An FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) is the private jet terminal at an airport — a one-stop shop covering everything from fuel to ground transport. The exact catalogue of services varies by operator and airport, but the core list has hardly changed since the 1960s. Here is what every FBO offers, what to expect, and what to ask for when you send a handling request.
Aircraft handling on the ramp
This is the foundation of every FBO. Ground handling covers:
- Marshalling the aircraft to its parking spot.
- Wheel chocks, ground power unit (GPU) and pre-conditioned air for the cabin while shut down.
- Lavatory and water service between flights.
- Tow tractor for pushback or repositioning.
- De-icing with Type I or Type IV fluid in winter operations.
- Towbar fit and crew vehicle access to the ramp.
Major networks (Signature, Atlantic Aviation, Jet Aviation) maintain dedicated ramp teams; smaller FBOs subcontract via a regional handler. The line on your handling request is usually just "ground handling" — the rest is implied unless something unusual is needed (a heavy tow, a tail dolly, GPU for a long ground stop).
Fuel uplift
FBOs sell Jet-A (the standard turbine fuel) and 100LL (avgas, for piston aircraft). What changes is the contract programme behind the price:
- Retail — pump price published by the FBO, the most expensive option.
- Contract fuel — pre-negotiated rate via Avfuel, World Fuel, Air BP, EPIC, Universal or a flight department's own contract. Savings of $0.50–$2.00 per gallon are normal.
- Tankering — buying more fuel at a cheap field (often south-eastern US, Canary Islands, Iceland) than the leg requires, to dilute a more expensive uplift on the next leg.
Always disclose the contract programme on the handling request — the FBO's ramp will tag the order accordingly. Fueling time is typically 5–10 minutes per 100 gallons with a single truck.
Customs and immigration
International flights require on-site CBP (United States), PAF (France), Border Force (United Kingdom), CIQ (most of Asia/Oceania) or equivalent. Not every FBO has them — at multi-FBO airports there is often a designated customs FBO that the others reposition you to.
Pre-arrival paperwork:
- APIS (Advance Passenger Information System) — required for all flights into and out of the US. Filed via Eapis.cbp.dhs.gov or your dispatcher.
- EU PNR / API — required for flights into Schengen.
- UK eAPIS / GAR — both required for the UK.
- GenDec — paper General Declaration form required almost everywhere; some countries also require a printed crew list.
Once the data is filed, customs typically clear an arriving private jet in 5–15 minutes. Without it, expect a multi-hour wait while the FBO chases the missing manifest.
Lounges, meeting rooms and crew facilities
Inside the building, FBOs offer:
- Passenger lounge with espresso bar, light snacks, Wi-Fi, kids' area at the larger sites.
- Conference / meeting room — bookable in 30-minute slots, useful for a deal call between legs.
- Crew rest — quiet recliners or a dedicated bunk room for pilots on long-haul rotations.
- Crew lounge — separate from passenger lounge, with flight-planning station, snooze room, weather brief.
- Showers — at any FBO listing showers, expect a clean private bathroom with towel service.
The luxury end (Universal Aviation Le Bourget, ExecuJet Zurich, Jet Aviation TEB, Clay Lacy VNY) goes further with art gallery walls, private cigar humidors, and on-site sommelier-curated wine cellars — very much the airline first-class lounge experience, just for 4–8 passengers at a time.
Catering coordination
Catering is rarely cooked at the FBO. The FBO coordinates the order with a specialist caterer (Air Culinaire, On Air Dining, DC Aviation Catering) and delivers it planeside before departure. What you order:
- Hot / cold options — typically an entrée, a starter, a dessert, plus crew meals.
- Special requests — kosher, halal, vegan, gluten-free, child meals.
- Bar — wines, spirits, mixers, ice.
- Branded items — corporate gift bags, table linen, named place cards for high-end charters.
Lead time: 24 hours for standard catering, 48–72 hours for elaborate menus or specific allergen requests. The handling request always lists the caterer of choice if the operator has a preferred vendor.
Ground transport
Three patterns:
- FBO arranges — Mercedes V-Class, Tesla Model S, BMW 7-series at most major networks.
- Operator arranges — chauffeur services (Blacklane, Carey, ExecuCar) booked direct, FBO confirms ramp access.
- Self-drive rental — Hertz, Enterprise on-airport.
The FBO listing surfaces the option via the concierge amenity. At smaller fields, ground transport may need to be booked separately.
Hangar parking
Hangar space protects an aircraft from weather, sun damage, and prying lenses. Fees vary by aircraft size and night:
| Aircraft category | Typical hangar/night |
|---|---|
| Light jet (Phenom 300, Citation CJ4) | $200–$600 |
| Mid-size (Challenger 350, Praetor 500) | $400–$1,200 |
| Super-mid / heavy (Falcon 7X, Gulfstream G650) | $1,200–$3,500 |
At Aspen, Van Nuys, Le Bourget and Farnborough during peak weeks, expect 2–3× the published rate (or no availability at all). Always book hangar with as much advance notice as possible.
Concierge: the umbrella service
The concierge at a major FBO is the single point of contact for everything off-aircraft:
- Hotel reservations and check-in coordination.
- Restaurant bookings (including normally fully-booked establishments).
- Spa, golf, ski resort lift tickets.
- Yacht charter, helicopter onward transport.
- VIP airport meet-and-greet for connecting commercial flights.
- Pet handling, including in-cabin and cargo arrangements.
The concierge is included in the handling fee at premium FBOs (the "all-inclusive" tier). At budget-tier FBOs it is à la carte.
Special services worth knowing about
- Aircraft cleaning — interior detail, exterior wash, polish. Booked from the handling request.
- Maintenance coordination — routine A/B checks, AOG response, scheduled inspections.
- Crew transport — separate from passenger transport, often a dedicated van.
- Flight planning — many FBOs have a desk with weather, NOTAMs, route optimisation, and a Universal Weather or Jeppesen JetPlanner station.
- VIP arrivals — black-out arrivals, separate ramp, FBO blackout windows. Public-figure handling at Le Bourget, TEB and Zurich is built around this.
What's NOT typically at an FBO
To set expectations:
- Commercial-style retail shops — duty-free, watches, fashion. (Not at FBOs; passengers don't browse.)
- Customs duty drawback — only at full-customs FBOs.
- Major maintenance facilities — most FBOs have line maintenance only. Heavy maintenance is at MROs (Duncan, Jet Aviation Basel, GAMA Engineering).
- Aircraft sales / leasing — Universal, NetJets and ExecuJet do this in-house, the FBO itself doesn't sell airframes.
Frequently asked questions
Are FBO services included in the charter price? For most charters, yes — the operator pre-pays handling, fuel, and a base level of catering. Hangar, premium catering, ground transport upgrades and crew transport are usually billed extra. The charter operator's contract specifies what's included.
How do I pay an FBO if I'm flying my own aircraft? Most FBOs accept Avfuel/EPIC/MultiService/UVAir cards, plus all major credit cards. Cash is unusual. Open an account with the major networks (Signature, Atlantic, Million Air) for monthly billing.
What's the difference between FBO and ground handler? An FBO owns / operates the private jet terminal building and ramp services. A ground handler is a sub-contractor that may provide marshalling, baggage and tow. Some airports (London Heathrow, Madrid Barajas) have NO FBO at all — only ground handlers — because business aviation traffic is too low to support a dedicated FBO.
Find any of these services at any of 1,887 FBOs worldwide on FBO Finder. Or read the complete guide to finding the right FBO at any airport.