Altria's G600 makes a brief Richmond flight the day after CEO Billy Gifford's retirement

Altria's Gulfstream G600, tail N805AG, departed and arrived at Richmond International Airport on May 15, 2026, in a brief flight lasting just minutes at an altitude of 225 feet — likely a test or repositioning hop. The aircraft had been active in the days prior, flying from Richmond to Chicago, Toronto, and Reno, suggesting a busy schedule of executive travel.

The local flight came the day after Altria announced the retirement of CEO Billy Gifford, effective May 14, and the appointment of Sal Mancuso as his successor, per a Nasdaq press release. Gifford had presided over his final earnings call on April 30, where Altria reported a 7.3% rise in adjusted diluted EPS and reaffirmed full-year guidance, as covered by Business Wire.

The timing of the short flight — the first recorded movement after the leadership change — may reflect routine aircraft checks or a brief executive transfer. But it lands in a week dominated by the company's transition, with the new CEO stepping in and the G600's recent cross-country trips hinting at the behind-the-scenes meetings that typically accompany a handoff.