Airports / Florida / NQX
Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field.
Key West, Florida · 6 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.4/5
Google rating
124 ratings
0
Operators based
6
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
4 nm
To the nearest alternate
Key West International Airport (EYW), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Key West, Florida, Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field (KNQX / NQX) operates as a mid-sized airport. Field elevation is 6 feet above sea level. Free of scheduled airline operations, it serves business aviation, charter flights, and local general aviation.
While no charter operators list NQX as their home base, the field is reachable for repositioned charter aircraft from nearby bases. The closest alternate fields are Key West International Airport (EYW, 4 nm), Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (MTH, 36 nm), and Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport (KX51, 83 nm). The field has 3 runways, the longest 10,001-foot paved runway, long enough for charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
Trip costs from NQX are driven by the aircraft category flown and how far it must reposition. Browse operators flying from the area or estimate a trip cost from NQX to plan your flight.
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Field capability
ICAO
KNQX
IATA
NQX
FAA / Local
NQX
Elevation
6 ft
Coordinates
24.5758° N · 81.6889° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs FL fields
state range 3–213 ft
At 6 ft, NQX sits lower than 92% of the 90 Florida fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 10,001 ft
- 08/2610,001 ft × 200 ftAsphaltLighted
- 04/227,001 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 14/327,000 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 10,001 ft
NQX's 10,001 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 4nmEYWKey West International AirportKey West
- 36nmMTHFlorida Keys Marathon International AirportMarathon
- 83nmKX51Miami Homestead General Aviation AirportHomestead
- 89nmOCAOcean Reef Club AirportKey Largo
- 90nmHSTHomestead Air Reserve BaseHomestead
- 90nmVROKawama AirportSanta Marta
Location
Open the full mapKNQX · Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field · Key West, FL
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from NQX on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 153 nm | 45m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 740 nm | 2h 7m |
| Houston (HOU) | 787 nm | 2h 14m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 889 nm | 2h 28m |
| Austin (AUS) | 915 nm | 2h 32m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 938 nm | 2h 35m |
| New York (TEB) | 1,049 nm | 2h 50m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 1,090 nm | 2h 56m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use NQX?
- Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field's longest paved runway is 10,001 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at NQX?
- Naval Air Station Key West/Boca Chica Field has 3 runways; the longest measures 10,001 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to NQX?
- The closest alternate is Key West International Airport (EYW), about 4 nm away, followed by Florida Keys Marathon International Airport (MTH) at 36 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from NQX to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Nashville about 2h 7m (740 nm), Houston about 2h 14m (787 nm), Washington DC about 2h 28m (889 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.