New Jersey just had its best year on record for film production. In 2024, 556 productions filmed in the state, generating $833 million in qualified spend, with crew hires nearly doubling year-over-year. Netflix, Paramount, Lionsgate, and Amazon MGM have all brought major productions to the Garden State.
The infrastructure is arriving. The tax credits are locked in. The only question left is: how does your team get there efficiently, without commercial aviation eating into your schedule and your budget?
This article answers exactly that.
Inside this article:
- Why New Jersey has become a premier East Coast filming destination
- Which airports serve New Jersey’s major production hubs
- Why commercial travel falls short for serious productions
- How private jet charter solves the logistics problem on set
- How to choose the right charter solution for your specific production type and crew size
Getting your team to set is a production decision, not just a travel one. That is where we come in. At ACC Aviation, we specialize in on-demand air charter for film and TV productions, and we know that a delayed flight is a delayed shoot. Our team is ready when yours needs to move.
Why New Jersey Is a Filming Powerhouse
New Jersey’s rise as a premier filming destination is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate policy, sustained investment, and infrastructure development that is now reaching critical mass.
The film industry has responded decisively. In 2024, 556 productions filmed in the state, generating a record $833 million in qualified production spend, with more than 30,000 crew members hired. Those figures arrived before the state’s three major studio developments fully open their doors.
What is drawing production teams here comes down to five core advantages:
- Tax credits of 30% to 45% on qualified expenses, fully transferable and locked in through 2049
- Studio infrastructure with Netflix, Lionsgate, and 1888 Studios/Paramount, all under construction simultaneously
- Location diversity spanning urban environments, waterfront settings, historic towns, and suburban landscapes, all within a compact geography
- Proximity to New York providing immediate access to one of the world’s deepest below-the-line crew pools
- Speed of access to equipment, vendors, and post-production services concentrated across the tri-state area
Amazon MGM filmed I Play Rocky, its Sylvester Stallone biopic, in Keansburg, NJ, drawn purely by the state’s incentive structure. As its producer noted publicly, in a normal world, they would have gone to New York or Pennsylvania. The tax deal brought them here instead.
For TV and film production companies still weighing their East Coast strategy, the window to establish a presence in New Jersey before the studio infrastructure fully opens is closing. The producers moving now are the ones who will have first-mover access to the facilities, crew relationships, and vendor networks being built across the state.
Pro tip: New Jersey’s Film Ready program has certified dozens of municipalities to host productions. Working with Film Ready communities from the outset streamlines permitting and ensures local business support is already organized around your shoot.
The Airports Serving NJ Productions
Getting production teams, talent, and equipment into New Jersey efficiently starts with choosing the right point of entry. The state is served by several airports, and the right one depends on your studio location, crew size, and aircraft type.
Airport Overview for Production Travel
| Airport | Code | Type | Distance to Key Studios | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teterboro Airport | TEB | Private aviation only | 20–35 min to Newark/Bayonne | Private jets, executive travel |
| Newark Liberty International | EWR | Commercial + private | Adjacent to Lionsgate Newark | Large groups, cargo, international |
| Morristown Municipal | MMU | General aviation | 45 min to most studio locations | Light to midsize aircraft |
| Essex County Airport | CDW | General aviation | 30–45 min to northern NJ | Smaller productions, flex access |
Teterboro Airport (TEB) is the primary gateway for private aviation into the New York/New Jersey area. It operates exclusively as a private aviation facility with no commercial airline traffic, five world-class fixed base operators (FBOs), 24/7 operations, customs clearance on-site, and direct highway access to the New Jersey Turnpike and I-80. For production teams flying in on private jets, TEB eliminates the friction of commercial terminals entirely.
Newark Liberty International (EWR) serves larger group movements and international arrivals, with direct access to Newark’s South Ward, home to Lionsgate Newark. It also handles cargo operations, which matters when equipment is traveling alongside personnel.
For productions based in Fort Monmouth or Monmouth County, Red Bank and Allaire Airport provide closer general aviation access, reducing ground transfer time after landing.
We charter flights into all of these entry points and can advise on the optimal airport pairing for your specific studio location and aircraft range requirements.
Where Commercial Travel Falls Short
Commercial air travel is built for volume, not precision. For the film industry, that distinction matters enormously.
A production schedule is not a suggestion. Call times are fixed. Talent availability is finite. Equipment windows are coordinated. When a commercial flight is delayed, cancelled, or overbooked, the downstream cost is not just an inconvenience. It is money. It is lost shoot time. It is a domino effect that touches every department on set.
The specific failures of commercial aviation for production teams include:
- Fixed schedules that do not align with production timelines, particularly for early morning call times or late-night wrap travel
- Security lines and terminal congestion at EWR that add unpredictable time buffers to every journey
- Baggage and equipment restrictions that make transporting sensitive gear, lenses, or production materials genuinely complex
- No privacy for high-profile talent moving through public terminals, exposing them to prying eyes and creating security risks
- No flexibility for last-minute changes to departure timing, routing, or passenger manifests
- Multiple locations across a single shoot week may require entirely different departure airports, which commercial schedules cannot accommodate
The math is straightforward. A single delayed shoot day on a mid-budget production can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Investing in reliable charter flights is not an extravagance. It is a form of production insurance that pays for itself the moment a commercial flight would have gone wrong.
For an honest look at private jet charter vs. first class on cost and value, the comparison is worth reviewing before your next production travel decision.
How Private Jet Charter Solves It
Private jet charter removes the variables that commercial travel cannot control. For production teams operating across multiple studio locations in New Jersey, that reliability translates directly into schedule certainty and budget protection.
What Charter Delivers That Commercial Cannot
- Departure on your schedule. The aircraft waits for your team. Your team does not wait for the aircraft. For talent with a fixed call time in Newark or Bayonne, that distinction is everything.
- Direct access to the right airport. Rather than routing every passenger through EWR regardless of their destination, charter flights can land at Teterboro, Morristown, or Essex County based on where your shoot actually is. Ground transfer times drop dramatically.
- Cabin space configured for your needs. Whether you need room for equipment cases, a working environment for producers and directors in flight, or a confidential briefing space for studio executives, the cabin serves the project rather than a generic passenger profile.
- Privacy from prying eyes. Private terminals, discreet boarding, and exclusive use of the aircraft mean high-profile talent and sensitive production details stay protected throughout the journey.
- Last-minute changes handled immediately. Production schedules shift. Aircraft can too. When a location scout runs long, or a studio meeting extends, we adjust the departure without rebooking fees, call center queues, or missed connections.
- Cargo capability. Helicopters and cargo aircraft extend the range of what can be moved alongside your team. Specialized equipment, props, and production materials travel with the people who need them, on the same flight or a coordinated parallel movement.
Our entertainment sector charter services are structured specifically around these demands. We also operate rapid air support for time-critical requirements when a production situation demands an immediate aviation response.
Pro tip: If your production spans multiple weeks in New Jersey, consider a standing charter arrangement rather than booking flight by flight. It delivers better pricing, guaranteed aircraft availability, and a dedicated team that already knows your schedule.
Choosing the Right Charter for Your Production
Not every production has the same travel profile. The right charter solution depends on crew size, frequency of travel, budget structure, and the specific studio locations your project will use. Here is a practical framework for matching aircraft to production need.
Charter Solutions by Production Type
| Production Type | Recommended Charter | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Key talent / above-the-line | Light to midsize private jet | Speed, privacy, direct airport access |
| Director + producer travel | Midsize to super-midsize jet | Cabin space for working in flight |
| Full crew movement (15–50 pax) | Group air charter/turboprop | Cost-efficient, flexible manifests |
| Large cast + crew (50–150 pax) | Group charter aircraft | Single movement, coordinated logistics |
| Equipment + personnel together | Cargo-configured aircraft | Everything travels on one manifest |
| Studio executives/investors | Heavy jet or ultra-long range | Luxury cabin, full business capability |
For independent productions with tighter budgets, cost-effectiveness analysis on charter versus commercial is worth conducting early in pre-production planning. The savings from avoided delays, reduced hotel nights, and consolidated travel often offset a significant portion of charter costs.
Productions coordinating talent arriving from Europe or other international markets benefit from our global flight management services, which bring every leg of the journey, from overseas departure to New Jersey studio arrival, under a single coordinated operation.
For an overview of private jet rental costs and what drives pricing across different aircraft categories, that resource provides a transparent starting point for budget conversations before you engage with a charter broker.
Whatever the size or stage of your production, contact our team to discuss the right solution for your New Jersey shoot.
Your Next NJ Shoot Flies Smoother with ACC Aviation
New Jersey’s film production boom is real, accelerating, and open for business. The tax credits are structured, the studios are under construction, and the crew infrastructure is deep. Getting your team there reliably is the final piece of the equation.
Here is what matters most:
- Teterboro (TEB) is the premier private aviation gateway for NJ productions
- Commercial travel cannot match the scheduling demands of active film shoots
- Private jet charter eliminates delays, protects privacy, and moves with your production
- Charter solutions scale from single talent flights to full cast and crew group movements
- The right aircraft depends on crew size, studio location, and frequency of travel
When productions invest in getting to set the right way, everything else runs cleaner. We specialize in air charter for the entertainment industry, serving film and TV productions flying into New Jersey and beyond. From a single private jet for key talent to coordinated group charter movements for full crews, our team handles the logistics so yours stays focused on the shoot. Reach out today and let us build a travel plan around your production schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fly privately?
Private jet costs vary by aircraft, distance, and city pair. For entertainment clients, a light jet within the country starts around $5,000 to $15,000 per flight hour.
How to charter a plane for cheap?
Empty leg flights offer the most savings. For example, a person relocating a film studio’s team between events can book discounted one-way legs when aircraft are already repositioning nearby.
How to book a private jet?
Contact an entertainment-specialist charter broker with your departure city, destination, date, and passenger count. Expect a quote within hours. For television production or media travel, same-day bookings can happen with the right organization behind it.
What aircraft is best for film crew travel?
Midsize jets suit most production teams of 6 to 9 passengers. For larger entertainment crews, group charter aircraft deliver the cabin space and equipment capacity expected on active shoots.
Can private jets carry film equipment?
Yes. Charter aircraft can be configured to accommodate production equipment alongside passengers. For television production and media clients traveling between city locations, cargo-capable aircraft handle cameras, lighting rigs, and technical gear efficiently.
