Data provided by Southern Illinois University shows that the school’s administrators have spent more than $180,000 on in-house chartered airplane flights over the past two years.

 

According to the university’s Department of Aviation Management and Flight, the two school-owned planes available for business use have shuttled staff members on more than 130 flights since July 1, 2013. The twin-engine planes were destined for locations as close as Springfield and as far away as Houston, Texas.

 

The Southern Illinoisan reports that the average cost of a round-trip flight was about $1,400.

 

University spokeswoman Rae Goldsmith says administrators try to balance potential time savings and operation costs when deciding whether or not to use the service.

 

She says it can save money on hotels and airline fees.