NFL post season charters on DL aircraft
Jan 22, 23, 3:48 pm
#2
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Jan 22, 23, 4:27 pm
#3
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Jan 22, 23, 6:16 pm
#5
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Does someone have size issues? A 747 for JAX Jaguars! Seems like massive overkill.
Jan 22, 23, 9:55 pm
#6
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It looks like TPG also has some interior pics (you have to scroll down a ways).
Jan 23, 23, 2:06 am
#7
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Assuming they are using the "VIP" version from Atlas Air, there are 143 business class seats and 10 "first class suites". I'm sure the linebackers appreciate the extra space!
It looks like TPG also has some interior pics (you have to scroll down a ways).
It looks like TPG also has some interior pics (you have to scroll down a ways).
Jan 23, 23, 7:42 am
#9
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Not that they have to bring all of this equipment to a game since this isn't an international game, but I watched this video yesterday and it was pretty insightful about the logistics behind what and how much needs to travel with a team to each game:
Jan 23, 23, 7:48 am
#10
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Did a quick google search of the tail numbers here and found this blog (not mine) that seems to track all the NFL charters:
https://jettip.net/blog/
Among other things it appears the Atlas Air 744 is used by multiple teams — presumably some teams for whatever reason have decided to contract with Atlas Air and that’s the plane that’s available. Seems reasonable even if overkill.
Going not that far back into recent history, I remember Super Bowl team would often charter a UA or DL 744 for their Super Bowl transport before those planes were retired
https://jettip.net/blog/
Among other things it appears the Atlas Air 744 is used by multiple teams — presumably some teams for whatever reason have decided to contract with Atlas Air and that’s the plane that’s available. Seems reasonable even if overkill.
Going not that far back into recent history, I remember Super Bowl team would often charter a UA or DL 744 for their Super Bowl transport before those planes were retired
Jan 23, 23, 8:40 am
#12
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Some of DL's last 747-400 operations were for sports charters, including for the Buffalo Bills last game of the season in Miami and for Clemson for the College Football Playoffs in January 2018. Keep in mind certain things with NFL team charters. Many players require two seats based on size. And if a 53 person roster + coaches + trainers + support staff + front office personnel also are allowed to or opt to bring family, friends, etc, you can quickly begin to fill up even a 747.
Jan 25, 23, 7:02 am
#13
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The DL team flights always have the same flight number all season long. Most (if not all) of the charter flights start with DL88**.
For instance the Packers are DL8863, Vikings are DL8866, Seahawks are 8868. 8861 looks to be the Bengals but doesn’t show up on FlightRadar yet for this weekend. Most teams take large planes. Veteran players in the front, newer players than staff. Some head coaches take the front, but the good ones let their players have it. Many in coach sit every other seat. For NFL, family doesn’t fly on the team planes, except maybe for Super Bowl but I’d suspect even for SuperBowl they’d charter a different family flight.
For instance the Packers are DL8863, Vikings are DL8866, Seahawks are 8868. 8861 looks to be the Bengals but doesn’t show up on FlightRadar yet for this weekend. Most teams take large planes. Veteran players in the front, newer players than staff. Some head coaches take the front, but the good ones let their players have it. Many in coach sit every other seat. For NFL, family doesn’t fly on the team planes, except maybe for Super Bowl but I’d suspect even for SuperBowl they’d charter a different family flight.
Jan 25, 23, 8:58 am
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My question is where do these planes come from?
Are these planes that have slack in the schedule to run as a charter or is there any downfield impact (e.g., the occasional thread we see about a 764 --> 763 downgrade is because that 764 has been pulled out for a charter run)?
Presumably during the season there is more predictability for them to work the planes in and out of charter runs without much downline impact but the playoffs are a different question because you don't know until a week before if the teams you are providing charter service for are (a) going to need you the following week and (b) where they are going
Are these planes that have slack in the schedule to run as a charter or is there any downfield impact (e.g., the occasional thread we see about a 764 --> 763 downgrade is because that 764 has been pulled out for a charter run)?
Presumably during the season there is more predictability for them to work the planes in and out of charter runs without much downline impact but the playoffs are a different question because you don't know until a week before if the teams you are providing charter service for are (a) going to need you the following week and (b) where they are going
Jan 25, 23, 9:06 am
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My question is where do these planes come from?
Are these planes that have slack in the schedule to run as a charter or is there any downfield impact (e.g., the occasional thread we see about a 764 --> 763 downgrade is because that 764 has been pulled out for a charter run)?
Presumably during the season there is more predictability for them to work the planes in and out of charter runs without much downline impact but the playoffs are a different question because you don't know until a week before if the teams you are providing charter service for are (a) going to need you the following week and (b) where they are going
Are these planes that have slack in the schedule to run as a charter or is there any downfield impact (e.g., the occasional thread we see about a 764 --> 763 downgrade is because that 764 has been pulled out for a charter run)?
Presumably during the season there is more predictability for them to work the planes in and out of charter runs without much downline impact but the playoffs are a different question because you don't know until a week before if the teams you are providing charter service for are (a) going to need you the following week and (b) where they are going
No they're not going to downgauge a 764 to 763 just to run a charter. Even if they got paid enough, the PR nightmare wouldn't be worth it. Means up to (i believe) 10 D1 passengers displaced.
