IBM's jet lands in Raleigh-Durham the week of its sub-1 nm chip and OpenAI deals

IBM's Gulfstream G650ER, tail number N780TW, was tracked flying from Dave's Aerodrome in New Jersey to Raleigh-Durham International Airport on June 29, 2026. The 57-minute flight arrived at 21:08 UTC, cruising at 26,000 feet. The aircraft is part of IBM's two-jet fleet, both 2020 Gulfstream G650ERs valued at over $70 million each.

If IBM representatives were on board, they would have arrived the same week as two major corporate milestones: the unveiling of the world's first sub-1 nanometer chip technology on June 25, per IBM's newsroom, and the announcement of a joint OpenAI cyber defense partnership on June 22. Raleigh-Durham is home to IBM's Research Triangle Park campus, a key center for the company's consulting and cloud operations, making this a logical destination for internal coordination on both the semiconductor breakthrough and the new AI-powered security service.

The flight fits a recurring pattern: IBM's aircraft frequently shuttle between Westchester County and Raleigh-Durham, with multiple trips recorded in recent weeks. The company's policy mandates that all air travel by the Chairman and CEO be on company aircraft, though who was aboard this particular hop remains speculative.