Occidental Petroleum flies to Carlsbad the week of its CEO succession

Occidental Petroleum flew from Midland, Texas, to Carlsbad, New Mexico, on May 13, 2026, a 28-minute hop in its Embraer ERJ-175, tail N170XY. The short flight between two Permian Basin hubs is routine for a company that shuttles personnel among its West Texas operations.

The same week, Occidental Petroleum is navigating a leadership transition. On May 1, the company announced that CEO Vicki Hollub will retire effective June 1, with COO Richard Jackson succeeding her, per a GlobeNewswire release. The flight pattern shows the company's ERJ-175 made multiple trips between Houston and Midland in recent days, likely ferrying executives for board meetings and operational reviews tied to the succession.

Occidental Petroleum's three-aircraft fleet includes this ERJ-175, a Gulfstream G280, and a G650ER. The recent flights show the company's Houston-based team maintaining a steady presence in the Permian Basin, where it operates extensive oil and gas assets. The Carlsbad leg fits the pattern of internal travel as the company prepares for its first CEO change in a decade.