The Cardinals have added a new bird to the family.
A really big bird.
The organization has purchased a Boeing 777-200ER aircraft for which to travel and will use it for the first time Saturday when the team flies to Detroit for its game against the Lions.
"It is a major undertaking every time we travel for a game," owner Michael Bidwill said. "This aircraft will not only provide major convenience but also maximum comfort for our players when getting them to and from road games.
"Every NFL team is looking for advantages whenever possible and we think this will certainly provide one."
The aircraft, branded with the Cardinals colors and design, has a seating capacity of 288, with 166 of those seats oversized for comfort. That includes 28 first-class pods with seats that lie down, along with 48 business-class seats.
Only five NFL teams this season will travel more than the 22,186 air miles the Cards must trek. The 109,277 air miles the Cardinals have traveled the past five years is seventh in the NFL over that time period.
The Cardinals are down to two road trips this season – this weekend against Detroit and a Jan. 2 game in Dallas. There is the potential for travel in the postseason, depending on where the Cardinals end up seeded.
