How campaigns move candidates by air

Campaign travel has become its own niche in aviation, ferrying candidates, staff, donors, press, and sometimes armed security across battleground states. With a crowded election calendar, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year as lawmakers and challengers crisscross the country for rallies and fundraisers.

One specialist in this space is Gregg Brunson-Pitts, founder and CEO of Advanced Aviation Team, a Washington, DC–based brokerage that competes with commercial airlines, private jet operators, and firms such as Air Partner. The company manages complex contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars over a single cycle and draws on experience from politics, campaign travel, logistics, and private aviation; Brunson-Pitts previously ran the White House Travel Office and his vice president helped organize Mitt Romney’s 2012 MD-83 charter.

Flights can range from regional jets to full-size airliners and are often customized inside and out — from seat layouts to campaign liveries — with amenities like Wi-Fi, power, and tailored catering.

United States, Washington, DC

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