ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo travels in taxpayer-funded aircraft far more than other big-state governors, according to an examination of travel records by the New York Times.
Cuomo took 195 trips in taxpayer-funded planes and helicopters in 2017, the Times reported Friday. While he is entitled by law to fly the fleet, the Democrat’s frequent trips this election year have raised questions of whether state aircraft gives him an unfair advantage over his primary opponent, Cynthia Nixon.
The Times reviewed records in the 10 most populous states for comparison and found Democrat Cuomo flew more frequently on state aircraft than any other governor of states that provided records. In California, the governor flies commercial, and in Texas, the governor pays for private charters. One of the states, North Carolina, didn’t respond by press time.
Cuomo press secretary Dani Lever called it unfair to construe government events as political trips. Cuomo’s campaign said he has driven to more than 30 campaign events.
The Times reported that Cuomo sometimes takes as many as four flights a day, sometimes for distances of 20 miles or less. For an event in July 2017 on Long Island touting commuter railroad upgrades, he flew from Manhattan in a helicopter rather than driving the 30 miles or taking a commuter train. This summer, Cuomo has flown to virtually every corner of the state.
"The governor uses the plane or helicopter for official events for his work representing the people of New York and he’s not going to serve them any less because of the political calendar," Lever said.
Using state aircraft is more efficient and economical than traveling commercial, since Cuomo is accompanied by aides and security personnel, Lever said.
Some of Cuomo’s predecessors have been criticized for their use of state aircraft, including his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo. In 1994, Republican gubernatorial candidate George Pataki called the elder Cuomo’s use of the plane “Air Cuomo.” Once governor, Pataki used state aircraft 687 days in his first six-plus years in office, the Associated Press reported in 2001.
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