Source:  AIN Online Charter membership firm Wheels Up is partnering with Talon Air to launch scheduled per-seat shuttle service in Talon’s super-midsize Hawker 4000s from Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains, New York, to Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE). The service, which is exclusively for Wheels Up members, begins tomorrow and costs $2,100 per seat one-way, including taxes, according to company founding partner Justin Firestone.

Membership costs: Wheels Up membership for individuals is $17,500 annually and corporations $29,500 annually according to Corporate Jet Investor.  Annual dues (starting second year) are then $8,500 for individuals and $14,500 for corporations.  Membership then allows private flights with a fleet of King Air 350i and Citation Excel/XLS aircraft, at fixed hourly rates - the cost per hour of getting on the King Air is $3,950 per hour and the Citation Excel/XLS is $6,950 per hour according to a report from the private aviation industry resource.  Wheels Up memberships are also available from Costco; Wheels Up membership cost

Flights will leave HPN at 4 p.m. on Fridays and return at 6 p.m. on Sundays, with the exception of this holiday weekend, when the flight will return on Monday at 6 p.m. Firestone said that the shuttle service will run through March 5, but could be extended past this date depending on usage. “This is currently the only shuttle we are running with Talon Air,” he told AIN. However, it already runs several shuttle flights in the Northeast and central California using its fleet of Beechcraft King Air 350is and Cessna Citation Excel/XLSs that are operated by Gama Aviation. In fact, Firestone said, it will be adding King Air shuttles from New York and Boston to Nantucket and Hyannis this summer, as well as other to-be-announced destinations.

Prior Charter Alerts for Wheels Up Wheels Up Gets $115 Million Investment From T.Rowe Price, Others Citation Emergency, Door Opens in Flight – Live ATC recording Wheels Up Takes Delivery of “Pink Plane In Time for October AIN Article here; Wheels Up Partners with Talon Air on NY-Florida Shuttle

Aircraft management and flight training company since 2006, Trident Aircraft, has acquired two 2013 Embraer Phenom 100 light jets, and is now operating charters in the continental U.S. The operator and aircraft are based at KESN, Easton, MD, across the Chesapeake Bay from both Washington DC and Baltimore, MD. From the Maryland/Washington DC area, the entire Eastern U.S. is within charter range for the Phenom 100's, including Miami, Chicago and Minneapolis. Trident Aircraft is safety auditor-Wyvern Registered.

News Source:  FlightList PRO All Trident Aircraft charter aircraft and operator details are available in the FlightList PRO multi-search platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  FlightList PRO is used by the most successful and experienced brokers and travel professionals in the industry; 79% of users have arranged charters more than 10 years, 25% more than 20 years. Air Charter Alerts by FlightList PRO, are the latest announcements in the private air charter industry about operators, brokers and charter aircraft, and geared towards active participants in the industry.

Jet Linx Aviation, a personalized private jet operator headquartered in Omaha with 14 Base locations nationwide , finishes 2016 reporting steady growth in its client roster, total aircraft and overall operations. This year, 32 aircraft were added to the fleet, bringing the total count to 82, ranging from light, mid, super mid and heavy jets. In addition, Jet Linx saw more than a 20 percent increase in Jet Card holders, bringing the total number to 1,200 members. “Our growth demonstrates the need that we have filled in the private aviation industry for a more localized customer service experience with all of the advantages of a national provider,” said Jamie Walker, President and CEO of Jet Linx.

The Jet Linx full charter fleet of 72 aircraft is ONLY in the FlightList PRO  platform.

New Base Locations Jet Linx Aviation added two new Base locations this year, expanding their presence to Nashville, Tenn. (BNA) and Fort Worth, Texas (FTW) with a local service team, planes, pilots and a private terminal (in Fort Worth). The addition of these new bases also contributed to overall team growth, with Jet Linx adding 178 team members (including pilots and day-to-day operations staff), bringing the total number of employees nationwide to over 400. Miles Up In The Air Jet Linx, which manages the third largest part 135 fleet, concludes 2016 with more than a 20 percent increase in miles flown since last year, totaling 58 million miles since inception. Peak travel times including the Thanksgiving season, aided in breaking previous company records, with 140 legs flown on Tuesday, Nov. 22 and 174 on Sunday, Nov. 27. On the international front, Jet Linx achieved authorization to operate in Cuba, granting Jet Card holders and aircraft owners the ability to travel to Havana and 11 other airports in Cuba upon securing the required visas. Achieving Highest Safety Standards Jet Linx is among the four percent of aircraft operators with an ARGUS Platinum Safety Rating, the highest safety rating by the third party auditing service which Jet Linx has maintained every year since 2005. In addition, Jet Linx attained The International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 3 certification in 2016 (the highest IS-BAO rating), which has become a globally accepted “gold seal” for business aviation operations attesting to the highest standards in safety and efficiency, placing Jet Linx in the top one percent of all operators for safety. Source:  company press release

All Jet Linx charter aircraft and operator details are available in the FlightList PRO multi-search platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.

Much anticipated, HondaJets are rolling off the Honda Aircraft production line in Greensboro NC, and for the first time are now available for charter.  Two new 2016 HondaJets are now available for charter in the US. Compared to it's Very Light Jet (VLJ) category competition, the Citation Mustang and the Phenom 100, the HondaJet betters the field in important ways.  The faster, lighter and more fuel efficient 4-passenger jet has a cabin 20% larger cabin than its competitors, more baggage space, a faster airspeed at 420 kts, and higher cruise altitude at 43,000 feet.  In many ways, the HondaJet is a better fit up in the light jet category. Cutter Flight Management is first to operate the 4-seat VLJ under US Part-135 charter regulations.  Two are currently available, based in the southwestern US at KPHX Phoenix, AZ and KSDL Scottsdale AZ.  Cutter is a Wyvern Registered operator, and maintains fleet, crew, and insurance information as well as verified regulatory documentation within the Wyvern's system.  Cutter Flight Management is the aircraft management and charter arm of Cutter Aviation, provider of aviation related services and FBO operations in the Southwestern US and Colorado.

Leading the way again, FlightList PRO is the only charter sourcing platform with the HondaJet and also the full Cutter Flight Management fleet of 9 charter aircraft which includes turboprops, light, midsize and heavy jets. The HondaJet being uniquely Honda, instead of using engines from other manufacurers, the company began developing its own engine in partnership with GE Aviation ultimately creating the GE-Honda HF20 turbofan engine.  The HA-420 HondaJet is powered by two over-wing mounted HF120 turbofans, each producing 1,997 pounds of thrust.  The engine mounts atop the wings are constructed of metal.  The natural laminar flow wings terminate in sizable winglets. The HondaJet’s fuselage is made of carbon fiber, and its flight deck is built around Garmin’s touchscreen-capable G3000 suite. The HondaJet cabin and baggage capabilities: The cabin area is a 12.1-foot-long space that provides plenty of room for passengers. The club seating arrangement gives ample legroom and is spacious for a VLJ, with opposing passenger knees completely out of range.  The hum of the  HF120s can be heard with the lavatory doors open, but with them closed, it is significantly quieter than almost any other light jet. The lav is also far superior to that of many light jets, some of which section the toilet area off with a simple curtain.  While the HondaJet’s lavatory is not huge by any stretch, it provides complete privacy, a nice sink with a faucet activated by a motion sensor, and two skylights providing natural light and a unique perspective of the skies above. One benefit of having the engines mounted on the wings is that the HondaJet has an exceptionally large luggage compartment for an airplane in the light-jet category.  The rear compartment is 57 cubic feet and holds up to 400 pounds, which is more than many light jets and some midsize jets.  There is plenty of space to load large suitcases without trouble. The aircraft also has a 9-cubic-foot cargo area in the nose, capable of carrying up to 100 pounds. Neither of the cargo spaces is pressurized, however, so toothpaste and any liquid materials may want to stay inside the cabin.

There is no question HondaJet’s very light jet  competes directly with the Cessna's Citation Mustang, Embraer's Phenom 100 in the charter market, and even some Citation and Learjet light jets. There are now 25 aircraft on the production line at Honda Aircraft's facility at the Piedmont Triangle International Airport in Greensboro, NC, which now employs 1,700. Honda expects to have delivered between 40 and 50 aircraft by the end of 2016, ultimately ramping up to 75 aircraft in 2017. All HondaJets for charter as well as the full Cutter Flight Management charter fleet are available in the FlightList PRO platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide. Sources:  Cutter Flight Management, Flying, Forbes online

A brand new 2016 midsize Citation Latitude is now avaialble for charter from the midwestern U.S.  Charter operator Excelaire announces the addition of the new Latitude, this aircraft is not based at Excelaire's New York headquarters, however.  The aircraft calls KOSU home, in Columbus, OH. ExcelAire's new Citation Latitude is an elegant business jet that features a spacious stand-up cabin (height 6 feet), with seating for 8 passengers.  With outstanding runway performance and considerable range (7 hours non-stop), the Citation Latitude is ideal for a variety of coast to coast and intercontinental trips.  The aircraft is equipped with onboard Wi-Fi internet.

ExcelAire's Latitude and full fleet of 11 aircraft are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

Just 9 Latitude's are currently available for charter in the U.S., from 9 different operators, according charter aircraft resource FlightList PRO.  All except one are based in the Midwest to Eastern U.S. The Citation Latitude is positioned between the Citation XLS+ and Sovereign executive jets.  It’s mid-range specs make the Latitude a capable contender for transcontinental or cross Europe flights, but it’s in the cabin where the aircraft really shines.  And, as any air charter broker will tell you, cabins help sell charters.  The Latitude has the largest cross-section of any Citation that Cessna has built, and its windowns are 25% larger.

The aircraft can get from coast-to-coast in the US. You’ll be more comfortable on the way there in a Latitude, especially as the cabin pressurisation has been lowered to 9.7psi – effectively meaning that at cruise height, the cabin feels like it’s at just 6,000ft. "With the new Latitude, we now offer another choice in midsize jets and continue our momentum of growing our fleet -- with one more addition expected before the end of the year," said Robert Molsbergen, President of ExcelAire.  "We are proud to provide the ultimate private jet charter experience, with truly personalized service and the best-in-class team of private jet travel professionals." Source:  Excelaire press release Source:  Corporate Jet Investor

Two new Part-135 certificate holders have begun operating based in Florida, their aircraft are now available for charter.  Both have acquired an ARG/US Gold rating.  The operator and fleet details are included in FlightList PRO.  The two light jets and one midsize jet are newly available for charter from southern and central Florida.

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Treasure Air Charters, LLC operates a Learjet 35A light jet, and a Piper Chieftain 7-passenger twin piston.  Both are based at KTMB Miami Executive Airport.  Now five jet operators have a total of nine aircraft based at KTMB.

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Rennia Aviation, LLC operates a Citation II light jet and a Falcon 20 midsize jet.  Both are based at KGNV Gainsville, FL.  Rennia is the third jet charter operator now at Gainesville Regional Airport.

Source:  The FlightList PRO resource includes every certificated operator and aircraft in the US, and equivalent worldwide.  Free 30-day trials are available online. 

New to the U.S., a Gulfstream V seating 19 passengers is now available for charter based in New York and operated by ExcelAire, LLC. The addition is one of only two 19-passenger executive jets available for charter from the Northeast U.S., and one of only five 19-passenger executive jets available across the U.S., according to FlightList PRO's search-by-country function. ExcelAire's new Gulfstream V offers passengers premium comfort, with a unique design that can seat 19 passengers and three crew. The ExcelAire Gulfstream V is equipped with the newest Gogo Wi-Fi system that is enabled to provide Gogo Biz 4G, when that service rolls out in 2017. The new service will feature Gogo Vision, providing the latest movies, TV, flight tracker and weather reports along with reliable web browsing.

ExcelAire's full fleet of 10 aircraft is available only in FlightList PRO.

"With the addition of this new Gulfstream V, we are now providing our clients with one of the only 19-passenger GV jets available for charter," said Robert Molsbergen, President of ExcelAire. "In addition to the GV, we plan to add two more jets to our fleet this year, providing our clients with the ultimate private jet charter experience, and the best-in-class team of private jet travel professionals." The new G-V brings ExcelAire's charter fleet to ten heavy and ultra long range jets; eight based in New York, plus one in Columbus, OH and one in Oakland, CA. 19-passenger Gulfstream G-V for charter, operated by ExcelAire, LLC. Source: company press release

Charter operator Jet Access Aviation has added 3 Wi-Fi equipped midsize jets to its charter fleet available immediately. A new-to-fleet Hawker 800XP and Citation III are based in the midwest (JVY) near Louisville, KY.  The third is a Citation VII based West Palm Beach, FL (PBI).  All are equipped with Wi-Fi internet.

Jet Access Aviation's full fleet of 15 aircraft is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

The Jet Access Aviation charter fleet has grown to 15 aircraft total, light cabin through heavy jets.  The majority are based in the midwest and Florida, with a midsize Citation Excel in Atlanta, GA. The company has an ARG/US Platinum rating. Source: company announcement

Charter operator West Coast Charters, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, has added a brand new 2016 Citation M2 light jet, fresh from Wichita, to their charter fleet based KHND Henderson, NV. The new M2 joins West Coast Charters' existing M2 (DOM 2013) and two Citation CJ3+ light jets (DOM 2014 adn 2016) based at Henderson.  The operator boasts the newest aircraft fleet in the Las Vegas region.  The new M2 features the latest in passenger amentities including entertainment iPads and headphones, Sirius/XM radio, and power/charging stations throughout the cabin.

West Coast Charters' full fleet of 27 aircraft is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

West Coast Charters now operates a total fleet of 27 charter jets and turboprops in the greater Los Angeles and Las Vegas areas. Henderson is home base for 7 executive aircraft for charter from four different operators.  The greater Las Vegas area boasts a total of 28 executive aircraft available for charter, from 13 operators. The Henderson airport is a 17 minute drive south of LAS McCarran International Airport.  Easier airport access, less traffic and lower fees can make Henderson an attractive option for Las Vegas charters.

News source:  West Coast Charters