Private Aviation Access: Elite FBO Services at BCT and PBI for Palm Beach County Residents

The Complete 2026 Guide to Private Jet Access, FBO Facilities, Customs and Airport Infrastructure at Boca Raton Airport (BCT) and Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) for UHNW Residents

Why Private Aviation Infrastructure Defines UHNW Residential Value

For ultra-high-net-worth individuals, private aviation is not a luxury: it is an operational requirement. The ability to depart and arrive on personal schedules, avoid commercial airport congestion, and maintain security and privacy is a baseline expectation for buyers at the $5M+ residential level. Palm Beach County’s dual-airport model (BCT for the intimate South County experience and PBI for broader range and connectivity) provides a private aviation ecosystem that few comparable markets can match.

Proximity to these airports is a real factor in the home search. Buyers whose primary homes sit close to BCT remove transit friction that compounds over time. A principal who flies into South Florida often saves hours of ground travel each year by choosing a residence near the airport over, say, a beachfront property that requires a drive along US-1 and A1A to reach it.

Boca Raton Airport (BCT): The South County Option

Boca Raton Airport describes itself as one of the premier general aviation facilities in the Southeast. It sits off I-95, midway between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, on 214 acres between Spanish River Boulevard and Glades Road. Its single runway, 5/23, is 6,276 feet long and 150 feet wide, and an FAA contract tower is open daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Two full-service fixed base operators (FBOs) are located at the airport: Atlantic Aviation and Signature Flight Support.

BCT: Boca Raton Airport Quick Reference

Because BCT is a general aviation airport, arrivals and departures run through the FBOs rather than an airline terminal. The airport says each FBO offers fueling, ground handling, aircraft storage, conference rooms, catering and limousine service. Aircraft management and hangar space are arranged with the operators directly, and availability changes, so ask each FBO before you commit to a community on the strength of a hangar.

BCT FBOs at a Glance

• Atlantic Aviation BCT: full-service FBO listed by the Boca Raton Airport Authority.
• Signature Flight Support BCT: full-service FBO listed by the Boca Raton Airport Authority.

Palm Beach International Airport (PBI): The Broader Operation

Palm Beach International Airport serves both airlines and general aviation. The Palm Beach County Department of Airports now lists it as President Donald J. Trump International Airport (abbreviated DJT on the county’s site); many travellers, pilots and older documents still refer to it as Palm Beach International or PBI. Its largest runway is 10,000 feet long by 150 feet wide, it has a 24-hour FAA air traffic control tower, and it sits within Class C airspace. For larger long-range jets and late arrivals, that runway and round-the-clock tower give more flexibility than BCT.

PBI: Palm Beach International Airport Private Aviation

The county lists three full-service FBOs for general aviation at PBI: Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation and Signature Flight Support, along with a NetJets terminal. General aviation aircraft park on the south, west and northwest sides of the airfield and are restricted from the north parking ramps and aprons unless the Palm Beach County Department of Airports approves in advance.

International Arrivals and Customs at PBI and BCT

At PBI, customs for private aircraft is handled by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at its Federal Inspection Station (FIS), not at an FBO. CBP’s general aviation fact sheet for the airport, dated March 2024, says inspection services for arriving aircraft are available 7 days per week, 0900-1900 Eastern Time. Pilots must secure permission to land by contacting CBP at least 4 hours before departure from the foreign port, and permission is granted with a tolerance of plus or minus 30 minutes. Aircraft park on the ramp at the FIS, which is not attached to the FBO or main terminal; all crew, passengers and accompanying bags go through the FIS, and passengers can depart directly from it once inspection is complete. For the list of FBOs, CBP points pilots to the airport’s own website.

Boca Raton Airport opened its own CBP facility on May 31, 2018, so international flights can fly directly into BCT instead of stopping at another airport to clear customs first. The airport lists clearing hours of Thursday through Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. After-hours clearings must be requested during the facility’s regular business hours, and a minimum after-hours clearing fee of $360 applies. BCT is a user fee airport: arriving pilots pay the fee at a payment kiosk in the airside waiting area before clearing, and the facility sits between Taxiways P7 and P8.

There is no single reference FBO for international arrivals at PBI. Clearance happens at CBP’s facility, and any of the three listed FBOs can handle the aircraft and passengers before and after. Hours and procedures change, so confirm current requirements with CBP and with your FBO before filing.

Aircraft Management, Maintenance and Hangar Solutions

Beyond FBO services, aircraft owners need management, hangar and maintenance arrangements. These are offered by operators at both airports, but the mix of providers and available space changes, so confirm services with each operator directly. Boca Raton Airport’s own site lists two maintenance tenants, Reliable Jet Maintenance and Boca Aircraft Maintenance, alongside its two FBOs, and it has 125 T-Hangars.

Operators Listed by Each Airport

Sources: Boca Raton Airport, About BCT; Boca Raton Airport, Customs and Border Protection Facility; Boca Raton Airport home page; Palm Beach County Department of Airports, General Aviation; Palm Beach County Department of Airports, DJT general aviation; Palm Beach County Airports Administration; CBP, KPBI General Aviation Airport Fact Sheet (March 2024).