An Associated Press investigation has found that South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford relied on charter jet services costing more than $63,000 when traveling in Europe on two state business trips.
According to the average of current ticket prices listed on a Web booking site, commercial flights for those trips would have saved the state more than $41,000. But state officials say the governor and others couldn't fly commercial because of time constraints.
The use of expensive charters surprised a former state economic development director who said less costly commercial travel in Europe was the norm during his tenure under governors Dick Riley and Carroll Campbell.
Two other former governors confirmed they flew commercial unless traveling to remote areas.
