Additional Financing and WiFi Upgrades Also On The Way

Wheels Up, the Atlanta-based private flight provider, announced the acquisition of 17 Embraer Phenom 300 and 300E light jets from GrandView Aviation, and almost immediately launched guaranteed availability on those aircraft as part of its fleet revamp and modernization.

Wheels Up also announced it is transitioning to the Phenom 300 and Challenger 300/350 aircraft, WiFi upgrades, and an additional $332 million in secured revolving credit from Bank of America. The moves are part of the company’s strategy to remake itself into a premier-level private flight option under the stewardship of Delta Airlines, who invested $500 million in Wheels Up last year.

Wheels Up is the fourth-largest fractional/charter operator in the U.S. and has been pitching Delta’s 40,000 corporate accounts to add private flight services.

All the newly acquired Phenoms will be refurbished and rebranded in Wheels Up livery as well as having the Gogo WiFi installed. They will replace the current fleet of Hawker 400s, Cessna Citation CJ3sl and Citation XLS/Excel. The Challenger 300/350 aircraft will replace the aging Citation X super-midsize fleet.

Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines said, “In the year since we’ve invested in Wheels Up, their operational performance, financial progress, and the successful revamp of their customer offering have validated our decision to embark on this one-of-a-kind strategic partnership.”

FMI:  wheelsup.com/