Private jet operator Wheels Up is revamping its fleet, consolidating to the Embraer Phenom 300 and Bombardier Challenger 300 families. The associated deals will reduce the company’s average fleet age by 10 years and bring increased operational simplicity to the organization.
The move will also see the company update its inflight internet offering, with the Gogo Galileo HDX solution to be installed on Wheels Up’s Phenom and Challenger aircraft.
“We believe our fleet modernization strategy and the enabling transactions we are announcing today will allow us to deliver those solutions with a best-in-class aircraft fleet,” stated George Mattson, CEO of Wheels Up, “with an elevated customer experience to match.”
As part of the connectivity deal, Gogo committed to complete certification of the Galileo HDX system, backed by the Eutelsat OneWeb LEO constellation and terminal from Hughes Networks on the Challenger and Phenom platforms by the middle of 2025. Wheels Up’s installation is expected to begin shortly thereafter.
Gogo selected the Challenger 300 as its certification testbed last year and began testing of the first installed ESA terminal from Hughes Networks last month. That should help ensure Gogo can meet the certification timeline commitments, at least for that type. The overall transition to the LEO-based solution is, however, expected to take a bit longer.
The Phenom fleet transition will be accelerated by the acquisition of GrandView Aviation’s entire fleet, consisting of 17 aircraft. That deal is expected to close before the end of the year, with the aircraft quickly transitioning to Wheels Up’s FAA operating certificate. GrandView pilots and existing customers are expected to integrate into Wheels Up. Additional aircraft will be acquired on the open market to complete the transition for the light/mid-sized market within three years.
The Challenger transition will start slightly slower, as the company acquires those aircraft through purchases and leases on the open market. The aircraft will join the Wheels Up fleet beginning in 2025 and are expected to be integrated into the company’s offering by the end of the year. It will also see 13 owned Citation X planes sold to a third party which also currently leases some planes to Wheels Up. Similar to the Phenoms, the Challenger transition is also expected to complete in three years.
“With Gogo Galileo HDX on board, Wheels Up will be able to offer unparalleled performance to its members and customers on all aircraft it expects to add to its fleet,” said Sergio Aguirre, Gogo’s president and COO. “Today’s business aviation customers expect fast broadband inflight connectivity, and Gogo Galileo HDX will deliver.”
More news from NBAA 2024
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- Apcela set to bring SmartSky network back to life
- Gogo secures first line-fit option for Galileo LEO service
- Textron extends Starlink support to smaller types
- Wheels Up pivots fleet, picks Gogo Galileo for future connectivity
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