Originally published January 8, 2009 at 5:34 PM | Page modified January 8, 2009 at 7:27 PM

Schultz took Starbucks' new jet to Hawaii for the holidays

Howard Schultz apparently used Starbucks' new corporate jet to spend the holidays in Hawaii with his family. The Seattle company bought...

By Melissa Allison

Seattle Times business reporter

As stores close, Starbucks buys a jet

Howard Schultz apparently used Starbucks' new corporate jet to spend the holidays in Hawaii with his family. The Seattle company bought a new Gulfstream 550 in mid-December that cost about $45 million.

A spokeswoman said Starbucks ordered the plane three years ago and that canceling delivery would have been too expensive.

She declined to say who took it to Hawaii for two weeks in late December, but said it was a combined personal and business trip.

Lance Armstrong wrote on his Twitter account that he dined with Starbucks CEO Schultz and his family in Hawaii on Dec. 30. "Great man who's committed to health care for all," Armstrong wrote.

Starbucks policy requires employees to reimburse the company for personal use of corporate planes. That policy was instituted in fiscal 2007, when Schultz reimbursed Starbucks $400,919 for flights.

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com

More Business & Technology headlines...

Print Share: Digg Newsvine