Updated January 12, 2021 12:57 p.m. EST By Abbey Slattery, WRAL Digital Solutions This article was written for our sponsor, Raleigh Executive Jetport. Raleigh-Durham International airport may be the most recognizable airport in the area, but it's far from the only aviation hub that serves the Research Triangle region. For companies looking to bypass the traffic at RDU without sacrificing space, quality, and proximity to the cities, Raleigh Executive Jetport — located just off US-1 in Lee County, between Sanford and Cary — is an increasingly sought-after alternative. "As the region grows, both RDU and Raleigh Exec get the benefits of being more successful. In Raleigh Exec's case, if I'm not taking a commercial flight and coming in on a private plane to the Triangle — whether it's Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Sanford, or anywhere else in the area — one of the best places to fly into is Raleigh Exec," said Charles Hayes, an economic developer and managing partner at Hayes Group Consulting. "It's really second to none, and when you fly in there you get first-class service. And as far as drive time, it ends up being a pretty similar distance to those major hubs as RDU."