Charlotte Knights and PSA Airlines Strike a Three-Year Partnership

(CHARLOTTE) The Charlotte Knights and PSA Airlines on Friday announced a new three-year partnership that makes PSA Airlines the Official Airline of the Triple-A club, effective immediately. The agreement, unveiled on August 29, 2025, aligns with PSA’s headquarters relocation and expansion in Charlotte, underscoring a shared push for growth, stronger community ties, and more efficient team travel across the 2025–2028 seasons. The deal will run through the end of the 2028 baseball season, with both organizations describing a broad plan for joint promotions and fan-centered programs at Truist Field.

PSA Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines, is moving its headquarters from Dayton, Ohio, to Charlotte, where the carrier already operates its largest base. The company expects to bring 200–400 new jobs across operations, maintenance, administration, and training. That workforce lift, combined with the Charlotte Knights’ regional profile, positions the partnership as both a branding play and a practical tie-in to PSA’s growing presence at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

PSA Airlines CEO Dion Flannery has stressed that Charlotte offers a strong aviation workforce, modern infrastructure, and space for advanced training and an operations control center.

Game-day integration and visibility

Under the agreement, the Charlotte Knights will integrate PSA Airlines into game-day experiences and team channels, offering branding visibility at Truist Field and across digital platforms. In exchange, PSA gains year-round association with a franchise that draws families, business travelers, and sports fans from across the Carolinas.

Knights leadership framed the partnership as a lift for fans and players alike, citing:
– better travel logistics,
– expanded promotions, and
– new ways to connect with the community.

PSA views the deal as a way to cement its identity as a Charlotte-based employer during a critical hiring period while tapping into a vibrant downtown ballpark audience.

Relocation ties and economic effects

PSA’s move is more than symbolic. The airline is taking nearly 80,000 square feet at 2709 Water Ridge Parkway, roughly three miles from the airport. The new site will house an expanded training footprint and an operations control center.

Company officials plan to have the Charlotte headquarters fully operational by the end of 2025, with staff relocation continuing through the year. By April 2025, 115 employees had already committed to the move.

Analysts in the aviation and sports sectors say the Knights–PSA pairing shows how regional brands can build shared momentum when corporate growth intersects with a team’s local reach.

The day-to-day effects are immediate for the Knights. Team travel is a constant in Triple-A baseball, and a closer link with PSA Airlines can:
– streamline planning,
– reduce friction for coaches, players, and support staff, and
– improve logistics for away and charter trips.

For PSA, visibility at a downtown ballpark helps recruit and retain staff while highlighting Charlotte’s broader role as an aviation and sports hub in the Southeast.

What the partnership means for people in Charlotte

While the announcement reads like a classic sports-business deal, it carries practical consequences for workers and newcomers who may join PSA Airlines in Charlotte.

The airline’s anticipated hiring wave could open doors for:
– local candidates,
– recent graduates, and
– relocating families tied to the aviation field.

People who move for these roles should plan for standard employment verification steps. Employers must complete Form I-9, which checks a new hire’s identity and work authorization. The official resource is available from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at USCIS Form I-9.

New hires—whether U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or those working with valid nonimmigrant status—should be ready with accepted documents and pay attention to HR deadlines.

From a timing standpoint:
– The partnership is active now.
– PSA’s Charlotte headquarters is slated to be fully operational by year’s end.
– Recruiting, onboarding, and team integrations will ramp up through late 2025 and into 2026.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, regional job expansions tied to aviation hubs often draw talent on employment-based visas as well as U.S. workers seeking advancement, making clear, well-timed onboarding critical for both employer and employee families.

“Teamwork, community involvement, and regional investment” are the themes both organizations emphasize as they roll out joint programs and hiring efforts.

The Charlotte Knights point to chances to build deeper ties with fans through co-branded events and promotions. PSA emphasizes the value of a hometown anchor as it adds capacity and settles into a larger footprint. Industry watchers say this partnership offers a model for how sports organizations can connect with employers in growth sectors to reach families where they live and work.

Key details (released Friday)

• Official Announcement: August 29, 2025
• Duration: Three years, through the end of the 2028 season
• Scope: PSA Airlines designated as the Official Airline of the Charlotte Knights
• Jobs: 200–400 positions expected in Charlotte
• Facilities: Nearly 80,000 square feet at Water Ridge Parkway for headquarters, training, and operations

PSA Airlines’ future plans include adding 14 aircraft to its fleet, signaling broader expansion that aligns with its Charlotte strategy. Both organizations say they’ll roll out community programs focused on youth engagement and education and plan annual reviews to measure impact and shape next steps.

What fans and workers can expect

For fans:
– PSA branding and promotions will appear at Truist Field during games.
– Expect new promos, airport-themed nights, and co-branded events.
– Early, visible wins will emphasize community connections between sports and aviation.

For employees and job seekers:
– Training upgrades, systems investments, and steady hiring will happen behind the scenes.
– Some roles require multi-week training blocks; plan family logistics accordingly.
– Practical steps to prepare:
1. Keep identification and work authorization documents current for Form I-9 checks.
2. If relocating, plan for school enrollment and housing searches near commute routes.
3. Monitor airline training schedules and hiring notices.

For Charlotte’s economy:
– The combined effect includes new jobs, higher-profile events, and more reasons for people to visit or settle in the city.
– City leaders see potential for steady employment, higher retention, and a deeper employer base.

Looking ahead

The Charlotte Knights, the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, have long pitched themselves as a civic meeting point. Pairing that role with an airline centered in the city creates natural crossover: game-day experiences that feature the people who move the region’s travelers, and airport-driven growth that brings more families to the ballpark on off days.

As the partnership matures, expect practical measures to define its real value:
– smoother travel for players,
– coordinated charity drives,
– targeted hiring events, and
– community programs embedded in both organizations’ calendars.

Both groups say they’re ready to move quickly: the Knights will embed PSA Airlines across the season’s calendar, and the airline will use team channels to reach potential hires and travelers. If the early plans hold, Charlotte should see benefits in the stands, at the airport, and across neighborhoods that rely on dependable paychecks and accessible community programs.