The governor of New York has been the subject of scrutiny for its wide use of private airplanes. According to reports, Kathy Hochul and his campaign spent more than $ 400,000 on Charter flights in recent years, which critics say they seem incongruous with their long -standing position as climate activist.
What were the flights?
According to the New York Post, Hochul has taken at least 30 flights aboard private planes since 2021. Using records of the records of the State Elections Board, the post concluded that the trips cost $ 415,000 combined, which was paid for its committee campaign.
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The records show that the governor has flown with two Charter aircraft companies in the last four years. The first company was Zephyr Jets, based in New York City. According to its website, Zephyr Jets can provide its customers access to 3,500 executive aircraft and helicopters in more than 6,000 airports worldwide with only four hours of warning. The remaining flights were operated by Apollo Jets, which is part of the XO Jet group based in Fort Lauderdale.
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Given the greatest security around the governor’s movements and confidentiality agreements with charter operators, origins and destinations for each of the trips were not publicly available. However, the records showed that the cheapest flights cost $ 5,000, while the most expensive trip costs $ 38,594.00. Speaking to the publication, Hochul spokesman Brian Lenzmeier said the trips were strictly assigned for legitimate campaign activities:
“As leader of the New York State Democratic Party, Governor Hochul frequently travels for campaign of demonstrations, funds and events such as the National Democratic Convention.
“These travel expenses are covered by appropriate political entities.”
Photo: Insectworld | Shuttersock
The Democratic Committee of the State of New York spent $ 75,000 on four private flights in 2021 and 2022, which the post believes they went to Governor Hochul. Simple Flying has contacted the governor’s office and the Democratic Committee of the State of New York to clarify, but has not received an answer at the time of publication.
How much do the flights cost generally?
Apollo Jets does not reveal his in -line rates; Instead, he prefers to respond to the requests for the price of specific flight times, routes and airplanes. Zepher Jets, on the other hand, has a practical table with estimates of the prices of its most popular aircraft models. A turbopropulor like King Air used by the governor in the BUISESS of official states costs about $ 1,500 per hour up to the letter.
Light jets such as a Learjet or a smaller Cessna appointment cost approximately $ 2,000 per hour, with discounts offered to members. The biggest jets cost significantly more. TO Dassault Falcon
Averages between $ 4-5,000 per hour, while a Global Express or Gulfstream V bombarder can reach up to $ 8,900 for each hour of flight.
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The governor has access to airplanes and helicopters owned by the New York State Police for official trips. There is a firm orientation on how the aircraft can be used, including that the main purpose of the trip must be discharged by the public responsibilities of the state official and must be directly related to the realization of good -faith state businesses and that state aircraft are not used for Transport the deficient such as the regular or standard mode of daily displacement between the houses of any person and the official workstations unless a security evaluation of the state police guarantees such use.
Photo: Gulfstream
For trips that combine public and private businesses, the governor must clearly register the time dedicated to state and non -state purposes and quickly reimburse the State (according to the current costs of the letter, not commercial flight fees) for the personal or personal part or of the trip of the trip, which she has made accordingly.
Hochul is not alone to face criticism for the frequent use of private flights or charter. The Governor of Pennsylvania uses King Beechcraft Air 350i of the State Transport Department much more frequently than his predecessor. In 2023, the plane registered more than nine days of flight time, costing taxpayers $ 410,000, the maximum they have paid for state flights since 2011.
