Sports teams have long been frequent users of private jets. Given their busy schedules and no room for delays, teams can usually justify hiring planes. But which teams have their own exclusive private jets?
American football teams lead
While private jets may make sense for sports teams, purchasing, or even long-term leasing, an aircraft is an expensive affair. This is why most teams will usually rely on commercial airlines to rent planes and crew for a fixed time to fly to their destinations. However, there are a few teams that have gone beyond the usual affair.
Perhaps the most notable example here is the New England Patriots. The NFL team owns two Boeing 767s to fly its dozens of players and staffers across the US and the globe for important games. Since they own the aircraft, the plane has been laid out in a VIP configuration so players can travel efficiently and comfortably.
Notably, the aircraft does not have a luxurious cabin, like on some private jets. Instead, the plane has rows of 2-2-2 recliner-style seats with extra legroom for the players. In specific, the seats offer five inches more pitch than a standard domestic first class seat. This ensures even the tallest of players can rest during their travels.
Not the only one
While the Patriots have grabbed headlines since 2017, they aren’t the only team with their own aircraft. Last week, the Arizona Cardinals added a Boeing 777-200ER for their team travel. The NFL team is set to travel over 22,100 miles this season, making the widebody an important purchase for efficiency.
The Cardinals received their 777-200ER from Delta Air Lines, who retired the jet in October 2020. While no images of the cabin have been revealed, the 288 seats suggest that the team will be enjoying the Delta One suites in business class and the international economy cabins. Safe to say, away games for the players just got a lot more comfortable.
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Renting
It’s important to note that while many sports teams don’t have their own private jets, individual players and team owners may. From LeBron James to Cristiano Ronaldo to Roman Abramovich to Mark Cuban, private jets are ubiquitous in sports. For instance, Cuban has a 757 meant for the Dallas Mavericks’ travel.
In reality, teams usually sign commercial agreements with airlines to fly their players. For instance, Delta has long called itself the “Official Airline of Champions” due to its deals with over 100 sports teams in the US alone. Similarly, national carriers have often been recruited to carry their teams to faraway countries.
Do you know of more teams that own private jets? Have you seen any of these planes in person? Let us know in the comments!
