Elevate Aviation Group subsidiary Private Jet Services Group (PJS) has initiated a federal lawsuit against Westchester County in New York along with its airport director, alleging discrimination.
As per a news release sent to FLYING by PJS, the lawsuit claims that the county and airport director, April Gasparri, denied access to Westchester County Airport (KHPN) for PJS’s Boeing 757-200 charter flights.
It was noted in the release that Delta Air Lines was permitted to conduct charter flights at the airport for MSG Sports—including the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers—on a “nearly identical” Boeing 757-200 at the same time that PJS faced restrictions.
The legal action, filed on Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asserts that this denial led to PJS losing its brokerage agreement with Yellowstone Mountain Club for flights operated by New Pacific Airlines to Westchester County Airport.
“Despite prior approvals and successful operations of such flights at [Westchester County Airport], officials have continued to arbitrarily and deliberately deny PJS and [New Pacific Airlines] access, while simultaneously permitting equivalent operations by Delta Air Lines…on behalf of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers,” the complaint declares.
Furthermore, the complaint states that Yellowstone Mountain Club terminated its remaining four-year contract with PJS and New Pacific Airlines, precipitating a projected revenue loss of $4.8 million over that period. Private Jet Services Group is pursuing an unspecified amount in compensatory damages for these financial losses.
“The lawsuit underscores broader issues regarding transparency, fairness, and equitable access at a publicly funded airport,” the news release indicated. “PJS is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to halt ongoing arbitrary and discriminatory treatment and to reinstate fair access to the airport. PJS aims for the lawsuit to reveal that [Westchester County Airport] has established undocumented policies that favor certain operators over others, in contravention of federal regulations.”
FLYING has contacted Westchester County for comments regarding the lawsuit.
Based on an article from flyingmag.com: https://www.flyingmag.com/charter-jet-company-sues-westchester-county-airport-director-alleging-discrimination/
