Apple buys 50 business class seats from San Francisco to Shanghai every day

MacRumors:

Apple is United Airlines’ biggest customer at the San Francisco International Airport, according to signs the airline has available that were shared on Twitter today.

According to United, Apple spends $150 million on airline tickets each year, and purchases 50 business class seats on flights to Shanghai every day.

Apple spends $35 million each year on flights from SFO to Shanghai, which is the number one flight the company purchases.

I wonder why it wouldn’t be more cost effective to simply buy their own plane(s)? I’m sure they’ve already thought of that though.