Warner Bros Discovery flies to Aspen the week of DOJ merger clearance and internal turmoil

Warner Bros Discovery flew from Charlotte to Aspen on June 17, touching down after a three-and-a-half-hour flight in a Dassault Falcon 900EX. The trip comes the same week the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division approved the company’s $111 billion merger with Paramount, closing its eight-month investigation without requiring divestitures, as reported by [variety.com](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/doj-approves-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger-1236780234/).

The Aspen arrival—hardly a routine stop for the company—suggests a high-level retreat or board meeting rather than a production visit. The merger still faces scrutiny from European and UK regulators, with a July 14 deadline from the European Commission, per [deadline.com](https://deadline.com/2026/06/paramount-warner-bros-merger-approved-doj-1236955152/). The choice of a secluded mountain town aligns with confidential strategy discussions.

The flight also follows a pattern: the Falcon 900EX has shuttled between New York, Washington, and Charlotte in recent weeks. Meanwhile, sources cited by [usabusinesstimes.com](https://usabusinesstimes.com/warner-bros-discoverys-secret-succession-drama-is-rattling-hollywood/) describe a “pressure cooker” within Warner Bros Discovery, with CEO David Zaslav facing board unrest and lagging subscriber targets. Aspen, long a venue for quiet corporate reshuffling, may host more than just fresh powder this week.