A lawsuit alleges Yellowstone Club canceled a $4.8 million contract with PJS Group after ‘discrimination’ by Westchester County Airport.
The Yellowstone Club canceled a contract with Private Jet Services Group, costing the charter broker at least $4.8 million, after Westchester County Airport wrongly denied landing permissions, according to allegations in a lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed last week in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
It names the County of Westchester and April Gasparri, in her capacity as the airport’s executive director.
A copy of the complaint can be downloaded at the bottom of this article.
A spokesperson for the airport tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, “We received the complaint and are in the process of reviewing it.”
She continues, “That being said, we do not believe the County or the Airport have acted in any unlawful manner.”
Private Jet Services Group is part of Elevate Aviation Group.
In the filing, it alleges airport authorities at HPN barred its flights while allowing other operators to conduct similar flights.
PJS Group, as it is also known, says that actions by the airport cost it a lucrative contract.
The contract covered seasonal flights between the airport, which serves the tony suburbs north of Manhattan, and the high-end community located near Bozeman, Montana.
According to the lawsuit, during the summer of 2024, Yellowstone Club contracted with PJS Group.
The deal was to provide “limited, seasonal charter flights” for its members.
The charter broker then contracted with Northern Pacific Airlines as the operator.
It planned to utilize the airline’s Boeing 757-200 aircraft.
The jets had been converted into a VIP configuration with 78 seats.
The filing claims, “HPN has a long history of permitting (Yellowstone Club) related charters using large aircraft, including B737, A319, A320, and B757 aircraft. Some of these aircraft, like the B757-200, are over 120,000 pounds Maximum Gross Take Off Weight (MGTOW), and thus, under the airport’s rules, required special Prior Permission Request (PPR), which were always approved.”
Private Jet Services Group stated:
‘In August 2024, PJS representatives visited HPN to view the operational flow and requirements needed for the B757-200 at the designated pad at HPN, operated by Atlantic Aviation. Following this visit and validation of safe, secure, and capable operations for the aircraft and the needs of the (Yellowstone Club) member-passengers, (Northern Pacific Airlines) approached HPN officials, via email, to ensure support and alignment for the continuation of Yellowstone Club charters at HPN. On August 29, 2024, (Airport Executive Director April) Gasparri responded via email indicating that following a phone call with HPN’s FBO, Atlantic Aviation, HPN found the charters to be ‘acceptable under our operating parameters,’ but only if the charters were on other narrow-body aircraft types such as the B737-800 or A320. Permission for use of the B757 was implicitly denied.’
According to the filing, “Both of these other aircraft types are also over the 120,000-pound MGTOW, thus requiring a PPR; both are also single aisle narrow-body aircraft, and both are frequently operated with higher and denser LOPA (seating capacity) than the VIP LOPA 757-200s operated by (Northern Pacific Airlines).”
Private Jet Service Group added that Delta Air Lines was operating Boeing 757-200 charter flights under the “same parameters” it sought.
The filing claims Delta operated at 35 Boeing 757-200 charter flights at HPN during 2024 on behalf of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers.
On December 3, 2024, Northern Pacific Airlines sent an email letter to Gasparri, “outlining the discriminatory behavior of HPN and requesting that it revisit its denial.”
On December 18, 2024, Gaspari approved the use of the B757-200s for the charter season, except flights on January 5, January 6, March 16, and March 17, 2025.
The denials were based on what airport officials claimed was “operational policy of no more than one B757-200 on the ground at any given time.”
PJS Group’s filing claims, “No explanation of when this new policy came to be, or how or when it was adopted, was given, nor was a written copy of it provided.”
After one flight was rerouted to LaGuardia Airport in Queens County, 30 miles south of HPN, the Yellowstone Club canceled the contract.
The filing continues:
‘Given all of HPN’s denials during the 2024–25 charter season, and subsequent lack of conversations by HPN to resolve the issue moving forward, (Yellowstone Club) proceeded to cancel its contract with PJS for the 2025–26 charter season and beyond, for the reason that it is critical for (Yellowstone Club) members to be able to fly in and out of HPN. Without assurance that (Northern Pacific Airlines) aircraft could be operated on the desired dates at HPN, (Yellowstone) had to cancel the contract.’
Private Jet Services Group said while airport officials gave “a vague reference to limiting operations” of larger aircraft to “preserve runway life,” they never provided a written copy of the policy, “If, indeed, one exists.”
PJS called the airport’s actions “arbitrary and discriminatory.”
As evidence, the charter broker points to January 5, 2025.
It alleges Delta landed two Boeing 757 charters.
The Miami, Florida-based broker says it has been unable to resolve the situation informally.
The lawsuit alleges HPN’s “unconstitutional and discriminatory conduct has harmed, and will continue to harm, plaintiffs irreparably by causing a substantial loss of business and damaging Plaintiff’s business reputation and goodwill.”
It concludes, “As a direct result of the defendants’ actions, (Yellowstone Club) canceled the remaining four years of its contract with plaintiffs, resulting in a loss of at least $4.8 million in revenue.”
HPN was the nation’s fourth-busiest airport for private jets in 2024.
PJS Group announced a partnership with Northern Pacific last year.
At the time, PJS Group CEO Greg Raiff said, “We are thrilled to have the VIP configuration of the Boeing 757 ready for take-off.”
He added, “The deployment of these VIP cabins further strengthens our ability to provide world-class service tailored to the unique needs of our clientele at cost-efficient prices far more compelling than scheduled airline fares.”
The broker said it was targeting sports teams, performers, incentive travel planners, corporate shuttles, and luxury destinations.
Its client roster has included The Rolling Stones, Maroon 5, Beyonce, and Guns N’ Roses.
PJS is also active with sports teams.
Its website says it has flown winners of 17 Stanley Cups, 12 NCAA Football Championships, and 19 MLS Cup Championships.
PJS Group, in a written statement, said, “The suit alleges unlawful and discriminatory denial of access to HPN for Boeing 757-200 charter flights operated on behalf of PJS, while allowing Delta Air Lines charter flights for MSG Sports, including the National Basketball Association’s New York Knicks and National Hockey League’s New York Rangers, on nearly identical Boeing 757-200 aircraft during the same time-period as flights for PJS were denied.”
The statement continued, “The lawsuit highlights broader concerns about transparency, fairness, and equitable access at a publicly funded airport. PJS is seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent further arbitrary and discriminatory treatment and to restore fair access to the airport. PJS hopes the lawsuit can shed light on the fact that HPN has created undocumented policies that favor some operators over others, in violation of federal regulations.”
Yellowstone Club did not respond at the time of publication.
DOWNLOAD: Private Jet Services Group v. Westchester County Complaint
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