United StatesJFK
MexicoMEX
BrazilGRU
ArgentinaEZE
ChileSCL
ColombiaBOG
PeruLIM
PanamaPTY
Costa RicaSJO
Dominican RepublicPUJ
JamaicaMBJ
BahamasNAS
BarbadosBGI
United KingdomLHR
IrelandDUB
FranceCDG
GermanyFRA
NetherlandsAMS
BelgiumBRU
SwitzerlandZRH
AustriaVIE
ItalyFCO
SpainMAD
PortugalLIS
GreeceATH
TurkeyIST
DenmarkCPH
SwedenARN
NorwayOSL
FinlandHEL
PolandWAW
Czech RepublicPRG
HungaryBUD
IcelandKEF
United Arab EmiratesDXB
QatarDOH
Saudi ArabiaRUH
IsraelTLV
EgyptCAI
MoroccoCMN
South AfricaJNB
KenyaNBO
NigeriaLOS
IndiaDEL
PakistanLHE
Sri LankaCMB
SingaporeSIN
MalaysiaKUL
ThailandBKK
VietnamSGN
PhilippinesMNL
IndonesiaCGK
Hong KongHKG
ChinaPVG
TaiwanTPE
JapanHND
South KoreaICN
AustraliaSYD
New ZealandAKLWhat is an airport FBO and how does a pickup work?
An FBO, or fixed-base operator, is the private terminal at an airport that handles business and charter aircraft: fuel, parking, crew services and passenger lounges. For a pickup, the chauffeur is told the FBO, the tail number and the arrival time, and waits at the FBO entrance or on the ramp as its rules allow.
Most of what people search under "airport FBO" is informational: what the letters mean and what an FBO does. For a passenger, the practical question is smaller. Where do I walk, who meets me and how soon am I in the car?
This hub answers that in four parts: what an FBO does, how the ground side is arranged, what changes airport by airport, and how flight departments and charter brokers can hand us the ground leg.
What an FBO does
At a general aviation airport, the FBO is both a service provider and a landlord of sorts. The Los Angeles World Airports description of Van Nuys, one of the busiest general aviation airports in the world, lists the services FBOs provide: storage and parking for aircraft, aviation fuel, sales, flight instruction, charter and maintenance (lawa.org). For a passenger the visible parts are the lounge, the ramp and the customer-service desk.
Because the FBO is a private building, your car does not use a terminal kerb. It uses the FBO's own forecourt, or, where the FBO and airport security allow it, the ramp itself. The exact arrangement differs by airport and by FBO, which is why we ask for the FBO name and not just the airport.
How the ground side is arranged
A private-aviation pickup needs more detail than a commercial one. The booking asks for:
- The airport and FBO name. Large airports can have several FBOs, and the wrong one is across the field.
- The tail number and aircraft type. Handlers use the tail number to identify the aircraft and its parking position.
- The estimated arrival time. We track the flight as we do every airport pickup.
- The passengers and bags. This selects the vehicle class and checks that the boot is big enough.
- The destination and any intermediate stops. Multi-leg itineraries can sit on one booking.
- A contact for the day. Often a flight coordinator, PA or the charter broker.
Passengers arriving from another country must clear customs first. In Canada, general aviation aircraft must land at an approved airport of entry during the Canada Border Services Agency's hours, and travellers may not leave the aircraft until authorized, according to the CBSA's general aviation page. That page is dated 2015, so pilots and flight departments should confirm current procedures. The car waits until the passengers are released.
Toronto and the GTA
Toronto has two airports for private flying, and they are used differently.
Toronto Pearson. Pearson has several FBOs on the airfield, away from the passenger terminals. Ask the FBO whether border clearance is available for your arrival. Our Toronto Pearson FBO page covers entry points and the roads to downtown, Mississauga and the 407 corridor. For the commercial terminals, see the Pearson airport page.
Billy Bishop (YTZ). The island airport sits on Toronto's waterfront and is used for regional airlines and general aviation. The airport lists two FBOs, Porter FBO and Stolport FBO, and publishes its operating hours: regular operations from 07:00 to 22:00 local, restricted operations from 06:45 to 06:59 and 22:01 to 23:00, and no traffic between 23:01 and 06:44 apart from emergencies and medevacs (billybishopairport.com). The airport also directs private pilots to its FBOs and to airport operations for general aviation questions (billybishopairport.com).
Jet operations at Billy Bishop are restricted by the airport's long-standing agreements, so confirm your aircraft type with airport operations before planning a YTZ arrival. For a passenger who lands at YTZ, the car meets them at the FBO and drives to the hotel or the meeting. Downtown is close, so the drive is short, but rush hour on the Gardiner can add time.
United States: Teterboro and Van Nuys
Teterboro (TEB). Teterboro serves New York and New Jersey with general and business aviation only, no scheduled airlines. It is owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (panynj.gov). It is about 12 miles (19 km) from midtown Manhattan by road, around 30 minutes off-peak and much longer at rush hour, because every route to Manhattan crosses a bridge or tunnel.
Van Nuys (VNY). Van Nuys is a Los Angeles airport devoted to non-commercial flights. LAWA describes it as one of the world's busiest general aviation airports, with over 217,000 takeoffs and landings a year, 730 acres of airfield and four major FBOs (lawa.org). Pickups here follow the same sequence: FBO name, tail number, ETA. Drivers plan for Los Angeles freeway conditions, so allow extra time at the start and end of the working day.
Ways to leave an FBO
Leaving a private terminal is easier than leaving a commercial one, but the options are fewer. This table sets out the usual ones.
| Mode | Door-to-door time | Cost note | Luggage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-booked private car | Direct from the FBO door | Fixed fare via booker | Sized to the party | Anyone with a timetable |
| Charter operator's own ground arrangement | Depends on the operator | Included or billed separately | Varies | Fully managed charters |
| Rental car | Includes paperwork and parking | Rental rate | Large | Self-drivers |
| Taxi or rideshare called on arrival | Waiting time varies | Metered or surge-priced | Boot space | Travellers with no plan |
There is no rail option at an FBO, and public transit is rarely close. If you land privately, a pre-booked car is the usual choice, and a rental car is the main alternative.
For charter brokers and flight departments
The private aviation ground transportation page is written for charter brokers, flight departments and executive assistants. The pattern is simple: send the schedule, the FBO and the passenger list, and receive one confirmation.
- One booking, many legs. Multi-leg itineraries sit on one booking.
- Corporate accounts. Monthly invoicing is available.
- Discretion. No photographs of passengers and no posts about trips; an NDA is signed whenever you ask.
- Vehicles. Executive Sedan, First Class Sedan, Luxury SUV and Executive Sprinter, with Maybach, Rolls-Royce, stretch limousine and armoured vehicles on request and availability confirmed at booking.
- Scope. We are a transport service, not a security company. We do not provide armed drivers or bodyguards, and we work with the client's own security team.
Outside Toronto, a vetted, licensed and commercially insured local partner drives, and the Toronto desk books, confirms, supports and invoices the trip. See the VIP transportation page and the celebrity and talent transport page for passenger-side detail, and the fleet page for vehicle classes.
Related airport and region pages
If you are planning a trip that mixes private and commercial flights, these pages complete the picture.
- Airport transfers hub for commercial terminals.
- Meet and greet hub for name-board arrivals at commercial airports.
- Toronto and USA region hubs.
- Events hub for premieres and conferences that use private flights.
Frequently asked questions
What does FBO stand for?
FBO stands for fixed-base operator. It is the company at an airport that serves business and charter aircraft, providing fuel, parking, handling and passenger facilities. Passengers use its private lounge and exit, so a car meets them there and not at the commercial terminal.
How does a car pick me up at an FBO?
You give the airport, the FBO, the tail number and the arrival time. We track the flight, and the chauffeur waits at the FBO entrance or on the ramp where the FBO allows it. Travellers cleared by customs walk out to the car.
Can you meet the aircraft on the ramp?
It depends on the FBO and the airport's security rules. Some allow cars on the ramp with an escort, and others require the car at the FBO door. Tell us the FBO at booking, and the desk will confirm what is allowed.
How much is a private jet car service?
The booker shows the fixed all-in fare for your FBO, drop-off, vehicle and time before you pay. For brokers and flight departments, the desk quotes multi-leg schedules on one account. We do not publish rate cards.
Can jets land at Toronto Billy Bishop?
The airport's agreements restrict jet operations, and the details change over time. Confirm your aircraft type with airport operations before you plan a YTZ arrival. Larger business jets commonly use Toronto Pearson instead.
How far is Teterboro from Manhattan?
About 12 miles (19 km) from midtown by road. The drive takes about 30 minutes off-peak and longer at rush hour, depending on the bridge or tunnel. See the Teterboro page for the roads and timing.
Do you provide armed drivers or security?
No. Onroutz.ca is a transport service, not a security company. We provide licensed, commercially insured vehicles and chauffeurs, and we coordinate with a client's own security team when they have one.
What happens if the aircraft is delayed?
We track the flight. For airport pickups, the first 60 minutes of waiting after an international landing and 30 minutes after a domestic landing are free, and other pickups include 15 minutes. If a delay is longer, the desk adjusts the plan and confirms any extra waiting time.
