Ron DeSantis touches down in Naples ahead of state budget special session

Ron DeSantis flew from Tallahassee International Airport to Naples Municipal Airport on May 8, 2026, aboard the state-owned Cessna Citation Latitude N943FL. The 64-minute flight, departing at 1:16 p.m. EDT and arriving at 2:20 p.m., covered the roughly 400-mile hop at altitudes up to 27,000 feet.

The visit occurs as Florida lawmakers prepare for a special legislative session starting May 12 to complete work on the state budget for fiscal year 2026-27, according to announcements from House and Senate leaders. DeSantis, whose proposed $117 billion budget emphasizes economic growth and tax relief, often travels to key regions like southwest Florida for coordination with local stakeholders on fiscal priorities.

This trip fits a pattern of frequent intra-state flights on the executive protection aircraft, including stops in Orlando and central Florida earlier in the week, reflecting the governor's routine engagement across his home state in the lead-up to major policy sessions.