NRL

There have been whispers about it happening for a while and it seems the NRL is indeed closing in on buying its first private aircraft.

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This begs the obvious question: why does a rugby league competition need its own plane? 

According to reports in The Daily Telegraph clubs were told this week that the NRL is in advanced talks about securing a 150-seat aircraft as part of a broader push to diversify its assets following its landmark $5.3 billion broadcast deal from 2028.

Assuming it actually happens, it certainly won’t be a snap decision mind you.

A seed planted back in 2024

The NRL has been weighing up a purchase like this since at least the 2024 finals series.

That’s when ARLC boss Peter V’landys floated the idea after the North Queensland Cowboys were left scrambling for commercial seats out of Townsville ahead of a week two finals match-up against Cronulla in Sydney — a situation that forced the league to help fund a $100,000 emergency charter. 

With all commercial seats sold out in Townsville, the incident exposed just how vulnerable the competition is to the limits of standard aviation providers as it continues to expand its footprint ever wider.

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The timing now makes particular sense given the imminent arrival of the Perth Bears in 2027, easily the NRL’s most geographically isolated team.

Throw in a PNG side from 2028 and a second New Zealand franchise looking increasingly likely by 2029 and the NRL’s travel itinerary is only getting more and more complicated to service.

‘Air NRL’ could be the answer.

An NRL-owned aircraft would instantly give the league greater flexibility and control over scheduling for its long-haul away trips, rather than competing with the public for seats each week.

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There’s also a wider commercial angle. For example, the NRL could decide to sell spare seats on their plane to fans offering premium ‘ultimate supporter experience’ packages, turning what’s usually a logistics cost into a new revenue stream. Or run seperate mid-week and off-season charters to top up the game’s coffers whenever possible.

Does any other sporting code own its own planes?

Around the world there are virtually no professional sporting bodies with their own aircraft. Rather what ownership does exist almost always sits with cashed-up club bosses such as NFL franchises the New England Patriots and Arizona Cardinals.

The closest thing to what the NRL is currently considering can be found in a model being introduced by the 30-team NBA with its 82-game regular season.

While NBA teams have historically chartered (or in some cases owned) jets individually, the NBA is now shifting towards leasing a dedicated fleet of 13 customised Airbus A321neo jets to be run by Delta Airlines with a reconfigured capacity for 65-70 people.

Closer to home the AFL, A-League, NBL and Cricket Australia all rely solely on commercial providers and charter flights while in Super Rugby the Queensland Reds have had their own aircraft since 2021, but this is provided through a sponsorship arrangement with air charter company Alliance Aviation. They don’t own it.

Now you don’t need to think too hard to understand why the private ownership model hasn’t really been before. Frankly, it’s expensive, very expensive. 

Even allowing for the initial aircraft purchase, running costs to maintain and fuel an in-house aircraft and crew in the NFL, for example, are estimated to be in the vicinity of US$2-3 million each year, and that’s for a smaller aircraft than the 150-seater the NRL are reportedly considering.

Whether it all stacks up financially remains to be seen, but powered by an ambitious administration, new broadcast riches and a genuinely national and international expansion program, the NRL clearly believes investing its own wings is the next logical step.

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The sky is no longer the limit it seems.