A new American airline is taking shape with an ambitious plan to bridge the gap between private jet exclusivity and first-class commercial travel.
Magnifica Air, a Florida-based startup, officially unveiled its concept at the 2025 NBAA-BACE Convention in Las Vegas last week, and if all goes according to plan, the carrier could begin flying passengers by late 2027.
The company’s mission is simple yet bold: to make private-jet-style travel accessible to a wider audience, offering a high-end, all-first-class experience at a fraction of the charter price. Led by CEO Wade Black, Magnifica Air will operate as a Part 121 scheduled carrier and aims to deliver what Black calls “luxury travel that is seamless, personal, and unforgettable.”
“Magnifica Air is pioneering a new space between private aviation and first-class commercial travel,” said Black. “We combine the privacy and intimacy of a private jet with the cultural relevance and operational scope of a world-class airline. This is more than transportation—it’s a movement, redefining how discerning guests experience the skies.”
Luxury Air Travel: Redefining Your Journey
Launch Plans and Fleet Details
Magnifica Air plans to launch with a fleet of six Airbus aircraft, including four A220-300s and two A321neos. The aircraft are being leased through long-term agreements with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) and Azorra, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.
The jets will be sent to Comlux—a Swiss completion specialist known for its work on VIP and head-of-state aircraft—for luxury cabin conversions. These modifications will include hand-crafted seating, adaptive lighting, gourmet dining, and lie-flat first-class suites.
The A220s will feature around 54 lay-flat seats and two private suites, while the A321neos will have 44–46 seats, including four private suites and a rear in-flight lounge. There will be no overhead bins, giving the cabins a spacious, minimalist look more reminiscent of a Gulfstream than a traditional airliner.
“Air Lease is pleased to lease these new Airbus A220s and A321neos to Magnifica Air and be the first to provide brand-new aircraft to the airline,” said David Beker, Executive Vice President of Air Lease Corporation. “Magnifica plans to use them to redefine luxury air travel by making the journey on our aircraft a destination itself.”
The company’s partnership with Azorra also includes the purchase of two ex-EgyptAir A220s. The first will arrive at Comlux’s Indianapolis facility in December 2025 for an 18-month fit-out process, followed by the second in early 2027. Both types will use Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines, and while Black acknowledged the previous reliability issues that led EgyptAir to retire the type, he added that the Azorra collaboration “puts us in pretty good shape.”
A Focus on Experience, Personalization, and Wellness
Magnifica’s model borrows elements from hybrid private-commercial aviation providers like JSX and Aero, but aims for a more upscale, personalized approach. Travelers will be picked up by black car service at home, greeted by name, and whisked directly to private terminals. A white-glove concierge will take luggage, and TSA-approved screening will be handled privately.
Guests will arrive just 30 minutes before departure, enjoy curated dining and wellness experiences in private lounges, and board via sprinter van or private ramp walk.
Once onboard, technology will drive personalization. Every guest’s preferences, from favorite meals and seat temperature to lighting and entertainment, will be pre-loaded into the system. Magnifica calls this the “curated journey,” where every touchpoint feels familiar and comfortable.
Upon arrival, baggage will be hand-delivered within 10–15 minutes, chauffeurs will be waiting curbside, and post-flight services will include lounge refresh opportunities and concierge follow-ups.
The airline will also debut “The Seven Club”, a membership-based loyalty program featuring Family and Corporate tiers. Members can choose among four levels—Airspace D, C, B, and A—and enjoy guaranteed fixed pricing, exclusive events, and full-service concierge access.
Sustainability as a Founding Principle
Sustainability is deeply embedded in Magnifica Air’s design philosophy. The airline will be carbon-neutral from day one, integrating over seven million gallons of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into its annual operations. It plans to start operations with a 50 percent SAF blend and achieve 100 percent SAF usage by 2030.
Beyond fuel, Magnifica will incorporate solar-powered lounges, a carbon offset program, and eventually hybrid-electric aircraft as part of its long-term fleet evolution.
“We don’t think of wellness or sustainability as add-ons,” said Black. “They are built into every layer of the Magnifica Air experience.”
The company will also introduce the world’s first commercial-scale surface purification system and a cabin air humidification system designed to help passengers feel more rested and refreshed after a flight.
Routes, Growth, and the Road Ahead
Magnifica Air expects to obtain its FAA Part 121 certificate by late 2026 and become fully operational by the third quarter of 2027. Initial routes will connect Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Jose, with seasonal service to Napa Valley and, eventually, the Caribbean.
Pricing will reflect the exclusivity. A one-way ticket is expected to cost roughly $20,000 to $25,000, according to Black. The airline will initially operate six to seven daily departures and expects to grow its fleet to 25 aircraft within four years.
Magnifica Air is backed by $150 million in initial capital from CIG Companies, its renewable energy-focused parent firm, and is currently in talks with additional investor groups.
For now, Magnifica plans to focus on intra-US travel.
“The temptation to fly internationally first provides additional complexity,” Black explained. “We will start domestically, build our program here, and grow from there.”
Magnifica’s long-term vision includes 50 aircraft and a mix of scheduled flights, VIP charters, and curated experience trips tied to major cultural and sporting events like Art Basel and Formula 1.
With predictive safety analytics, a “Collaborative Just Culture” for employees, and one spare aircraft for every four in service, Black says the airline is “designed for resilience and consistency.”
And while others have tried to launch luxury carriers before, he believes Magnifica Air’s foundation is stronger. “Previous entrants weren’t properly capitalized,” he said. “We are.”
Magnifica Air Will Give the Ultra-Premium Segment a Brand New Way to Fly
Magnifica Air is positioning itself as a hybrid between Gulfstream comfort and Delta reliability, blending high-touch hospitality with large-aircraft economics. Its promise is not just to move passengers from city to city, but to make the journey itself the destination.
In that sense, Magnifica Air draws obvious comparisons to JSX, another US operator that has carved out a niche with private-terminal service and crowd-free flying. But while JSX uses converted Embraer regional jets seating 30 passengers, Magnifica is taking a different route by using larger Airbus A220s and A321neos with spacious cabins that allow for lie-flat seating, private suites, and dedicated lounges on board.
CEO Wade Black believes this difference in scale and design will set Magnifica apart. “I’ve always felt like smaller regional jets weren’t the right platform for what we’re trying to do,” he said during a press briefing at the 2025 NBAA-BACE Convention in Las Vegas. “Space is part of the experience. You can’t deliver true luxury in a cabin that feels tight.”
By marrying the comfort and personalization of private aviation with the operational scope of a major airline, Magnifica Air aims to occupy a new space in the US market: one that sits above first class but below private charter, appealing to travelers who value privacy, efficiency, and indulgence in equal measure.
You can follow the carrier’s journey to launch via the Magnifica Air website.
If all goes to plan, Magnifica Air could become what JSX pioneered on a smaller scale, a new class of air travel for those who believe flying should still feel special.
We’ll be watching. And saving our pennies.
