Teterboro does not handle freight — TEB’s customs facility processes passengers only, and the airport’s 100,000-pound weight limit rules out airliner-size aircraft entirely. New York cargo charter on the Antonov An-124 Ruslan therefore routes through Newark Liberty (EWR) or JFK, where the ramps and the customs infrastructure exist. It is one of the largest cargo aircraft in commercial service.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Cargo Aircraft
- Manufacturer: Antonov ASTC
- Year introduced: 1986
- Seating: Crew only (cargo)
- Crew: 6
- Range: 2,430 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 459 knots
- Service ceiling: 39,400 feet
- Length: 226.7 feet
- Wingspan: 240.5 feet
- Height: 68.2 feet
- Main deck cargo volume: 36,680 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Crew only
Why the Antonov An-124 Ruslan Fits the New York Metro
Outsize industrial equipment is the New York job. Transformers, turbines, and plant sections bound for utility or infrastructure projects across the metro region move as single indivisible pieces, and the An-124 loads them through the nose when nothing else will take them intact.
High-value and oversized freight is the second pattern. Machinery, aerospace assemblies, and crated items that exceed what a standard widebody door will accept leave the region through Newark Liberty on a chartered airframe rather than waiting for sea freight.
It is specified for the loads that have no alternative. When a shipment is too large to dismantle and too urgent for a vessel, the An-124 is the aircraft that solves it, and the New York-area departure point is EWR or JFK.
Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates; reports may be provided on request.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing
The Antonov An-124 Ruslan runs $25,000 to $35,000 per flight hour as of 7/2026 (source: ACA published range).
Loading and unloading time is a real line item on An-124 work — plan on 24 to 48 hours per turn. EWR or JFK ramp and customs coordination is quoted per trip.
Other Cargo Aircraft Available
- ATR 72F
- Boeing 737-400 Freighter
- Boeing 737-800BCF
- Boeing 747-400F
- Boeing 747-8F
- Boeing 757 Freighter
Contact
For a quote on a Antonov An-124 Ruslan charter in or out of the New York metro area, head to our contact page. For the vetting work behind every trip, see our safety page. To browse cross-category options for the same trip, visit the aircraft directory.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.