Princeton Airport: Commercial Flights Availability And Accessibility

Princeton Airport (IATA: PCT, FAA LID: 39N) is a public-use airport in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey, three miles (5 km) north of Princeton and just west of Rocky Hill. The airport is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp and houses the Princeton Flying School, among other aviation businesses. In this airport, there are occasional charter flights, but commercial flights do not seem to be available.

The airport is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp

The Princeton Airport is a public-use airport in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey. It is located just three miles (5 km) north of Princeton and west of Rocky Hill. The airport is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp, which purchased it on March 29, 1985. The company's principals are members of the Nierenberg family, who were previously the fixed-base operator at Kupper Airport for 18 years.

The airport covers 100 acres (40 hectares) and features a paved runway (10/28) measuring 3,499 by 75 feet (1,066 by 23 meters). In the year ending October 23, 2020, the airport recorded 39,421 aircraft operations, averaging 108 per day. The majority of these flights were general aviation (88%), with a smaller proportion being air taxis (13%).

The airport houses several aviation-related businesses and organizations, including the Princeton Flying School (formerly known as Raritan Valley Flying School), which operates an FAA-approved flight school. The school offers flight training and has produced notable alumni, including Avril Haines, who served as the Director of National Intelligence from 2021 to 2025.

While Princeton Airport primarily caters to general aviation and flight training, it has also accommodated occasional commuter airline flights in the past. For example, in 1979, Princeton Airways operated fifteen scheduled passenger flights to Newark each weekday using Britten-Norman Islander STOL-capable aircraft.

Today, the Princeton-Mercer region is served by several nearby airports, including Trenton-Mercer Regional Airport (TTN), located just 20 minutes away, and offering flights through Frontier Airlines. Other nearby airports include Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and Atlantic City International Airport (ACY). These larger airports provide additional travel options for those visiting the Princeton area.

It is located in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey

The Princeton Airport is located in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey. It is a public-use airport that is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp. The airport is home to the Princeton Flying School, Elite Flight Experience/Cirrus Training Center, Pacific Aircraft, Analar Helicopter Charter, and Platinum Helicopters. It covers 100 acres of land and has one paved runway.

The airport is situated just three miles north of Princeton and west of Rocky Hill. It is easily accessible from nearby metropolitan areas such as New York and Philadelphia. The closest major airport to Princeton Airport is Trenton-Mercer Regional Airport, located in Ewing, New Jersey, which is only a 20-minute drive away.

Princeton Airport has a rich history in aviation. It was established by Richard A. Newhouse, an aviation enthusiast who, in 1911, built and designed his own plane, incorporating separate floating ailerons, a significant innovation for that time. The paved runway at Princeton Airport opened around 1965, and since then, the airport has occasionally accommodated commuter airline flights.

The airport has seen scheduled passenger flights in the past. For example, in 1979, Princeton Airways operated fifteen daily flights to Newark on weekdays, utilizing Britten-Norman Islander STOL-capable aircraft. Today, the airport continues to be a hub for general aviation and air taxi services, with 39,421 aircraft operations recorded in the year ending October 23, 2020, averaging 108 flights per day.

It has had occasional commercial flights in the past

The Princeton Airport (IATA: PCT, FAA LID: 39N) is a public-use airport in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey. It is located three miles (5 km) north of Princeton and just west of Rocky Hill. The airport is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp, which also operates the Princeton Flying School. The paved runway opened around 1965, and the airport has had occasional commercial flights since then. For instance, in 1979, Princeton Airways operated fifteen scheduled passenger flights to Newark each weekday using Britten-Norman Islander STOL-capable aircraft.

While Princeton Airport does not currently offer commercial flights, it has had them occasionally in the past. In fact, as recently as 2020, the airport handled 39,421 aircraft operations, with an average of 108 per day, 88% of which were general aviation, and 13% were air taxis. This data suggests that while the majority of flights were likely private, a small percentage were commercial or taxi flights.

The airport covers 100 acres (40 hectares) and has a single paved runway (10/28) measuring 3,499 by 75 feet (1,066 by 23 meters). The airport is home to various aviation businesses, including the Princeton Flying School, Elite Flight Experience/Cirrus Training Center, Pacific Aircraft, Analar Helicopter Charter, and Platinum Helicopters.

Although Princeton Airport does not currently offer scheduled commercial passenger flights, it is still an active and vibrant aviation hub, serving general aviation, air taxi, and charter flights. Those travelling to Princeton typically fly into nearby airports such as Trenton-Mercer Regional Airport (TTN), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), or Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and then drive or take other transportation to reach Princeton.

It is served by one airport, Mercer Airport (TTN)

The Princeton-Mercer area is a region filled with amenities, including world-class hotels and conference centres, museums, historic sites, music and food festivals, and first-rate sports arenas. The region is easily accessible by car, train, bus, or airplane. The closest airport to Princeton is Princeton Airport, located just 9 minutes away from downtown Princeton. However, Princeton Airport is a public-use airport that is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp and houses the Princeton Flying School, among other aviation services. It has had occasional commuter airline flights in the past, but it does not appear to be currently served by commercial flights.

Instead, it is served by one airport offering commercial flights, Mercer Airport (TTN), also known as Trenton-Mercer Regional Airport. This airport is located in Ewing, New Jersey, just 20 minutes away from Princeton. It features Frontier Airlines and is one of the terminals that deal with most of the city's air travel, along with Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Lehigh Valley International Airport.

There are several options for airlines when travelling to Princeton, with flights from Orlando, Toronto, Chicago, and Washington being the most sought after. Round-trip prices can range from as low as $43 to $235, and one-way flights can start from $24. Booking in advance is recommended to secure cheaper flights and more options.

In addition to Mercer Airport, there are two other nearby international airports: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), located 39 miles away from Princeton, and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), situated 52 miles away. These larger airports provide alternative options for travellers flying to or from Princeton.

It is 9 minutes from Princeton Airport

The Princeton Airport, also known as Princeton-Mercer Airport, is a public-use airport located in Montgomery, Somerset County, New Jersey. It is just 9 minutes from Princeton and 5 kilometres north of the town. The airport is privately owned by Princeton Aero Corp, which purchased it in 1985. Covering 100 acres, the airport has one paved runway and, in 2020, it recorded 39,421 aircraft operations, averaging 108 per day.

The airport is home to the Princeton Flying School, which operates an FAA-approved flight school. The school offers a range of aviation courses and has a notable alumni in Avril Haines, who served as the Director of National Intelligence from 2021 to 2025. In addition to the flying school, the airport also houses Elite Flight Experience/Cirrus Training Center, Pacific Aircraft, Analar Helicopter Charter, and Platinum Helicopters.

While the airport primarily caters to general aviation and air taxi services, it has also had occasional commuter airline flights in the past. For example, in 1979, Princeton Airways operated fifteen scheduled passenger flights to Newark each weekday. Today, the closest major airports to Princeton are Liberty International Airport (35 miles from downtown) and Lehigh Valley International Airport (45 miles from downtown). These airports offer a wider range of commercial flight options for travellers visiting the Princeton area.

With its proximity to Princeton and a rich aviation history, the Princeton Airport serves as a convenient gateway for pilots and aviation enthusiasts alike. Although the airport does not currently accommodate commercial flights, its role in promoting aviation in the region is significant, and its historical connection to commuter airline services is worth noting.

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