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Starbucks has eliminated a $250,000 cap on its chief executive’s use of the company jet for personal travel due to escalating security concerns.
Brian Niccol utilizes the corporate aircraft to commute approximately 1,000 miles between his residence in Newport Beach, California, and the company’s headquarters in Seattle.
Prior to September, his personal use of the jet was subject to an annual limit, after which he was obligated to reimburse the company for expenses incurred.
However, Starbucks has stated that the cap was removed following a security assessment that recommended he employ the private jet for all air travel due to increased media scrutiny and “credible threat actors.” The arrangement will now be subject to quarterly reviews.
This decision aligns with a trend among US companies of enhancing security measures for executives, prompted in part by the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last year.
Starbucks indicated that an independent third-party study “determined that enhanced personal security measures were necessary for Mr. Niccol’s personal safety.”
The company stated: “Given Mr. Niccol’s chief executive role, the enhanced media attention to which Mr. Niccol and Starbucks are subject, and the current threat landscape, the security study for Mr. Niccol also recommended that Mr. Niccol use private aviation for all air travel, whether for personal, commuting, or business purposes.”
Starbucks’ compensation committee recommended in September that the cap be replaced by a quarterly review of his personal flights, which was subsequently approved by the board of directors.
The announcement of Niccol as Starbucks’ new chief executive in summer 2024, succeeding Laxman Narasimhan, drew criticism when it was revealed he would be commuting nearly 1,000 miles via the company plane.
Critics argued that there was an inconsistency between Starbucks’ public commitment to environmental responsibility and the lifestyles of its top executives.
Niccol’s employment offer stipulated that he would “not be required to relocate to the company’s headquarters,” but added: “You agree to commute from your residence to the company’s headquarters… as is required to perform your duties and responsibilities.”
The document specified that he would be eligible to utilize the company’s aircraft for “business-related travel” and for “travel between [his] city of residence and the company’s headquarters.”
Under a time-share agreement, he would reimburse Starbucks for personal use of the jet exceeding a $250,000 annual limit.
Considering the profile of Niccol and Starbucks in Seattle, the third-party review also recommended a “dedicated car and driver service for ground transportation” when he travels to the Washington state city, where he also maintains a residence.
Niccol received a compensation package of nearly $31 million in 2025, and over $95 million the previous year.
According to a company filing, his total security expenses amounted to $1.1 million in 2025, in addition to $997,000 in expenses related to his use of the Starbucks jet for commuting and personal travel.
Niccol was recruited from Chipotle Mexican Grill, where he played a key role in the brand’s recovery following food poisoning outbreaks. His mandate at Starbucks was to reverse a sales decline at the coffee chain.
His “Back to Starbucks” strategy involved accelerating service, simplifying the “overly complex menu,” and reassessing pricing strategies.
Niccol also announced an agreement to sell a significant stake in Starbucks’ China business, eliminate 2,000 positions, and close underperforming coffee shops.
On Wednesday, Starbucks reported its first sales growth at established stores in the US in two years.
US like-for-like sales, encompassing stores open for at least a year, increased by 4% during the three months ending December 28, 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. Overall, global comparable sales also rose by 4% year-on-year.
Total revenue increased by 6% to $9.9 billion from $9.3 billion for the corresponding period in 2024.
However, pre-tax profit decreased to $764.8 million from $1 billion. Starbucks attributed the profit decline to “labor investments” supporting its turnaround strategy.
The company also cited “inflationary pressures, primarily driven by tariffs and elevated coffee pricing.”
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