Flying on a private jet without having to charter an entire aircraft is the idea behind Magnifica Air, a Florida-based startup that wants to bring a new kind of luxury travel to the American skies. The airline is preparing to offer individually bookable seats in cabins designed to feel more like private jets than conventional airliners, complete with private suites, lie-flat seating and dedicated airport facilities. It is now taking a major step towards making that happen with a fleet built around Airbus Corporate Jets. Instead of competing directly with commercial first-class cabins or traditional charter operators, Magnifica Air wants to occupy the space somewhere in between.
Airbus Corporate Jets recently confirmed that Magnifica Air was the previously undisclosed customer behind a firm order for ten ACJ220-300 aircraft. Interestingly, this is not a new order, as the ten jets were already listed in Airbus’s order book under an unidentified buyer. AeroTime reported that the announcement revealed the identity of the customer, although neither Airbus nor Magnifica Air disclosed the purchase price or delivery schedule. The order forms part of a planned 17-aircraft fleet comprising 14 ACJ220s and three ACJ321neos.
Turning an Airbus A220 into a private jet
The ACJ220-300 is based on the larger A220-300 and should not be confused with the ACJ TwoTwenty, which uses the smaller A220-100 as its foundation. Airbus quotes a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles for the ACJ220-300 in an all-business configuration, enough for more than nine hours in the air under suitable operating conditions. Magnifica Air plans to accommodate just 54 passengers, including a private suite, compared with approximately 150 passengers in a typical commercial A220-300. The cabin will feature burnt-orange and cognac leather, dark wood-look finishes and an unusually open ceiling without conventional overhead bins.
Passengers on flights longer than three hours are expected to receive lie-flat seats, while shorter journeys will feature premium recliners. Private suites will have sliding doors, banquette seating and arrangements that allow passengers to face one another. The larger A321neos will take the experience further with a rear lounge featuring a leather sofa and what appears to be a marble bar, although the planned suite count has been reduced from four to three.
Magnifica Air is also promising residential-style bathrooms, humidifiers and a lower cabin altitude, alongside an Aviation Clean Air purification system reportedly costing $2 million. The system is claimed to neutralize up to 99.9% of pathogens, while passengers will be able to have their meal, temperature, lighting and entertainment preferences loaded before boarding.
Private aviation without chartering an entire aircraft
The aircraft interiors are only part of the proposition. Magnifica Air plans to operate as a scheduled airline under FAA Part 121 regulations, selling individual seats through its website or a concierge rather than requiring customers to book an entire aircraft. Its Private Class offering will include black-car transfers from home or office, private terminals with screening inside the lounge and an arrival window of just 30 minutes before departure. The airline also promises concierge baggage handling, with luggage delivered within 10 to 15 minutes of landing. Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, a familiar destination for New York’s private jet clientele, is among the examples of the type of airport environment it wants to use.
The latest public pricing guidance puts tickets at approximately 1.5 to 2 times the average first-class fare, depending on the route and demand. Magnifica Air is also developing The Seven Club, with starting membership prices of $14,950 for families and $29,950 for companies. Higher membership tiers offer benefits such as suite priority, upgrades and fixed pricing subject to conditions, with deposits reaching $500,000 for families and $1 million for companies. The airline has also discussed special travel experiences around Art Basel, the Super Bowl, the Masters and Formula One.
Its initial network plans include South Florida and New York, with Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and San Jose among the markets being considered. However, the airline’s launch has slipped from its original third-quarter 2027 target to early 2028, according to its latest reported plans. It also intends to keep one spare aircraft for every four in service to avoid cancelling scheduled flights because of technical problems.
For now, Magnifica Air has a sizeable task ahead. It must complete its aircraft, secure the necessary regulatory approvals and convince travelers that paying more than conventional first class is worth it. The idea of flying privately without paying for a whole private jet is certainly appealing, but making that unusual airline model work commercially will be the real test.
