NFL franchise Arizona Cardinals buys a 777

The Arizona Cardinals, a National Football League (NFL) franchise, has acquired an ex-Delta Air Lines B777-200(ER) for team travel.

N867DA (msn 29743) is a 19.9-year-old widebody that was retired by Delta on October 29, 2020. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows it was stored at Victorville, Lake Charles Chennault, and Marana airports before being ferried to Fort Worth Alliance for repainting on December 6 and delivery to Phoenix Sky Harbor on December 17. The day after, the Cardinals used the aircraft for the first time, flying to Detroit Metropolitan for their dismal game against the Detroit Lions.

The jet, which is operated for the Cardinals by Jet Aviation Flight Services, is equipped with 28 first-class, 48 business-class, and 90 premium seats.

The Cardinals said that this season, they were the fifth-most travelling franchise in the NFL. Given the size of NFL teams – which comprise up to 53 players in addition to numerous staff members – chartering aircraft for frequent travel for away fixtures is a complicated task. The Cardinals are the second team in the NFL to acquire their own aircraft after the New England Patriots, headquartered in Foxborough between Boston and Providence, bought two B767-300(ER)s through their Team 125 unit. Both aircraft are operated by Eastern Airlines.