Summary

  • Despite the high cost, some sports teams own exclusive private jets for travel luxury and efficiency.
  • The New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals are among the few teams with their dedicated aircraft.
  • While individual players and owners own private jets, most teams rely on commercial airlines for travel.

It does seem like a match made in heaven, doesn’t it? Sports teams and private jets. Their constant need to travel across the country (and even the globe), coupled with a busy schedule with absolutely no room for delay. Those reasons alone justify the decision to hire and fly privately. But this article isn’t about that. This article will take you into a world where sports teams have their own exclusive private jets.

Private jets can undoubtedly be a practical choice for sports teams, providing unmatched convenience and flexibility for travel. However, the reality is that owning or even committing to a long-term lease for an aircraft comes with astronomical costs. Due to these financial considerations, most teams opt for a more economical solution by chartering commercial airlines, complete with planes and crew, to transport them to their various destinations.

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This allows teams to manage travel expenses more effectively while still meeting their logistical needs. Despite this common practice, there are a few teams that have decided to go beyond the usual approach and elevate their travel game to the next level. Before we get into the fascinating details of these exceptional choices, let’s take a quick look inside the private jet we’ll be uncovering in the upcoming section of this article. Get ready to be impressed by the luxury and amenities that await!

From this video, you get a clear sense of why the New England Patriots are our most notable example of a sports team going above and beyond when it comes to air travel. This NFL team has taken ownership of not just one, but two Boeing 767s. These planes are used to transport their numerous players and staff members across the United States for major games. Because the Patriots own these aircraft, they have customized them with VIP configurations, ensuring that their players can travel both efficiently all while enjoying the utmost levels of comfort.

Reg: N225NE. New England Patriots. BOEING 767-30

Photo: Karolis Kavolelis | Shutterstock

In saying that, the Patriots’ aircraft does not feature a luxurious cabin like those found on some private jets. Instead, the plane is equipped with practical rows of 2-2-2 recliner-style seats, providing extra legroom specifically designed for the players’ comfort. These seats offer an additional five inches more pitch than a standard domestic first-class seat, ensuring that even the tallest players can rest comfortably during their travels. This thoughtful design helps ensure that the team arrives at their destinations well-rested and ready to perform.

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They’re not the only ones

While the Patriots have been making headlines with their private jeys since 2017, they aren’t alone in this trend. In December of 2021, the Arizona Cardinals made a significant move by adding a Boeing 777-200ER to their fleet for team travel. With the NFL team slated to travel over 22,100 miles this season, acquiring a widebody aircraft like this one is a strategic decision aimed at enhancing travel efficiency and comfort. This purchase further outlines the growing trend among sports teams to invest in dedicated aircraft to meet their demanding travel schedules.

Arizona Cardinals Boeing 777 Custom Thumbnail

The Cardinals received their Boeing 777-200ER from Delta Air Lines, which retired the jet back in October 2020. Though we still have not seen any official images of the cabin yet, the 288 seats indicate that the team will likely be enjoying the plush Delta One suites in business class and the spacious international economy cabins. It’s safe to say that away games for the players just got a lot more comfortable. Looks like the Cardinals are scoring touchdowns in the travel department, too!

The world of NASCAR is also heavily dependent on traveling by air, given the variety of events that occur around the country. NASCAR teams tend to rely on smaller business jets to get around, and things can get quite congested in the air with so many planes en route to the next race.

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Business aircraft have proved to be the true workhorses of several teams.

But wait – why don’t they just rent?

It’s worth mentioning that while many sports teams don’t own private jets, plenty of individual players and team owners do. Stars like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and billionaires like Roman Abramovich and Mark Cuban are no strangers to private aviation. For example, Mark Cuban owns a 757 specifically for the Dallas Mavericks’ travel needs. In the world of sports, private jets have become almost as common as luxury cars, symbolizing the high-flying lifestyle of top athletes and team owners.

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 757-200.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

In reality, most sports teams opt for commercial agreements with airlines to transport their players. Take Delta, for example, which proudly dubs itself the “Official Airline of Champions” thanks to its partnerships with over 100 sports teams in the US. It’s as if they’re saying, “Fly with us, and you might just win a championship!”.

On a similar note, national carriers often get recruited to jet their teams off to distant countries. So, while the idea of every team having its own plane sounds glamorous, the truth is they’re more likely to be spotted in the business class of your favorite commercial airline, soaking in that extra legroom and a few more in-flight movies to choose from.

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