Occidental Petroleum flies to Midland the day after a new CEO takes charge

Occidental Petroleum flew a company shuttle from a private airstrip near Houston to Midland International Air and Space Port on June 8, arriving just after 1 p.m. local time. The Embraer ERJ-175, tail number N170XY, spent about an hour in the air on the routine hop to the heart of the Permian Basin.

The trip lands the same week Richard Jackson formally took over as president and chief executive officer, effective June 1, after Vicki Hollub's retirement was disclosed in an April 30 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission [sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/797468/000095015726000569/form8-k.htm). Jackson, previously chief operating officer, now leads the Houston-based independent at a moment when its overseas assets — particularly a 40 percent stake in the Shah gas project in the UAE — remain offline following a reported drone strike in March, per coverage in the Houston Business Journal [hoodline.com](https://hoodline.com/2026/03/houston-s-occidental-caught-in-gulf-crossfire-as-uae-gas-giant-goes-dark/).

The flight continues a pattern of frequent shuttle movements between Houston and the Permian. Over the past week, Occidental's ERJ-175 made at least three round trips to the Midland-Odessa area, consistent with the company's heavy operational focus on the basin as Jackson's leadership begins.