Tailwind Air has announced the fastest way to travel between Manhattan and Washington, D.C. Service to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) utilizes an FBO’s private aircraft terminal and Manhattan’s Skyport Marina at East 23rd Street (NYS).
“We are confident that our Washington area IAD service will resonate well with our customers and are looking forward to providing this unique service. The ability to take off from a private terminal at a major international airport and land on the water in Manhattan will be a time-saving benefit for our customers,” said Tailwind Air CEO Alan Ram.

Straddling Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Washington Dulles International Airport offers quick access to the Beltway, Capitol, and Washington, D.C. areas and the many recreational attractions of Northern Virginia. The experience at the private terminal at IAD is designed for customers with demanding travel needs. The Washington, D.C. ground experience will include a lounge and all the services necessary to get our passengers in, out, and on their way to Manhattan’s SkyPort. Free parking is provided on-site.
Flights to/from Manhattan are approximately 75-85 minutes. Scheduled service began on October 14, 2022, and is operated by Tailwind Air’s fleet of Cessna Grand Caravans featuring two experienced pilots, eight premium economy leather seats, aisle, and window access, crisp air-conditioning, and an ability to land on water or at an airport.
New York Skyport (NYS) is Manhattan’s dedicated seaplane base, located along the East River’s eastern end of 23rd Street. Tailwind Air operates all Manhattan departures from there and has a dedicated climate-controlled lounge for all passengers. On-site parking is available as well.

Check-in cutoff is just 10-minutes before departure. Tailwind Air erases the hassle and expense of commuting via commercial airports, terminals, trains, ferries, or rental cars. By eliminating the uncertainty of check-in, security lines, airport congestion, and drive-time delays, Tailwind Air reduces stress and delivers memorable and fast solutions on all of its routes. While Tailwind Air’s turboprop seaplane fleet is young (less than five years on average), seaplane travel certainly is not. The Manhattan Skyport opened in 1936 and has been hosting popular seaplane travel for decades. In addition, seaplane operations have been part of the core transportation landscape of cities such as Seattle, Miami, and Vancouver for nearly 100 years.
With the addition of Washington, D.C., Tailwind Air now serves nine destinations from its Manhattan base. Manhattan destinations are Boston Harbor – Fan Pier Marina (BNH), Washington, D.C, East Hampton, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Montauk, Provincetown, Plymouth, and Bridgeport. For commuters, Tailwind Air offers heavily discounted prepaid books of 10, 20, and 50 tickets, which can be shared with colleagues, friends, and family.
Tailwind also offers an innovative Fast Lane Club membership. Fast Lane members have access to unlimited, heavily discounted flying and significant additional benefits across all of our routes.
Tailwind Air is an experienced seaplane operator, flying a fleet of modern, safe, and reliable Cessna Caravan amphibian seaplanes averaging under five years of age. With over 2,500 Caravans built, these aircraft operate with regional airlines throughout the United States and the world. Caravan amphibians feature a highly reliable turboprop engine and include all comparable commercial aircraft navigation, communication, and safety features. All flights can land on water or land and are flown with two pilots.
Tailwind Air is a veteran-owned business reflecting a passion for aviation and urban mobility. Founded in 2012, Tailwind Air is experienced in amphibious seaplane operations and committed to delivering time savings to customers by utilizing access to waterways and smaller airports closer to urban cores, like Manhattan’s East 23rd Street Seaplane Base, Boston Harbor and Washington DC’s Dulles Airport. Tailwind employs a diverse and experienced team of over 40 employees. In addition to seaplanes, Tailwind Air operates, charters, and manages a fleet of over 20 additional jet and turboprop aircraft based out of Westchester Airport, NY, and Bridgeport, CT. Tailwind Air is an FAA- and DOT-licensed Part 135 commuter air carrier.
For more information and the complete Tailwind Air flight schedule, visit flytailwind.com.