A new American airline is taking shape with an ambitious plan to close the gap between the exclusivity of private jets and first-class commercial travel.
Magnifica Air, a Florida-based startup, officially unveiled its concept at the NBAA-BACE 2025 Convention in Las Vegas last week, and if all goes as planned, the airline could begin carrying passengers by the end of 2027.
The company’s mission is simple but bold: make private jet-style travel accessible to a broader audience, offering a high-end, first-class experience at a fraction of the charter price. Led by CEO Wade Black, Magnifica Air will operate as a scheduled Part 121 airline and aims to offer 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,” Black said. “We combine the privacy and intimacy of a private jet with the cultural relevance and operational reach of a world-class airline. This is more than transportation: it’s a movement that redefines 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 leased through long-term agreements with Air Lease Corporation (ALC) and Azorra, with deliveries expected to begin in early 2027.
The planes will be sent to Comlux, a Swiss finishing specialist known for its work on VIP and head-of-state aircraft, for luxury cabin conversions. These modifications will include handcrafted seating, adaptive lighting, gourmet dining and reclining first-class suites.
The A220s will have around 54 lie-flat seats and two private suites, while the A321neos will have between 44 and 46 seats, including four private suites and a rear waiting room on board. 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 A220 and A321neo to Magnifica Air and be the first to provide 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 in itself.”
The company’s partnership with Azorra also includes the purchase of two former EgyptAir A220s. The first will arrive at Comlux’s Indianapolis facility in December 2025 for an 18-month outfitting process, followed by the second in early 2027. Both types will use Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines, and while Black acknowledged previous reliability issues that led EgyptAir to retire the type, he added that the collaboration with Azorra “puts us in very good shape.”
A focus on experience, personalization and well-being
Magnifica’s model borrows elements from hybrid private-commercial aviation providers such as JSX and Aero, but aims for a more unique and personalized approach. Travelers will be picked up by a black vehicle service at their homes, greeted by name and taken directly to private terminals. A white-glove concierge will handle luggage and TSA-approved screening will be done privately.
Guests will arrive just 30 minutes before departure, enjoy curated dining and wellness experiences in private lounges, and board via a sprinter van or private ramp.
Once incorporated, technology will drive personalization. Each guest’s preferences, from favorite foods 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, luggage will be hand-delivered within 10 to 15 minutes, chauffeurs will be waiting curbside, and post-flight amenities will include lounge refreshment opportunities and concierge follow-up.
The airline will also introduce “The Seven Club,” a membership-based loyalty program that includes Family and Corporate tiers. Members can choose from four levels (Airspace D, C, B and A) and enjoy guaranteed fixed prices, exclusive events and full-service concierge access.
Sustainability as a founding principle
Sustainability is deeply rooted in Magnifica Air’s design philosophy. The airline will be carbon neutral from day one, integrating more than seven million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its annual operations. It plans to start operations with a 50 percent SAF mix 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,” Black said. “They are integrated 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 in late 2026 and be fully operational in 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.
The price will reflect the exclusivity. A one-way ticket is expected to cost about twice as much as a first-class fare, or roughly $20,000 to $25,000, according to Black. Initially, the airline will operate between six and seven daily departures and hopes to increase its fleet to 25 aircraft within four years.
Magnifica Air is backed by $150 million in seed capital from CIG Companies, its renewable energy-focused parent company, and is currently in talks with additional investor groups.
For now, Magnifica plans to focus on travel within the United States.
“The temptation to fly internationally first provides additional complexity,” Black explained. “We’ll start nationally, build our program here and grow from there.”
Magnifica’s long-term vision includes 50 aircraft and a mix of scheduled flights, VIP charter flights and select experiential trips linked to major cultural and sporting events such as Art Basel and Formula 1.
With predictive safety analytics, a “fair collaborative culture” for employees, and one spare plane for every four in service, Black says the airline is “designed for resilience and consistency.”
And while others have tried to launch luxury airlines before, he believes Magnifica Air’s foundation is stronger. “Previous participants were not adequately capitalized,” he said. “Are.”
Magnifica Air will provide the ultra-premium segment with a new way to fly
Magnifica Air is positioning itself as a hybrid between the comfort of Gulfstream and the reliability of Delta, combining high-end hospitality with the economics of a large aircraft. Its promise is not only to transport passengers from one city to another, but to make the trip itself the destination.
In that sense, Magnifica Air draws obvious comparisons with JSX, another American operator that has carved out a niche for itself with private terminal service and crowd-free flights. But while JSX uses converted Embraer regional jets with 30-passenger capacity, Magnifica is taking a different route by using larger Airbus A220s and A321neos with spacious cabins that allow for lie-flat seats, private suites and exclusive lounges on board.
CEO Wade Black believes this difference in scale and design will set Magnifica apart. “I always felt that smaller regional aircraft were not the right platform for what we were trying to do,” he said during a news conference at the NBAA-BACE 2025 Convention in Las Vegas. “Space is part of the experience. You can’t offer true luxury in a cabin that feels cramped.”
By combining the convenience and customization of private aviation with the operational reach 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, attracting travelers who value privacy, efficiency and indulgence in equal measure.
You can follow the carrier’s journey to launch via Magnifica Air website.
If all goes as planned, Magnifica Air could become what JSX pioneered on a smaller scale, a new class of air travel for those who believe flying should still be special.
We will be watching. And saving our pennies.
