Altria arrives in Chicago the day its CEO retires

Altria flew from Toronto to Chicago Executive Airport on May 14, 2026, touching down at 5:25 p.m. local time after a one-hour, 14-minute hop aboard its Gulfstream G600, tail N805AG. The flight arrived the same day Billy Gifford retired as Altria’s chief executive officer, effective at the conclusion of the company’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, per a Nasdaq press release.

Gifford’s departure was announced in April, with successor Sal Mancuso elected to take over on May 14. The Chicago-area landing likely places Altria executives near the annual meeting or related board activities. The company reported a strong first quarter on April 30, growing adjusted diluted EPS by 7.3%, and reaffirmed full-year guidance, according to a Business Wire release.

Altria’s G600 has been active this week, flying from Richmond to Toronto earlier on May 14, and from Chicago to Richmond on May 12. The pattern suggests a multi-leg business trip bookending the leadership transition. The flight to Chicago, rather than Richmond, hints at a meeting or event tied to the CEO handoff.