New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has spent $415,000 on at least 30 private jet flights since 2021, according to records obtained from the New York State Board of Elections records by the New York Post.
"It's very wasteful, especially for an elected official. There is no reason why any elected official in New York should be taking a private jet. Nearly everywhere in New York or upstate has a [commercial] airport that will take you anywhere in the country. New York is one of the most well-connected places on the planet," one local pilot told the Post.
Records indicate Hochul flew with two private airlines, Zephyr Jets and Apollo Jets, in the last four years. The destinations of the flights were not listed, but costs per flight amounted anywhere from $5,000 to $38,594.00.
The majority of Hochul's flights took place in 2022 when she was running against her Republican challenger, Lee Zeldin.
Critics have highlighted the disconnect between Hochul's private jet usage and her public outspokenness in calling for the implementation of climate change legislation. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-NY, criticized the governor, stating, "When it comes of combating climate change, the governor is conspicuously failing to practice what she preaches. New Yorkers viscerally resent hypocrisy, and the governor's hypocrisy here is as staggering as her carbon footprint.
In an October 2022 post on X, then Twitter, Hochul declared, "I'm the only candidate for Governor of New York who is committed to cracking down on polluters, cutting carbon emissions, and treating climate change like the crisis that it is. Our environmental progress is at stake in November."
Hochul's office defended the private flights, describing them as "strictly allocated for legitimate campaign activities."
Nick Koutsobinas ✉
Nick Koutsobinas, a Newsmax writer, has years of news reporting experience. A graduate from Missouri State University’s philosophy program, he focuses on exposing corruption and censorship.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.