Chevron flies from Odessa to Midland the week of its largest layoffs

Chevron flew from Odessa Schlemeyer Field to Midland International Air and Space Port on June 17, a seven-minute hop that placed the company's Boeing Business Jet in the heart of the Permian Basin. The flight arrived at 21:36 UTC, according to flight data.

The same week, Chevron is preparing for the largest layoffs in its history, planning to cut up to 8,000 jobs as it integrates Hess into its operations, per a Hoodline report on June 16. The company has already filed WARN notices in Texas and California, with 575 roles at the former Hess Tower in Houston slated to end in September. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth has described the consolidation as a natural step after the merger, but the cuts are rippling through Houston and the Bay Area.

The flight is part of a pattern: Chevron's BBJ has shuttled between Houston and the Permian Basin multiple times this month, reflecting the company's focus on its West Texas operations. The Permian remains a cornerstone of Chevron's upstream portfolio, and the visit comes as the company also pursues a $13.8-billion unconventional oil development in Argentina's Neuquén province, per Energies Media.