Delta Air Lines and Wheels Up have announced they are joining forces to create one of the world’s largest owned and managed fleets of private aircraft. In the announcing press release, it’s noted that this partnership “make private aviation accessible to more consumers and provide unparalleled travel options.”
The terms of the partnership will see Delta Private Jets combine with Wheels Up. This addition to the Wheels Up will bring their private aircraft count up to over 190 and member/customer count to over 8,000. For Delta, they will hold an equity position in Wheels Up.
“Bringing together our complementary businesses, which represent the best consumer brands in private and commercial aviation, is transformative and a first for the industry,” said Wheels Up’s Founder and CEO, Kenny Dichter. “The combination of Wheels Up and Delta Private Jets, along with the partnership commitments between Delta and Wheels Up, aligns with our growth objectives and vision of building a platform that will make private flying and the private flying lifestyle accessible to significantly more individuals and businesses in the US and around the world.”
Expect to see this transaction close in early 2020. In the meantime, both companies will function as they have been.