The 10 Best Private Airport Terminals Around the World
In the roaring 1920s, barnstorming and flying circuses featuring wing walkers and aerial acrobatics soared in popularity. Pop-up airstrips were created in rural communities throughout the United States to support biplanes, like the Curtiss JN-4, used in these traveling air shows.
Toward the end of the decade, though, the novelty faded but the FBOs (fixed-based operations) that they created have lived on. In the last five years, many have morphed from clean but utilitarian stopping points where pilots could grab a cup of coffee between flights, or aircraft owners could do a quick Zoom call before heading on a business trip.
Signature Aviation, acquired several years ago by Cascade Investment (Bill Gates’ investment arm), the Blackstone Group and Global Infrastructure Partners, has invested many millions into infrastructure, with 80 ongoing projects across its global network. Many FBOs have maintenance and service facilities attached. Other privately held businesses, such as Clay Lacy Aviation, Flexjet, and Atlantic Aviation, have invested in large, modern campuses.
On the commercial side, a growing number of private terminals, away from the airports, now serve business- and first-class passengers. The PS collection started in Los Angeles, but has expanded to Atlanta, Dallas/Fort-Worth, and Miami. In Latin America, BTG Pactual Terminal at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport becomes that region’s first such offering for commercial airline passengers.
These new private terminals are starting to resemble five-star hotels in terms of accommodations and service. Think full spa, private suites, caviar and Champagne in a boutique lounge, all-day fine dining, and a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce dropping you off to board your departing flight.
Here are 10 of our favorite ultra-luxurious private FBOs around the world.
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Awal Private Terminal, Bahrain
Image Credit: Awal Private Terminal Originally built in the 1960s, Bahrain’s Awal Private Terminal underwent a full renovation several years ago that modernized the palatial interior. Operated by Hala Bahrain, its eight opulent private lounges are individually curated to suit a range of tastes and social functions—from sleek contemporary to classic, executive-inspired designs.
Its palace-sized common lounge delivers plenty of light through a full-length glass atrium. Tall ceilings with stepped soffits and large circular, staggered halo lighting resemble a grand lobby at a five-star hotel. Livingroom zones with opulent furniture provide travelers with space to socialize or work. The private terminal has a dedicated prayer room. There is an immigration and police screening area and car service between the terminal and departing/arriving flights. Support services are available for aircraft crew and passengers, as well as business travelers. Oh, there’s also a duty-free shopping experience.
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Million Air FBO, White Plains, N.Y.
Image Credit: Million Air Million Air’s White Plains FBO at Westchester County Airport is just 35 miles from Wall Street, offering a centralized stop or stay-over for business or private jet travelers in New York region. Founded in 1984 by Mary Kay Cosmetics, this FBO is one of Million Air’s 36 locations worldwide, all vying to create a unique experience built on luxury appointments and service.
This award-winning, $70 million redevelopment project began in 2016 with a unique two-story terminal featuring an open-air hospitality lounge and a stone fireplace, which looks more like a modern ski lodge than a full-service FBO. Inside the terminal, amenities include a hospitality bar, a business center, theater rooms, conference rooms, a flight-planning center, a pilot lounge, Mercedes E-Class crew cars, and a golf simulator.
Arriving flights pull into an indoor, climate-controlled valet area, which is capable of handling large, long-range business jets, such as a Gulfstream 650. Luxury abounds. Even the 50,400-square-foot hangar was built with heated floors to minimize weather-related flight delays. The FBO also has an on-site U.S. Customs clearance service.
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Jetex VIP Terminal, Dubai
Image Credit: Jetex Private cigar lounges, Rolex timepieces, and contemporary and elegant lounges with the world’s first airside transfer in a Rolls-Royce are just some of the highlights for the award-winning Jetex VIP Terminal in Dubai.
Aiming for five-star luxury, this terminal could be the flashiest FBO in the world, featuring fully equipped business centers, boardrooms, and unique, ergonomic sleeping pods, as well as private-shower suites and a curated library stocked with magazines and books.
The executive lounge spans approximately 16,000 square feet, offering refined spaces designed by Zaha Hadid for guests to relax in style. The Jetex team handles onsite customs, immigration, and all other logistics of travel.
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Farnborough Airport, London
Image Credit: Farnborough Airport Farnborough Airport, the birthplace of British aviation, remains the U.K.’s only business aviation-focused airport, blending history with upscale features for discerning travelers.
This modern, elegant, and purpose-driven FBO offers business travelers a myriad of bespoke services, including stylish and spacious lounges with refreshments, meeting spaces, soundproof snooze rooms with massage chairs, a modern gym, and a nearby partner hotel called Aviator.
The list of celebrities and executives who have flown in and out of Farnborugh includes Tom Cruise and Ana de Armas, Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The FBO offers a dedicated Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), which simplifies travel with pets in and out of the airport without the need for quarantine. Chauffeurs offer direct transport from the aircraft to the terminal.
Early next year, Flexjet will also complete its own private terminal that includes a reception area for clients and the Red Label Academy for training its staff.
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Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre, Hong Kong
Image Credit: Make Architects In September, the award-winning Hong Kong Business Aviation Centre completed the first phase of a major renovation estimated at over $64 million. Designed for privacy and efficiency, the FBO features Asia’s first 86-foot (column-free) Sky Canopy, extending from the terminal to the apron so travelers have a sheltered, weather-protected pathway from the terminal to the aircraft. Reimagined VVIP suites and an airy, upscale VIP lounge are now part of the facility. The renovation includes children’s play areas, private meeting rooms, and event spaces for external brand collaborations.
With upgraded one-stop customs and new immigration and quarantine facilities, the terminal’s improvements will double Hong Kong’s handling capacity. A new efficient boarding and disembarking service allows total privacy during the three minutes it takes for departing or disembarking. The FBO is considered one of the most advanced in Asia.
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Jet Aviation, Dubai
Image Credit: Jet Aviation This year’s refurbishment of Jet Aviation’s FBO at Executive Terminal in Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South brings a fresh look to an airport that could end up being one of the largest and busiest in the world.
The contemporary furniture and spa-like amenities were designed to meet the aesthetic and functional needs of business travelers. Executive lounges, conference rooms, a prayer room, crew lounges, flight-planning facilities, and duty-free shopping are among the amenities at this FBO. Services also include private immigration and customs support.
Jet Aviation also operates an FBO at Dubai International Airport, which was refurbished in 2025, and includes base and line maintenance for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
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ExecuJet, Cape Town, South Africa
Image Credit: ExecuJets Cape Town’s ExecuJet FBO is one of the most stylish on the continent. Its distinctive safari-chic design, panoramic views of Table Mountain, and VIP lounges were created for comfort and privacy. Conference rooms, boardrooms, gourmet catering, and shower facilities are part of the modern building. Its concierge service can source select wines, arrange a private shopping experience, or even sundowners on a private yacht. The FBO terminal also supports customs and immigration assistance for VVIP, diplomatic, or corporate flights.
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PS Los Angeles
Image Credit: PS Los Angeles In 2017, PS (Private Suite) first opened its FBO terminal at Los Angeles International Airport to deliver “the world’s most exclusive airport experience.” It has since expanded to Atlanta, with private terminals anticipated next year in Miami, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Paris.
The PS terminal in L.A. is discreet, secure, and lavish. The terminal is situated at the southern edge of the airfield, far from the congestion of its main commercial airline terminals. Two curated experiences are available, including 12 spacious suites that offer relaxation or workspace, complete with showers and complimentary toiletries. The lounge, called the Salon, includes luxe seating, a bar, and private all-day dining options. Spa and barber services are also available.
A team of PS agents handles the logistics as well, from baggage handling to private TSA screenings and on-site customs and immigration services. When your flight is ready to board, a chauffeur escorts you across the tarmac in a BMW.
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PS Miami
Image Credit: PS Miami PS is bringing its L.A. approach east. In Miami, the private terminal will combine historic 1960s Pan American Airways architecture with luxury suites, private lounges, and a wellness-focused design, positioning it as one of the country’s most stylish FBOs.
The redesign of this midcentury-modern landmark, once dubbed the “Taj Mahal of Miami,” will retain much of its historic charm, including gold paneling, iconic reflecting pools, Pan Am logos, and the facade’s unique interior and exterior architectural details.
The redesigned space will offer members a fully private lounge with a bathroom, daybed, entertainment center, stocked pantry, and private balcony overlooking a courtyard. The Salon features a full bar and gourmet meals. Chauffeured transport is available before and after a flight. PS Miami is slated to open in 2026.
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BTG Pactual Terminal, São Paulo, Brazil
Image Credit: BTG Pactual Terminal BTG Pactual Terminal in São Paulo also recently introduced the private air terminal for commercial passengers to South America. With São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport reporting more than 40 million passengers per year, BGT Pactual offers an oasis from the busy terminals. The company expects to cater to wealthy local air travelers but also business executives and tourists from outside Brazil. Besides the tall glass window overlooking the runways, the facility features lounges, suites, meeting rooms, and a special Dom Perignon suite, along with a menu prepared by chef Ivan Ralston. Like the PS Suites, the service includes direct-to-aircraft transfer in a Volvo electric vehicle, or helicopter transfers to São Paulo’s center to avoid the city’s infamous gridlock traffic.
