and FBO. The figures above are as published by the named guide and are not offers.

What paperwork must be filed before an international flight?

In the UK the operator must submit a General Aviation Report listing everyone on board, and in the US the operator must file an APIS manifest and obtain permission to land from the arrival port, all before the aircraft departs.

United Kingdom. International general aviation flights to and from the UK fall under the General Aviation (Persons on Board, Flight Information and Civil Penalties) Regulations 2024. Pilots, operators and agents submit the General Aviation Report through the Home Office sGAR service, which checks that every person on board holds a valid passport or travel document and any required permission to travel. Changes to a submitted GAR can only be made at least two hours before the expected time of departure; a later change means delaying the flight (Home Office, 2026). For you as a passenger, this is why the broker asks for full passport details when you book and why a last-minute addition to the passenger list can push the departure back.

United States. US Customs and Border Protection requires Advance Passenger Information System manifest information for all general aviation arrivals and departures, transmitted within specified timelines. Aircraft may only land at airports where CBP inspection services are available, the pilot must secure CBP permission to land through direct communication with the port of arrival before leaving the foreign airport, and private aircraft pay the user fee through an annual CBP decal (CBP, 2026). In practice the FBO at an international airport of entry hosts the CBP officers who meet the aircraft.

Pets. Pets entering Great Britain must arrive at an approved airport with an approved carrier, and the government's list of approved air carriers and routes, updated 11 September 2026, includes a separate category for charter airlines and their approved airports (Defra, 2026). Not every FBO can accept a pet arrival.

How does an FBO differ from an airline terminal?

An FBO trades the scale and services of an airline terminal for speed, privacy and proximity to the aircraft.

Time. Minutes from car to cabin rather than the airline's check-in cut-off plus security plus boarding.
Privacy. A lounge shared with a handful of other passengers, if any.
Cars. Many FBOs allow a car to drive to the ramp or the aircraft, subject to airport security rules.
Shops and restaurants. None. Coffee, snacks and newspapers are normal; a meal is ordered in advance.
Staffing. A front desk and line crew, not a full passenger-services team.

Which FBO will you use?

The operator chooses the FBO, based on its handling agreements, fuel pricing and the aircraft's parking needs, and the choice is confirmed on your itinerary.

At an airport with several FBOs the choice is the operator's, not the passenger's, because the operator holds the account and negotiates the fees. Empty Leg Exclusive is a charter broker that arranges flights with licensed operators; the itinerary the broker sends you names the FBO, its address and the time to arrive. Give that address to your driver, not the airport's main terminal, because at large airports the two can be several miles apart by road.

If you have a preference, for instance an FBO with customs on site or one closer to the motorway, say so at the quote stage. The operator may be able to accommodate it, or may explain why the fees at your preferred FBO would raise the price.

Frequently asked questions

Do I go through security at an FBO?

Yes, but it is proportionate to a private flight and usually takes minutes. On international flights your passport details are filed in advance through the UK General Aviation Report or the US APIS manifest, and a border officer may meet you at the FBO or the aircraft.

Are FBO fees included in my charter price?

On a properly itemised quote, landing, ramp and handling fees appear as separate lines or are bundled into the total. JetFinder (2026) gives USD 150–500 for landing and USD 100–500 per visit for handling. The operator pays the FBO and passes the cost on. Ask the broker to show the lines before you commit.

How early should I arrive at an FBO?

Operators typically ask for 15 to 30 minutes before departure on domestic flights and longer on international ones. That guidance comes from operators, not a regulator, so follow the time on your confirmation. Arriving late can miss the crew’s planned departure slot.

Can my car drive to the aircraft?

At many FBOs, yes, subject to the airport’s security rules and the operator’s agreement. It is not universal. Large hub airports and some countries restrict vehicles on the ramp. Ask when booking rather than assuming.