The Insider’s Playbook: Flying Private to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara

On February 8, 2026, the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots meet at Levi’s Stadium for Super Bowl LX. For fans, it’s a rematch of a classic. For anyone in private aviation, however, this date represents one of the more difficult logistical challenges of the year.

The difference between a seamless arrival and a logistical nightmare comes down to strategy. That is where a partner like Just Landed Jets steps in. We manage the complexity in the background so your experience flying to Super Bowl LX remains effortless.

The Scale of the Surge: What to Expect in 2026

To understand why booking early is critical, you have to visualize what happens to a host city’s airspace during Game Week. Picture the busiest Friday evening at a major international hub, then multiply it by ten.

Local reporting from NBC Bay Area suggests that San Jose Mineta (SJC) is expecting charter activity to jump anywhere from eight to 12 times its normal volume. In a single weekend, officials expect roughly 150 to 300 private jets to flood the parking zones on the west side of the field alone. And that is just one airport.

When the Bay Area hosted Super Bowl 50, SFGate reported that nearly 1,200 luxury jets descended on the region. A Forbes report from that same year estimated that those aircraft brought in roughly 10,000 VIP passengers. While every Super Bowl is different, the trend line is only going up.

For comparison, look at recent data. According to SherpaReport, the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans saw over 600 business jet arrivals just in the Friday-to-Sunday window. The Washington Post noted that Las Vegas handled 882 private planes for the 2024 game. Perhaps the most telling statistic comes from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which noted that the Formula One weekend in Vegas actually edged out the Super Bowl with nearly 1,000 jets.

The lesson here is consistency. Whether it’s Vegas, New Orleans, or Santa Clara, this weekend creates a scarcity of ramp space. If you assume there will always be room for one more plane, you might find yourself landing three hours away from the stadium.

Choosing Your Tarmac: The Santa Clara Airport Strategy

One of the biggest misconceptions about this year’s game is the location. San Francisco is the headline city, but Levi’s Stadium is in Santa Clara, deep in the heart of Silicon Valley. This makes your choice of airport the single most important decision of the trip.

The Bay Area traffic is legendary for a reason. Landing at the wrong airport could mean the difference between a 15-minute drive to the stadium and a two-hour crawl on the 101.

The Prime Target: San Jose Mineta (SJC)

San Jose is the magnet, as the Signature Flight Support facility here is only about five miles from Levi’s Stadium. It is the obvious choice for anyone who wants to land and be at the game in minutes. Because of this convenience, it will fill up first. It will also be the most expensive option regarding ramp fees and slot reservations.

The City Options: SFO and Oakland (OAK)

San Francisco International (SFO) and Oakland (OAK) are viable alternatives, but they serve a specific type of traveler. If your Super Bowl weekend involves hosting clients in downtown San Francisco, staying at a Union Square hotel, or hitting parties in the city on Friday and Saturday, these are your best bets. However, you must account for the game-day transit time south to Santa Clara.

The Relievers: Where the Smart Money Often Lands

During major events, "reliever" airports become the unsung heroes. The FAA has already listed a wide net of airports operating under special air traffic procedures for Super Bowl LX. This includes Hayward, Livermore, Moffett Federal Airfield, Concord (Buchanan Field), Palo Alto, and San Carlos.

For those turning the weekend into a wider trip, looking further afield to Napa, Monterey, or Half Moon Bay can be a brilliant move. You can enjoy a wine country weekend or a coastal retreat, then take a helicopter or ground transport into Santa Clara for the game itself.

Choosing the right airport isn't just about staring at a map; it's about aligning your landing with your itinerary.

The Sticker Shock: Event Fees and Surcharges at the Big Game

This is the part of the conversation that usually surprises first-time charter clients. When you book a private jet for the Super Bowl, the cost of the flight hour is only one component of the price tag.

Airports and Fixed Base Operators (FBOs) know that demand vastly outstrips supply. To manage this, and to pay for the massive overtime staffing required, they implement "Special Event Fees."

According to AVweb, fees for Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area are projected to range from a few hundred dollars for small turboprops to significantly higher sums for heavy jets. Specifically, reports indicate that landing a large-cabin jet at San Jose Mineta during the peak window could incur event fees between $10,000 and $18,000. Even smaller aircraft aren't immune, with facilities like Atlantic Aviation potentially charging hundreds in surcharges.

This isn't new for this year’s game. During the 2025 New Orleans Super Bowl, Flying Magazine noted that a Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) faced over $17,000 in fees at Lakefront Airport.

Why the premium? You are buying real estate. You are paying for a slot in a reservation system that ensures you can actually land, and you are paying for the busing, security, and handling required to move thousands of VIPs through a facility that more typically handles a few dozen.

The best way to handle these fees is transparency. At Just Landed Jets, we don't hide these costs in the fine print. We quote them upfront so you can decide if the convenience of SJC is worth the premium, or if a reliever airport makes more sense for your budget.

How Just Landed Jets Navigates the Rush

A Super Bowl trip often feels planned, but in reality, it books like a fire drill. Fans wait for the conference championships to see if their team makes it. Friends commit late. Corporate hosts finalize party schedules days before kickoff.

This creates a massive spike in demand right as supply hits rock bottom. If you are looking to book a last-minute flight to the Super Bowl, we streamline the process. You give us the basics: departure city, passenger count, and your ideal timeline. We then handle the heavy lifting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I book my flight? As early as humanly possible. Even if you don't know your final guest list, securing the "lift" (the aircraft) and the parking slot is the priority. You can usually update passenger manifests closer to the date, but you cannot manifest an airplane that doesn't exist.

Can I really book a last-minute jet for the Super Bowl? Yes, but you need to be flexible. If you call us three days before the game, we can likely find you a jet, but you may not get your first choice of aircraft type, and you may need to land at an airport 45 minutes away rather than 10 minutes away.