Dubai-based Vista Global Holding is expanding the U.S. program fleet for its XO brokerage with eight Cessna Citation Excel business jets. They are all expected to be flying by the end of the year, with six already delivered. At the same time, it is offering XO Signature and Select members expanded discounts globally.
In terms of the fleet news, the midsize jets will fly on the charter certificate of Red Wing Aviation, which currently operates Citation Ultra light jets. Plans call for them to be refurbished, repainted in XO liveries and have Wifi added. The additions come as the used jet market is at record low inventory. The company didn’t disclose how they were acquired.
Last year, Vista Global purchased a minority interest in Red Wing and said it plans to build the light jet fleet from around 15 aircraft to over 50.
Vista is restricted from a controlling stake in a U.S. operator by limits on foreign ownership. However, it is allowed to buy aircraft and have them flown by operators where it has an interest. It also owns minority stakes in large charter operators XOJET Aviation and Talon Air.
Through June, the combined flight hours of the three rank Vista Global fourth among charter and fractional operators in North America, behind leader NetJets, Directional Aviation’s Flexjet and Wheels Up Experience, the latter pair neck and neck for second place.
Long Island-based Talon Air was acquired in March as part of a deal to purchase 100% of Apollo Jets, a multi-hundred-million-dollar air charter broker. Last year, Talon ranked as the 14th largest operator in the U.S.
In April, VistaJet revealed a billion-dollar order for a dozen ultra-long-haul Global 7500s, plus a new order for 10 super-midsize Challenger 350s, all of which are expected to join its fleet by the end of next year. Some will be registered in the U.S. and operated by XOJET.
XO members get expanded flight credits
For members, XO is also expanding discounts of its Signature Access and Select Access programs. They now get 4% and 2% flight credits, respectively, for charter bookings across the entire company fleet of over 180 jets. Previously, those higher levels of credits were limited to the XOJET Aviation fleet of super-midsize Challenger 300s and Citation Xs and they received 1% on other bookings.
The fatter credits can now be earned aboard VistaJet’s fleet, including ultra-long-range Global 5000s and 6000s, which are popular for intercontinental flights. The 7500 is excluded.
The credits now also extend to bookings on the Red Wing and Talon Air fleet, which includes large-cabin Gulfstream jets and more than a dozen super-midsize Hawker 4000s.
This morning’s announcement comes on the heels of XO revising its Elite Access fixed-rate program earlier this month. As private aviation continues to see record-level demand, XO moved the non-peak booking deadline from 24 hours to 72 hours. It also reduced some long-flight discounts and increased daily minimums.
Lezlea List, an executive vice president of XO, says more clients are moving to memberships and are already booking flights for the holidays. “People are planning ahead. Pricing has gone up. You don’t want to be an ad hoc flyer these days.”
Both Signature and Elite access guarantee peak day availability of private jets and no-cost service recovery if you need a replacement aircraft, something that is becoming an increasing issue for on-demand charter flyers.
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