Occidental Petroleum flies from Midland to Houston the week of CEO succession

Occidental Petroleum flew from Midland International Air and Space Port to Houston Bush Intercontinental on May 12, 2026, a 68-minute hop aboard the company's Embraer ERJ-175 (N170XY). The flight arrived at 10:42 p.m. local time, touching down at the energy giant's headquarters city.

The same week, Occidental Petroleum announced that CEO Vicki Hollub will retire effective June 1, with COO Richard Jackson succeeding her, per a May 1 press release on GlobeNewswire. The company also reported first-quarter 2026 results on May 5, beating guidance in oil and gas and midstream segments, as detailed in its SEC filing. The Midland-to-Houston route likely carried executives from the Permian Basin operations—Occidental's core production region—back to HQ for transition planning and quarterly review.

This flight fits a pattern: the ERJ-175 shuttled between Houston and Midland multiple times in the preceding days, including a May 11 round trip. The aircraft, configured for employee transport, serves as the company's link between its Houston nerve center and its West Texas oil fields.