Jet Aviation's Opa-Locka FBO goes fully operational in a tight Miami market

Jet Aviation continues its national expansion with its newest FBO now fully operational at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. The buildout, which began in October 2024, soft-opened last November with a temporary terminal. The official opening was recognized with an on-site event on July 23, which was attended by president Jeremie Caillet and senior vice president and general manager for the Americas, David Best.The completed facility sits on 27 acres on the west side of the field, with a terminal of 8,500 square feet as its centerpiece. Backed by 40,000 square feet of new hangar space with 30-foot doors, the FBO is squarely aimed at larger business jets in the ultra-long-range class. Two taxiway connections feed the airport system, and fueling covers Jet-A, 100LL, and sustainable aviation fuel. Crews reach the ramp by driving on through a private entrance.Customs and Border Protection services are scheduled to be available for the third quarter of 2026. Opa-Locka serves as a gateway to the Latin America and Caribbean markets, which makes those services crucial for international operators.Jet Aviation is no stranger to South Florida as it has operated an FBO in Palm Beach since 1985. But the expansion to Opa-Locka is a logical next step as it typically ranks as one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country. "As our 12th FBO in the US, and one of the top five busiest business aviation destinations in the region, Miami is an important step in continuing to grow our network and services where our customers want us to be," Best said. The expansion appears to show no signs of slowing down with some 30 FBOs worldwide and counting. The General Dynamics unit recently signed a long-term lease for an FBO at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport slated to open in 2028.The build leans greenWhile the business aviation industry's spotty green record typically begins and ends with SAF, Jet Aviation took that sentiment a step further by building out its facility according to LEED standards, with solar panels, LED lighting, low-flow water features, and both AV and EV chargers.Aesthetics didn't take a back seat to sustainability as the FBO interior incorporates a classic Miami look, with an open plan and windows running floor to ceiling onto the ramp and runway, crew and guest lounges, and a private conference room.What it adds to Opa-LockaWith hangar space chronically short across South Florida, and tighter still in a winter season dominated by itinerant traffic, an additional 40,000 square feet of hangar and a ramp of half a million square feet should gain traction with visiting crews almost immediately. Once the customs facility opens, Jet Aviation will be able to make a play at international arrivals that typically route to the busier commercial fields at Miami and Fort Lauderdale.What operators need to knowAt the midpoint of summer, with winter on the horizon, operators may want to take another look at Opa-Locka before the winter rush sets in. A ramp with room to spare in July may not have much left come January.Compare FBO services and fuel pricing at Opa-Locka Executive (KOPF) in the GlobalAir airport directory.