President Trump's planned attendance at the World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, this weekend has triggered temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) across significant portions of the New York metropolitan area, causing frustration among private jet and helicopter users.
The TFRs are scheduled to be in effect on Friday and Sunday between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. each day, according to a memo reviewed by The Post. This will ground private aviation, including helicopters and jets attempting to reach Teterboro Airport or other regional airfields, during critical hours around the Spain versus Argentina match.
For those planning to attend the game via private aircraft, the restrictions mean a loss of convenience and a deviation from the expected luxury of private air travel. "Flying in to Teteboro for the game when you have to land at noon and wait in a lounge three hours for a game to start loses its extravagance," one source planning to fly from Los Angeles told The Post. The primary appeal of private air travel for many is to avoid such inconveniences.
Adding to the frustration, the cost to charter helicopters and private jets in the New York area has seen a significant increase ahead of the event. Special event fees for landing at nearby airports on the day of the World Cup final can reach up to $20,000 per jet and $5,300 per helicopter. All private air travel will remain grounded until the president departs the area, even after the game concludes.
The airspace restrictions are not solely impacting World Cup attendees. New Yorkers making their regular weekend trips to the Hamptons, often via seaplane, are also facing disruptions. "I now have to blow up my day and leave the office at noon Friday" to accommodate the flight schedule, one individual commented.
Secret Service-implemented TFRs typically create a no-fly zone within a 30-mile radius of the president's location. While commercial flights may be granted pre-approved routes to navigate around or through these zones, private aviation is largely prohibited. Pilots who violate TFRs face potential fines, interception, or other enforcement actions.
White House Press Secretary Karolien Leavitt confirmed President Trump's attendance at the MetLife Stadium match during a briefing on Thursday. Aviation sources have been alerted to the potential restrictions, with some estimating that the grounding of private flights could result in millions of dollars in lost revenue for the aviation industry.