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Magnifica Air Discloses Firm Order for Ten Airbus ACJ220-300s

Florida-based Magnifica Air disclosed a firm order for ten ACJ220-300s and chose Skywise tools, taking its planned fleet to 17 Airbus aircraft.

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Magnifica Air Discloses Firm Order for Ten Airbus ACJ220-300s
Photo: Airbus Corporate Jets

Magnifica Air, a Florida-based private airline that has yet to begin service, has disclosed a firm order for ten Airbus ACJ220-300 aircraft, an order Airbus had previously listed as undisclosed in its order book. The airline also selected Airbus’s Skywise digital tools to run its flight and technical operations.

Airbus Corporate Jets announced the order in a press release datelined Mirabel, Canada, on November 10, 2026. With the ten aircraft, Magnifica Air’s fleet will total 17 aircraft: three ACJ321neo and 14 ACJ220, each fitted with a bespoke, low-density ultra-premium cabin for mid-haul routes.

The order and the Skywise package

According to Airbus, the order expands Magnifica Air’s fleet for what the airline calls ultra-premium, tailor-made flight services. Alongside the aircraft, Magnifica Air selected a set of Skywise solutions: Skywise Core X1, a data backbone for analytics, plus flight planning, operations and crew management, and navigation databases. Airbus said the tools are meant to improve efficiency across flight and technical operations, with the operations control centre and flight operations suite intended to optimise performance on every route and flight phase.

Wade Black, CEO of Magnifica Air, said: “Airbus is far more than an aircraft manufacturer.” He described the airline’s “Private Class” concept and said the ACJ fleet and Skywise give the airline the cabin, range and operational backbone to deliver it.

Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets, called the ACJ220-300 “the perfect fit for Magnifica Air’s disruptive model” and described it as the most efficient and comfortable aircraft in its class. Airbus did not disclose the value of the order or a delivery schedule for the ten aircraft.

What the ACJ220-300 offers the airline

Airbus says the ACJ220-300 can fly up to 4,000nm, or more than nine flight hours, in a full business class configuration. That range, the manufacturer says, lets it connect all major U.S. domestic cities and reach Caribbean and European destinations. The aircraft can fly on a blend of up to 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Airbus markets its ACJ TwoTwenty as creating what it calls “The Xtra Large Bizjet” segment, with twice the cabin space of similarly priced ultra-long-range business jets, the same parking footprint and airport access, and about one third of their operating costs. More than 200 Airbus Corporate Jets are in service worldwide, according to the release. AirPro News reported in May 2026 on the first ACJ TwoTwenty deliveries in Asia-Pacific.

On the ground, Magnifica Air plans to use dedicated private aviation terminals, offer streamlined boarding and transfers, and provide dedicated concierge services, the release says.

Who Magnifica Air is

The airline launched at the 2025 NBAA-BACE show. In its launch release, dated October 15, 2025, from Miami and London, Magnifica Air said it would begin service in 2027 with Airbus A220-300 and A321neo aircraft, a fleet completed with Comlux and delivered through Air Lease Corp. Each aircraft was to seat 45 to 54 passengers, with two to four private suites and business-class recliners: four suites on the A321neo for longer routes and two on the A220-300 for mid-haul routes.

The launch plan called for six to seven daily departures from the start, linking Miami, New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Dallas and Houston, with seasonal routes to Napa Valley and the Caribbean, plus VIP charters. The airline said it operates under FAA Part 121 Supplemental Ops, will keep one spare aircraft for every four in the fleet, and, backed by CIG Companies, plans to grow to 50 aircraft. Charles Carey, Chairman and Co-Founder of CIG and Magnifica Air, appeared with Black and Saade in the photo Airbus released with the order. AirPro News also covered Magnifica Air’s earlier fleet plans in April 2026.

One of the airline’s executives has worked at Airbus Corporate Jets. The October 2025 release said Chief Development Officer Sean McGeough, a former CEO of Nextant and President of Hawker Beechcraft EMEA, has experience at Airbus Corporate Jets and Wheels Up.

What comes next

Magnifica Air has said service begins in 2027 and that it will initially operate ACJ220-300s and ACJ321neos. Once in service, the airline says, it will run the most fuel-efficient aircraft of its type in the industry. Neither company has said when the first of the ten newly disclosed ACJ220-300s will be delivered.

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Cirrus Aviation Services Adds Jets and Opens Las Vegas Private Lounge

Cirrus Aviation Services lists Challenger fleet updates, plans Starlink on its Challenger 850s and opens a Las Vegas lounge.

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Cirrus Aviation Services Adds Jets and Opens Las Vegas Private Lounge
Photo: Cirrus Aviation Services

Cirrus Aviation Services announced fleet additions, cabin refurbishments and a new 2,500-square-foot private lounge at Atlantic Aviation in Las Vegas on November 9, 2026, and said it plans to install Starlink across its entire Challenger 850 fleet. Installation planning is underway.

The Las Vegas charter and aircraft management company, which describes itself as one of the nation’s leading private aviation companies, said in a press release distributed through EIN Presswire that the investments broaden aircraft options for charter clients. The company operates in Las Vegas, Van Nuys, California, and Dallas.

Three jets, connectivity and a lounge

The release lists the latest fleet updates as the addition of Challenger 850 N998CA and newly refurbished Challenger 604 N404DT, along with the refurbishment of Challenger 850 N168SW. The company said the work reinforces its commitment to maintaining well-appointed cabins across its operation.

The planned Starlink installation is meant to give travelers more connectivity options to work, communicate or stay entertained in flight. The release does not give an installation schedule or the number of Challenger 850s in the fleet.

On the ground, the lounge at Atlantic Aviation gives guests a dedicated space before departure, with seating, snacks, beverages and direct access to the tarmac.

Eric Grilly, president of Cirrus Aviation Services, described the plan in the release:

“Our next phase of growth is about pairing expanded capabilities with a more consistent, thoughtful experience for our clients.”

Grilly said the company is investing in the details that make private aviation more comfortable, convenient and productive, from the aircraft clients select to the space where their trip begins.

A Las Vegas operator with a Dallas base

Founded in 2009, Cirrus Aviation provides aircraft management, on-demand charter and membership offerings, including Theos, a members-only club with by-the-seat flights on weekly routes. The company holds an ARGUS Platinum Elite rating and operates under FAA Air Carrier Certificate N2UA274L, according to its website.

On September 24, 2025, the company announced its first major expansion outside Las Vegas and Southern California, opening at Dallas Love Field (DAL) with select aircraft including a Challenger 850 and a Citation XLS. It said at the time that Texas clients would have access to its full fleet of more than 28 aircraft nationwide. Cirrus operates there as a tenant within Atlantic Aviation, with its own private hangar. According to AirPro Atlas data, Dallas Love Field handled 16,899,203 passengers in 2025.

The November 9 release says the company’s Dallas growth also includes a new partnership with Stella Jets, which it said extends its relationships in the greater Texas private aviation market.

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Wheels Up Orders Six Embraer Phenom 300E Jets for 2027 Delivery

Wheels Up agreed to buy six new Phenom 300E jets from Embraer for 2027 delivery as third-quarter revenue fell 11% to $164.8 million.

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Wheels Up Orders Six Embraer Phenom 300E Jets for 2027 Delivery
Photo: Wheels Up

Wheels Up Experience Inc. has agreed to buy six factory-new Embraer Phenom 300E light jets for delivery in the second half of 2027, its first direct purchase of new aircraft from Embraer. The private aviation company announced the order on November 5, 2026, alongside third-quarter results that showed revenue down 11% to $164.8 million and a net loss of $89.4 million.

In a press release dated November 5, 2026, Wheels Up said the definitive agreement with Embraer follows nearly three years of discussions and is expected to expand the fleet and support anticipated customer demand. The six jets will join 29 Phenom 300/300E jets and 15 Bombardier Challenger 300 series aircraft in what the company calls its premium controlled fleet, and will arrive with satellite Wi-Fi installed.

The Phenom 300E order

Wheels Up’s investor letter for the third quarter said the order is meant to add to the fleet and keep planned capacity in line with customer demand in 2027, and that the company plans to increase fleet size by 20 to 30% in 2027. Neither the release nor the letter disclosed the value of the order or how the aircraft will be financed.

The Phenom 300 series is a core platform in the company’s modernized fleet, and Wheels Up describes it as the world’s best-selling light jet for more than a decade. Chief Executive Officer George Mattson said “Embraer has been a valued partner to Wheels Up for years,” and that the purchase reflects strong demand trends and a commitment to a consistent, premium customer experience.

Michael Amalfitano, President and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, said the agreement reflects “the work and planning that began in 2024 to bring new Phenom 300E aircraft into their fleet.” In the investor letter he added, “This agreement marks an important milestone in our relationship with Wheels Up.”

Third quarter results in detail

Private jet flight revenue fell 7% to $143.9 million in the three months ended September 30, 2026. Within that, revenue from the premium Phenom and Challenger fleet rose 120% while that fleet grew 79%, from 24 to 43 aircraft, and legacy fleet revenue fell 44% as legacy programs wind down. Live flight legs dropped 33% to 7,774, while private jet gross bookings per live flight leg rose 27% to $22,943.

Gross profit was $15.2 million, against a loss of $1.3 million a year earlier, and included about $3 million of transformation-related expenses. The net loss of $89.4 million, or $2.48 per share, compared with $83.7 million, or $2.38 per share, in the third quarter of 2025. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, improved 30% to a loss of $18.9 million from a loss of $26.9 million.

Operating measures improved. Aircraft utility rose 31% to 56.3 hours from 43.1, with the Phenom 300 series at 55.8 hours and the Challenger 300 series at 66.9 hours. The completion rate was 99.3%, and on-time performance on the company’s D-60 measure was 94.9%.

Balance sheet and the Delta facility

Cash and cash equivalents stood at $51.8 million on September 30, 2026, down from $133.9 million on December 31, 2025, while long-term debt, net, rose to $684.0 million from $316.4 million. Net cash used in operating activities was $208.3 million in the first nine months of 2026, compared with $147.9 million a year earlier.

After the quarter ended, Wheels Up entered into an additional $100 million revolving credit facility provided by Delta Air Lines, which the investor letter describes as “pivotal” in providing financial support. Wheels Up customers access premium commercial travel benefits through the company’s strategic partnership with Delta.

From legacy fleet to Phenom and Challenger

Wheels Up first announced its fleet modernization strategy in October 2024. Mattson said the program was completed earlier in 2026, “over 18 months ahead of schedule,” and the legacy fleet was retired from revenue service in April 2026, as reported in the early completion of its modernization. The company recorded a $12.7 million impairment on the legacy fleet retirement in the first nine months of 2026.

The company said that over the past three years it has streamlined and modernized its fleet, improved operational reliability, unified its global sales and service teams, a step covered in its single-brand concierge service model, and strengthened its partnership with Delta. Its Signature membership program has more than 1,500 members, including Custom Enterprise Solutions accounts modeled on it, up 130% year to date, while legacy memberships fell 62% after the April wind-down announcement.

Mattson said the quarter “marked an important inflection point for Wheels Up,” and that “Signature revenue and memberships surpassed legacy revenue and memberships for the first time.” He said the company aims to complete the sunset of legacy membership programs in 2027. For that year, the investor letter says management’s “focus is responsible, profitable growth.”

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DC Aviation Malta Adds Third Global 7500 as Fleet Reaches Six

DC Aviation Malta has added a third Bombardier Global 7500, operated under its Maltese AOC, bringing its total fleet to six aircraft.

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DC Aviation Malta Adds Third Global 7500 as Fleet Reaches Six
Photo: DC Aviation Malta

DC Aviation Malta has added a third Bombardier Global 7500 to its fleet, bringing the Maltese operator’s total fleet to six aircraft. The company announced the arrival on November 3, 2026, and said the jet will be operated under its Maltese Air Operator Certificate (AOC).

With the addition, three of the six aircraft in the fleet are Global 7500s, Bombardier’s ultra-long-range business jet. In a press release dated November 3, 2026, DC Aviation Malta (DC Aviation Ltd.), part of the Stuttgart-based DC Aviation Group, described the arrival as part of its growth strategy and its commitment to a modern fleet of high-performance ultra-long-range business jets.

What the release says about the new jet

The release did not give the aircraft’s registration, its owner or its cabin configuration, and it did not list the other aircraft in the fleet. It also did not say whether the jet will be offered for charter or flown for a single owner. According to the company, the Global 7500’s range and cabin suit the travel needs of DC Aviation Malta’s international clients and allow non-stop connections between major destinations worldwide.

“The addition of a third Global 7500 to our fleet is an important step in our growth strategy,” said Stanley Bugeja, Managing Director of DC Aviation Malta.

Bugeja said the aircraft also reflects the experience the company has gained in managing and operating Bombardier aircraft. He said DC Aviation Malta continues to strengthen its ultra-long-range capabilities while focusing on a flight experience tailored to each client’s individual needs.

Bombardier’s ultra-long-range type

Bombardier’s April 2024 factsheet for the Global 7500 gives a maximum range of 7,700 nautical miles (14,260 km), a theoretical figure with NBAA IFR reserves at Mach 0.85 with eight passengers and four crew, and seating for up to 19 passengers. It lists a top speed of Mach 0.925 and GE Passport engines with a thrust of 18,920 lbf. The factsheet says the cabin can accommodate four living spaces, including a principal suite with a full-size bed, a dedicated crew suite and a kitchen.

In a release dated December 9, 2024, Bombardier said it had delivered its 200th Global 7500 that month and that, since the type entered service in December 2018, the fleet had achieved a dispatch reliability of more than 99.8%. The manufacturer attributes the aircraft’s record-setting performance largely to its wing, built in Red Oak, Texas, and to the GE Passport engines, built in Lafayette, Indiana.

DC Aviation’s operation in Malta

DC Aviation Malta was founded in 2008 and focuses on corporate aviation at Malta International Airport (MLA), according to a DC Aviation Group release published on February 12, 2018. That release announced that the Malta operation had received its AOC from the Transport Malta Civil Aviation Directorate, allowing it to operate and manage third-party business aircraft commercially, including charter under the Maltese 9H registration. Bugeja, who was Managing Director at the time, said the certification followed more than one year of work.

In a release dated October 29, 2025, the company announced that it had added a Bombardier Challenger 350 operating under T7 registration, issued by the San Marino Aircraft Registry, for private operations. It was the company’s first aircraft on the San Marino register, alongside its existing 9H fleet, and Bugeja said operating under both registrations “broadens our operational scope.” In the same release, the company said that over the past fifteen years Malta had become one of Europe’s most important business aviation locations.

On April 10, 2026, DC Aviation opened its renovated facilities at Malta International Airport, with new lounges, meeting rooms and crew areas. The company said its Malta team managed the full renovation while normal flight operations continued. AirPro Atlas data for Malta International Airport lists two asphalt runways: 13/31 at 10,991 feet and 05/23 at 7,785 feet.

The group behind the Malta operation

DC Aviation Group was formed in 2007 out of DaimlerChrysler Aviation, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG, according to the group’s website. Headquartered in Stuttgart, it lists locations in Dubai, Malta, Munich, Nice, San Marino and Aruba, and describes itself as running one of the largest and most versatile business fleets in Europe. The site lists International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH), International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) and Air Elite certifications, and 400 employees.

The Global 7500 also flies elsewhere in the group. In a release dated January 10, 2023, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim, the group’s joint venture with Dubai-based Al-Futtaim, said it had added a Global 7500 to its managed fleet, to be managed and operated for a private owner from its base at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai. The addition brought its managed fleet to nine aircraft at the time.

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