With President Trump set to attend the World Cup in East Rutherford, New Jersey this weekend, Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) will be enforced across much of the New York metropolitan region. Many affluent Americans are now trying to find ways around the hassle of not being able to fly privately.
The TFR will be in effect every Friday and Sunday from 2 to 8 p.m., as indicated in a memo. This means anyone wanting to take a helicopter to the Spain-Argentina match or fly privately to and from Teterboro is out of luck. Some are faced with the dilemma of flying during less busy hours, driving, taking a ferry to MetLife, or even cancelling their plans altogether.
One official expressed frustration, noting, “It really takes away the luxury of flying to Teterboro for a game when you arrive at noon and have to sit in a lounge for three hours before it starts.” This individual had hoped to fly in from Los Angeles directly for the 3 PM game on Sunday. The whole appeal of flying private, he pointed out, is to sidestep these annoying delays. To make matters worse, the prices for chartering helicopters and jets locally have skyrocketed recently. Additional special event fees can reach up to $20,000 per jet and $5,300 per helicopter for those landing nearby on finals day.
Following the game, all personal travel will be banned until the president departs the area. It’s not only the World Cup attendees affected; New Yorkers who travel by seaplane or other means to the Hamptons every summer are also feeling the pinch. One person mentioned, “I have to leave the office at noon on a Friday, wasting a day just to take a plane out of town.”
The TFR, imposed by the Secret Service, typically restricts airspace within a 30-mile radius of the president. While all aircraft must comply, commercial flights often get pre-approved flight paths, allowing them to bypass or cross through TFR zones, while private planes are mostly grounded. Pilots who defy TFR could face fines, interception, or worse.
During a Thursday briefing, White House press secretary Carolian Leavitt confirmed that President Trump would be at MetLife Stadium. However, a president’s plans can shift unexpectedly, particularly with ongoing global tensions like the war in Iran. Aviation officials noted they had been alerted and acknowledged, “It looks like it’s happening,” emphasizing that the restrictions could result in significant financial losses for the airline industry.
