Memorial Day weekend has never been a great time to fly, but this year is shaping up to potentially be brutal.
A partial government shutdown that ended at the end of April has left the Transportation Security Administration deeply understaffed heading into peak travel season. More than 1,000 workers resigned during October and November’s shutdown, and over 500 left the agency during the recent 75-day partial shutdown.
The damage from these resignations won’t go away overnight. Replacing lost workers can take four to six months of training, yet peak summer travel starts with Memorial Day in just under a month. Airports are scrambling to plan, but you can too.
Paramount Business Jets has pulled together data from the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Forbes, and more to identify key general aviation reliever airports. That is, facilities built specifically to absorb private and business traffic away from congested commercial hubs.
Most major metros have at least one reliever airport within 20 to 40 miles, meaning no long TSA lines, no gate holds, and a simple walk from the car to the plane. Here is a list of the best alternatives near the airports where Memorial Day travel is expected to be the worst.
1. Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Teterboro Airport (TEB) | New York Metro Area / New Jersey
At Newark International Liberty, flights were delayed about 25% of the time in 2026, with average delays stretching past an hour. This is among the worst of all U.S. airports.
The quick fix is just 12 miles away at Teterboro Airport. Owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, this airport has been the private jet gateway to Manhattan since 1919. It has five fixed-base operators, or private terminals, including Signature Flight Support, Jet Aviation, and Atlantic Aviation, which offer planeside pickup and 24/7 operations. The drive to Midtown runs just 25 to 40 minutes, depending on tunnel traffic.
2. New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Westchester County Airport (HPN) | New York Metro Area / Hudson Valley
LaGuardia’s on-time performance was an abysmal 71% in 2025, with delayed departures averaging nearly 1.5 hours. Westchester County Airport, about 32 miles north of White Plains, serves the same metro area with a quieter, more boutique experience. Private options, including Million Air and Atlantic Aviation, offer a much calmer alternative to the New Jersey corridor, and the airport can be a natural choice for those headed to Westchester, Connecticut, or the Upper East Side.
3. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) to Addison Airport (ADS) | Dallas Metroplex
With on-time departures at only 69% so far in 2026, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Dallas-Fort Worth International is easily among the most delayed airports. Addison Airport, about 15 miles north of Dallas, is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country and serves the north Dallas corridor directly. Galaxy FBO handles private jet traffic on the field, and the airport puts travelers within spitting distance of the Tollway corridor without needing to touch DFW’s busy terminal complex.
4. Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) to Dallas Love Field (DAL) | Dallas Metro
For those seeking a quick commercial flight while avoiding the hustle and bustle of DFW, Dallas Love Field is an excellent alternative. Just about 7.5 miles northwest of Dallas, it’s an intriguing option because of the number of flights, both inbound and outbound. With nowhere near the chaos of Dallas-Fort Worth and its proximity to the city, Love Field is a great option if you need a commercial hub to fly in and out of.
5. Los Angeles International (LAX) to Van Nuys Airport (VNY) | Los Angeles / San Fernando Valley
LAX handled nearly 37 million departing passengers in 2025, and ground congestion is known to rival the airspace above. Van Nuys, just 20 miles northwest in the San Fernando Valley, is consistently ranked among the busiest general aviation airports in the U.S., but it doesn’t hold a candle to Los Angeles International.
The Los Angeles World Airports authority operates VNY, and Clay Lacy Aviation and Castle & Cook Aviation provide full private terminal service. For those headed into the Valley, Burbank, or the West Side, the improved drive time advantage over LAX alone is worth the rerouting.
6. Denver International (DEN) to Centennial Airport (APA) | Denver South Metro
Denver sits at a crossroads of mountains and plains weather systems, making it one of the more unpredictable major hubs in the country. Centennial Airport, about 18 miles south of downtown in Arapahoe County, is a Federal Aviation Administration-designated reliever airport serving the entire south market of the Denver metro.
JetCenter of Denver and Modern Aviation are two on-field operators with full private terminal perks. Additionally, the airport puts travelers within easy reach of the Tech Center corridor and the southern suburbs without the distance and congestion of Denver International.
7. Miami International (MIA) to Miami–Opa Locka Executive Airport (OPF) | Miami / North Dade
Florida had a strong showing on the list of top airports for delays, and Miami was No. 7. Opa Locka Executive, 12 miles north of Miami International in Miami-Dade County, is a full-service general aviation airport with Banyan Air Service operations as the major on-field operator. With solid highway access to Miami Beach, Brickell, and the Wynwood corridor via I-95, you can skip the commercial terminal entirely.
Avoiding air traffic this summer
Ahead of summer, officials have started warning travelers to be aware of unpredictable wait times that can fluctuate sharply as airports continue struggling with TSA shortages. Add the standard Memorial Day volume spike on top of it, and the hub experience that weekend could turn from merely stressful to genuinely catastrophic.
Typical general aviation airports won’t solve every traveler's problems. With the flexibility to use them, the alternatives on this list represent a proven and well-established relief plan the FAA built into the national air system for moments exactly like the crush expected over Memorial Day.
