✈️ Van Nuys Airport Capacity Alert: Two Years to 2028 Olympics, No Business Aviation Expansion Plan in Sight
With under two years until the LA Olympics, Van Nuys (KVNY) — one of the busiest general aviation airports in the US — has triggered multiple safety and capacity warnings, yet no dedicated business aviation expansion plan has entered the public agenda. In December 2025, the FAA lowered KVNY's traffic pattern altitude by 200 feet to reduce airspace conflicts with arriving Burbank traffic. In January 2026, the NTSB Chair issued a specific warning about mid-air collision risks at Burbank, citing KVNY's high-density traffic as a contributing factor. In November 2025, taxiway repairs forced overnight runway closures. Three incidents within a few months signal sustained capacity and infrastructure stress.
Meanwhile, the LA28 budget stands at approximately $7.1 billion, with public discussion focused on urban infrastructure and venues — business aviation is absent from any dedicated expansion plan. Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) has limited diversion capacity, meaning any significant surge in Olympic business jet traffic will concentrate further pressure on KVNY. Clay Lacy Aviation's receipt of the largest all-electric fuel truck in the US at KVNY in October 2025 represents an individual FBO upgrade, not a systemic response.
Impact: With 15 FBOs and service providers at KVNY, a significant Olympic-period traffic increase could strain both airspace and ramp capacity, degrading parking access and ground handling response times. Signature Aviation, Castle & Cooke, and other major operators all face potential resource allocation challenges.
Recommendations: FBO operators should finalize Olympic ramp slot pre-allocation plans by end of 2026 and engage the FAA early on temporary airspace management procedures. Industry associations should leverage the current safety-warning news cycle to push the LA28 organizing committee to formally include business aviation capacity management in its official planning agenda.