Skip navigation
MOST POPULAR RELATED TAGS
  • TOPICS
  • SECTORS
  • COMPANIES
Sports Biz Video Gallery
CNBC's Darren Rovell has the story on Scott Smith putting his Sports Illustrated collection on sale.
CNBC's Darren Rovell follows the money and the future of Notre Dame head football coach, Charlie Weis, after another dis...
darren rovell's sports index
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

RSS FEED

» Help

Current DateTime: 09:05:26 27 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 30212900

SPORTS BIZ VIDEO GALLERY

» More

Current DateTime: 09:05:26 27 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 30231077
powered by digg

Sports Biz

Text Size
May.20
1:01 PM ET
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Lakers/Spurs Could Find Themselves "Grounded" In NBA Playoffs
Posted By:Darren Rovell
Topics:Airlines | Sports

Picture this: After five games, the Los Angeles Lakers are up on the San Antonio Spurs three games to two in this year’s Western Conference Finals.

Two jets fly the Lakers and Spurs from Los Angeles back to San Antonio for Game Six. But that airline won’t be able to take them back to Los Angeles for the final game should the Spurs prevail.

Why? Because Champion Air, the charter airline that flies 14 NBA teams--including both the Spurs and the Lakers-–is going out of business on May 31, the same day a Game Six would be played.

Cubbie_n_vegas
Champion Air

That means that the NBA will have to find a replacement for Champion, whose contract was supposed to expire at the end of the season, but must discontinue service due to the economic slowdown, the tight credit markets and $130 a barrel oil.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass told me that they are currently reviewing their options, including have the teams fly with a major carrier (not commercial) or perhaps a well-known charter service.

Champion was an ideal charter service for the NBA because six of its planes were fitted to have only 59 seats, all first class. But it’s got to be uncomfortable now.

It’s one thing if an airline files for bankruptcy and continues operating like United and Frontier, it’s another thing if an airline is ceasing operations like EOS, Maxjet, Aloha, ATA and Skybus.

I don’t think I would want to be on one of those flights, let alone the precious cargo that makes up the Spurs and the Lakers.

The San Antonio News-Express reported last month that these planes had an unusual amount of incidents though Champion Air challenged the findings. All I know is that these planes are 727’s – which means that the youngest this model plane can be is 23 years old.

Fourteen NBA teams flew this year with Champion Air, which started as MGM Grand Air. These teams will fly specially-fitted Northwest [NWA  Loading...      ()   ] planes next year.

Update: Henry Abbott of ESPN.com's TrueHoop is reporting that the Spurs plane was grounded last night after they beat the New Orleans Hornets.  According to the report, the Spurs slept on the plane. Sources have confirmed this report. The plane had mechanical problems. Another plane was sent.

Questions?  Comments? 
© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Tools:
PrintEmailAdd This share icon
Next Post
  • digg share
ADD COMMENTS
Remaining characters


Current DateTime: 06:14:06 27 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29778428

Current DateTime: 09:11:30 27 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779196

Current DateTime: 10:38:14 27 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779199

Current DateTime: 07:56:29 27 Nov 2009
LinksList Documentid: 29779198
  Data is a real-time snapshot  *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis

© 2009 CNBC, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.
A Division of NBC Universal
Thomson ReutersThomson Reuters