In recent interviews with the press, Wheels Up founder and chief executive Kenny Dichter announced that the company had accelerated its deliveries of King Air aircraft and further detailed it’s planned European expansion.
The initial plan was to take six King Air 350i between January and June 2016.
“What was six will now be nine,” Dichter told Wichita publication The Eagle.
The deliveries are apart of a 105 airplane order, which by the end of the 2015 year will consist of 40 delivered so far. More aircraft will be crucial for the planned European expansion.
It was announced at the National Business Aviation Association Convention & Exhibition that Wheels Up executive vice president John Colucci would oversee the expansion.
“I would say John gets on the ground in six months,” Dichter said. “I’d love to have our first airplane delivery (in Europe) in 2016.”
Colucci noted there are 55 to 57 cities in Europe could be served from three potential bases by the Wheels Up fleet. In addition the 40 King Air 350i by years end, Wheels Up also has 15 Cessna Citation Excel/XLS business jets to assist.
Wheels Up expects to end 2015 with 25,000 revenue flight hours and $200 million in revenue. Dichter projects 45,000 flight hours next year and $300 million in revenue.