XO, a major private aviation company, has introduced XO Firsts, a collection of once-in-a-lifetime member experiences. This includes access to some of the most in-demand sporting events, the most coveted cultural happenings, and desired destinations in the world. SherpaReport reached out to Leona Qi, President U.S. of parent company VistaJet.

Private aviation solutions provider Magellan Jets has launched a jet card program specifically aimed at corporate users and named Magellan Business. It offers hourly rate locks for up to three years, 10 hour callouts and a service guarantee, with a 100 hour minimum annual commitment.

Private aviation company Airshare has acquired the aircraft management business of Wheels Up. This agreement brings about 90 managed aircraft to Airshare, and significantly expands its fleet and locations.

Solairus, a private jet management company, has reopened Altitude by Solairus. The company refers to this as a “Private Jet Charter Club” and it offers jet card like fixed hourly rates on the Solairus fleet.

The transformative, disruptive and historic idea of the eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing ) aircraft has the potential to jolt both the commercial and private aviation industries into the future. With this idea, as with most disruptive technologies, there are associated challenges and issues on the (flight) path to a commercial reality.

A few weeks ago we looked at the leading eVTOL aircraft that are in development. They offer the potential to revolutionize urban transportation and reduce congestion and emissions. However, before eVTOLs can enter commercial service on a large scale, several key issues and challenges must be addressed, including:

Textron Aviation and NetJets have signed an agreement giving NetJets the option to purchase up to 1,500 additional Cessna Citation business jets over the next 15 years. The deal covers the upcoming Cessna Citation Ascend and the Citation Latitude and Citation Longitude aircraft and is valued at about $30bn.

NetJets currently operates hundreds of mid-size Latitudes and super-mid Longtitudes, with the Latitude being the largest single model in the NetJets fleet.

The large private aviation provider Flexjet just opened a new, purpose built $50m HQ and Global Operations Control Center. SherpaReport toured the building and spoke with multiple Flexjet staff to learn more about all aspects of their operations.

Wheels Up has announced George N. Mattson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Mattson brings 25 years of aviation experience to the role, as a strategic advisor, financier, business owner/operator and director.

The interest in electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft continues to climb. There are numerous aircraft that are in development and testing, with billions of dollars being invested in their evolution - they will potentially have a huge impact on both commercial and private aviation. This article looks at the overall market and some of the leading contenders. 

Looking at the hours flown by the largest part 135 charter operators, most providers have been holding steady or seen drops in the number of hours during the first half of 2023. There are a few exceptions where companies have increased their hours.

This fits with the trend of lower hours overall after the covid induced peaks in private aviation.

Delta Air Lines joins travel and tourism investment firm Certares Management and deep value and turnaround investment firm Knighthead Capital Management in a non-binding agreement to co-lead a $500 million facility.

The lenders will receive newly issued Wheels Up common stock resulting in them owning approximately 95% of the equity of the company on a fully diluted basis. This new funding is expected to provide the company the stability to execute on its strategic vision over the long term. (Update: This funding deal closed on 20th September.)

The large private aviation operator Wheels Up has just received additional funding from Delta Air Lines - one of its largest shareholders.