Up to 1,000 private jets are expected to land in New Orleans this weekend as VIPs descend on the Big Easy to party and see the 49ers and the Ravens face off.
But because of an uptick in private air travel this year — in 2011, an estimated 600 private jets landed at the Super Bowl, up from just 400 in 2008 — many moguls will find themselves shuttling to New Orleans from airports in other cities because there won’t be enough private parking places for jets at local Louis Armstrong airport.
“It’s so bad that they won’t all be able to park in New Orleans,” says one fixture on the global party circuit. The source added that some high-fliers are arranging to touch down in Baton Rouge, 90 minutes from New Orleans by car, and will have to hire cars from there.
“Private jets will be backed up all the way to Mobile, Ala.” which is three hours away by car, the insider says.
Stars expected at the Super Bowl this year — where Beyoncé performs — include the singer’s hubby, Jay-Z, and sister Solange, as well as Justin Timberlake, Kate Upton, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Cee Lo Green, rappers Snoop Dogg, Pitbull, Lil Wayne, Flo Rida, Ludacris and B.o.B, nonplaying NFL stars Mark Sanchez, Victor Cruz and Michael Vick, tennis great Andy Roddick and his actress wife, Brooklyn Decker, Hollywood players Jamie Foxx, Will Ferrell, Jeremy Renner, Sandra Bullock, Josh Hutcherson, Michael Bay and Olympians Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
“Over $25 million will be spent on private jets to fly less than 4,000 football fans to New Orleans,” estimated a source. “The airport can’t handle the demand.”
Of course, the city’s a more desirable destination for jet-setters than last year’s location, Indianapolis.
We hear one airline, JFI Jets, is sending a fleet of G4s filled with CEOs. “The airplanes charter for between $2,800 and $7,000 per hour,” says JFI’s CEO Bob Seidel. And some VIPs are already worrying about next year, when the big game is at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.