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Charter a Private Jet to Washington D.C.

When you arrive on an airline flight into Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the seats on the left side of the aisle provide the best views of the city, especially during early April when the Tidal Basin is abloom with cherry blossoms. But chances are you’ll never see this sight from your business jet, as tight security restrictions make it difficult for most private aircraft to use the airport.

The main advantage of Reagan National that you lose when you arrive at other Washington-area airports is direct access to the city’s subways, which can get you downtown in about 15 minutes. Passengers deplaning at Washington Dulles International, Leesburg Executive, Manassas Regional or Montgomery County airports should anticipate a 30- to 90-minute drive into the city.

The good news is that each of these airports offers the services, if not quite the convenience and scenery, you’d expect when visiting the nation’s capital.

Washington Dulles International I Airport (KIAD)
Located 24 miles west of Capitol Hill, Dulles is a huge international airport that is surprisingly accommodating to general aviation. Signature Flight Support and Landmark Aviation (formerly known as Piedmont Hawthorne) are the two resident fixed-base operators (FBOs) providing a variety of products and ground-support services to flight crews and their passengers. The newly renovated 8,000-square-foot lobby at Landmark’s Dulles facility features two flat-screen televisions, coordinating blue-and-maroon plush chairs and ottomans, wireless Internet access and a fireplace.

Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO)
Wedged between northern Virginia’s burgeoning suburbs and bucolic horse country is Leesburg Executive Airport. The facility opened in 1963 and was originally named Godfrey Field after local pilot and national radio and television celebrity Arthur Godfrey. The bright and welcoming public terminal was renovated in 2004 and features modest but ample sofa seating, free wireless Internet access, a conference room and café tables and chairs situated on a loft overlooking the runway.

Manassas Regional Airport (KMNZ)
Located 12 miles south of Dulles, Manassas Regional Airport is a bustling general aviation facility that has experienced tremendous growth since it first opened in 1964 with a single, 3,400-foot runway. A 5,700-foot parallel runway was later added, and in 1992 the airport erected a control tower. The main terminal building opened in 1996 for scheduled airline service that never materialized. The city of Manassas, which owns and operates the airport, enforces an aircraft weight limit of 150,000 pounds, though the facility’s 5,700-foot runway can accommodate heavier airplanes on an infrequent basis.

Montgomery County Airport (KGAI)
On most weekdays, the ramp at Montgomery County Airport in Gaithersburg, Md., is populated with an eclectic mix of aircraft, ranging from Cessna 150s to Citation Xs. Located 21 miles northwest of Capitol Hill, the facility and its main terminal building were built in the mid-1960s and have not changed substantially since then.

Whatever this airport lacks in curb appeal and corporate panache, it makes up for handily in convenience, especially for those doing business at the nearby National Institute of Standards and Technology, National Institutes of Health or the many biotechnology companies based in Montgomery County-which gives Loudoun a run for its money in terms of per-capita income. The Shady Grove train station is only a five-minute drive away. The Metro can get you to National Institutes of Health in 20 minutes and to downtown Washington in 40 minutes, even during rush hour when the trip could take you much longer by car.

To determine which airport best suits your needs, please contact RYL’s private jet charter department at 877.391.6161.