Overview & Setting
Westchester County Airport (KHPN/HPN) sits in the Town of Harrison, about three nautical miles northeast of downtown White Plains and roughly 33 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. It functions as both a primary commercial-service airport with limited scheduled airline flights and one of the busiest corporate-aviation gateways serving Fairfield County, Connecticut, and Westchester's affluent business corridor. American Airlines launched scheduled service here in 1949; today the field blends airline operations with heavy private-jet demand.
Runway Capability
The airport's primary asphalt runway, 16/34, provides 6,549 feet — enough for the light, midsize, and most super-midsize jets that dominate HPN traffic. The crosswind runway, 11/29, offers 4,451 feet. Long-range heavy jets such as the Gulfstream G650 and Bombardier Global 7500 use the field regularly but require runway-analysis calculations for weight and temperature. An ILS Cat I, plus RNAV (GPS) and VOR approaches, keep the airport accessible in low weather.
The Terminal Use Procedures Cap
HPN is notable for a passenger-allocation agreement dating to the 1980s and revised in 1994: scheduled airlines are limited to 240 passengers per half hour across four ramp positions, effectively capping airline growth and preserving the airport's character. This restriction applies to commercial airlines, not private charter — business jets are not subject to the passenger cap and continue to operate freely, which is a key reason HPN remains a premier corporate field rather than a congested airline hub.
Charter Considerations
Demand peaks around Manhattan business travel, summer weekends to Nantucket and the Hamptons, and winter flights to Florida (Palm Beach is a signature route). Because HPN is a high-traffic GA field with multiple competing FBOs, ramp and slot availability for transient jets can tighten on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Booking 7 to 14 days ahead secures better aircraft positioning; last-minute lift is available but priced at a premium during peak windows.
Curfew & Noise
Westchester County attempted a mandatory curfew in 1981 but was permanently enjoined by federal court, and the 1990 Airport Noise and Capacity Act further blocked new restrictions. As a result HPN has no enforceable curfew. Instead it runs a Voluntary Restraint From Flying (VRFF) program from midnight to 6:30 a.m. and monitors noise through an ANOMS system with 22 remote monitors. Operators are strongly encouraged — but not required — to avoid overnight departures.
Customs & International Operations
U.S. Customs and Border Protection services are available at HPN, making it a viable port of entry for international general-aviation arrivals into the New York metro. CBP coordination is handled through the FBOs; The Jet Finder assists with eAPIS filing and clearance logistics. International operators should confirm CBP hours and prior-notice requirements before departure.
Regional Context
HPN is one of four major business-aviation options ringing New York City, alongside Teterboro (KTEB, 21 NM), Republic (KFRG, 24 NM), and the congested Class B airports. For travelers bound for Westchester, lower Connecticut, or northern New Jersey, HPN often beats Teterboro on drive time and avoids the LGA/JFK terminal experience entirely, while its 6,549-foot runway and full customs make it suitable for nearly any mission short of the heaviest ultra-long-range departures at max fuel.