Hamptons plans of the rich and famous in chaos as Obama weekend visit to New York GROUNDS all private helicopter flights out of the city so he can see a Broadway show

  • Presidential visit to Manhattan on Friday and Saturday brings flight ban
  • FAA issued travel restrictions for private fliers in wake of the visit
  • Commercial flights unaffected, but helicopter and seaplane hire in chaos
  • They are favored methods of the super-rich to zip to Hamptons getaways
  • Obama reportedly coming to NYC for a fundraiser - and to catch a show 

By Kieran Corcoran For Dailymail.com

Published: 09:01 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 13:07 EST, 16 July 2015

Not while I'm in town: A New York City visit by President Barack Obama, above stepping off Air Force One, has thrown helicopter plans for the weekend into chaos

Not while I'm in town: A New York City visit by President Barack Obama, above stepping off Air Force One, has thrown helicopter plans for the weekend into chaos

The Hamptons set have had their plans for a relaxing weekend away by helicopter put on ice by the President, who has banned all private air travel in New York City so he can visit.

Barack Obama, who is visiting Manhattan on Friday evening for a fundraiser and to see a Broadway show, has closed airspace over the city to a huge slice of wealthy clients as part of his security arrangements.

The Federal Aviation Authority issued a flight restriction order from Friday afternoon until Saturday to coincide with the visit, which puts ice on all private travel in a 16-mile bubble round New York.

Private helicopter and seaplane companies, which regularly ferry the super-rich out of New York City for the weekend so they can dodge the traffic, will be hardest-hit. 

According to the ban, which starts around 6pm Friday and will last 24 hours, only the NYPD, air ambulances and the Secret Service will be allowed to run unscheduled flights.

Commercial and cargo planes which have pre-planned routes will be allowed to fly as usual, but private couriers will be kept on the tarmac within the radius, which stretches eight miles in all directions from LaGuardia airport in Queens.

According to Page Six, Obama's millionaire-tweaking visit will see him attend an intimate fundraising dinner with Democrat donors, and stay overnight in an unnamed Manhattan hotel.

On Saturday, he is expected to visit the matinee showing of Hamilton, a hip-hop-themed musical about founding father Alexander Hamilton which started preview showings this week.

For Hamptonites stuck in New York on Friday, their forty-minute commute by helicopter or plane will now have to be replaced with a packed train ride, or around two and a half hours in traffic.

None of this: Private helicopter flights out on Manhattan will have to be scrapped due to the Presidential visit, which brings with it a flight ban lasting around 24hrs from Friday afternoon. Pictured above are producer Harvey Weinstein and his family coming back from the Hamptons

None of this: Private helicopter flights out on Manhattan will have to be scrapped due to the Presidential visit, which brings with it a flight ban lasting around 24hrs from Friday afternoon. Pictured above are producer Harvey Weinstein and his family coming back from the Hamptons

Ban: Private flights by all but Secret Service and emergency vehicles will be on hold around New York City from Friday afternoon to Saturday. Scheduled commercial flights will not be affected

Ban: Private flights by all but Secret Service and emergency vehicles will be on hold around New York City from Friday afternoon to Saturday. Scheduled commercial flights will not be affected

No fun: Blade, an Uber-like service which offers flights to the Hamptons, emailed customers about the ban

No fun: Blade, an Uber-like service which offers flights to the Hamptons, emailed customers about the ban

Just got a bit further away: Rather than a forty-minute private flight, rich weekenders will have to sit in traffic for some two and a half hours to reach their Hamptons retreats, such as those pictured above

Just got a bit further away: Rather than a forty-minute private flight, rich weekenders will have to sit in traffic for some two and a half hours to reach their Hamptons retreats, such as those pictured above

According to Page Six, helicopter-hire firm Blade, which runs Hamptons flights, sent out an email to all its customers about the ban, noting that the White House can change the times on a whim.

The service costs around $600 per passenger for a one-way flight shared with as many as five others. Chartering a whole chopper costs around $3,500.

For true weekenders the ban will only be half a headache, however, as their return journey on Sunday will not be affected. 

However, the ban may be a welcome respite for the people who actually live in The Hamptons, rather than the weekend crowd.

According to a profile of Blade published by the New Yorker, locals are up in arms about the extra noise from the flights.

Luxurious: Hamptonites, such as Billionaire Stewart Rahr, whose home is pictured above, could have an inconvenient weekend thanks to the President

Luxurious: Hamptonites, such as Billionaire Stewart Rahr, whose home is pictured above, could have an inconvenient weekend thanks to the President

One, consultant Patricia Currie, said: 'It’s like the apocalypse is descending on top of your house, it’s an ill bird that fouls its nest.

'And that’s what’s happening here. These people are coming out to Paradise. And then they’ll foul the nest and leave.'

Locals tried to ban the flights this year, the New York Post reported.

But a judge ruled on June 26 that they could continue - except when the President is in town - so long as they respect a curfew. 

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