Wisevoter
U.S.

Wheels Up Orders Six Phenom 300E Jets

The private aviation company is expanding its fleet with Embraer Executive Jets aircraft worth approximately USD 90 million.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Business Travel

Photograph of a single sleek business jet with swept wings parked alone on an open concrete apron under warm golden light.
Private aviation company Wheels Up ordered six Embraer Phenom 300E jets worth about $90 million, with deliveries set for 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Wheels Up placed an order with Embraer Executive Jets for six Phenom 300E aircraft valued at approximately USD 90 million. The order builds on a fleet modernisation plan introduced in late 2024 and follows three years of discussions between the two companies.

Why it matters

The order accommodates anticipated growth in customer demand, with strong growth in the Signature membership offering supporting fleet expansion. It signals continued investment in newly built aircraft after the company moved to shed its older holdings.

The order covers six Phenom 300E aircraft valued at approximately USD 90 million, added to a fleet of 29 Phenom 300 and 300E jets and 15 Challenger 300 family aircraft. Wheels Up completed its fleet modernisation programme 18 months ahead of schedule, though the source does not detail the cost of that earlier programme.

The players

Wheels Up

Wheels Up is a private aviation company headquartered in Teterboro, New Jersey, that offers membership-based private jet access and operates a large business aviation fleet.

Embraer Executive Jets

Embraer Executive Jets is the business aviation division of Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer, known for the Phenom and Challenger jet families.

The details

The initial deposit is financed substantially through an equipment financing arrangement with Bank of America and PNC Bank. Wheels Up has focused on the pre-owned aircraft market for fleet acquisitions until now, and the six new aircraft are scheduled for delivery in the third and fourth quarters of 2027.

Timeline

  1. Early 2025: First Phenom 300 and 300E jets added to the fleet.

  2. April 2026: Legacy aircraft fleet retired.

  3. Late 2026: Challenger 350 inducted into the fleet.

  4. Third and fourth quarters of 2027: Six Phenom 300E aircraft scheduled for delivery.

Roadmap

The order reflects a departure from the pre-owned acquisition strategy Wheels Up previously relied on, as the company commits capital to newly built Embraer jets. It places the operator in a broader pattern of membership-based private aviation firms investing in fleet renewal to meet rising demand for premium on-demand travel.

The new aircraft will expand the capacity available to Wheels Up members over the coming years, though deliveries are not expected until 2027. Travelers considering membership-based private aviation should weigh current fleet availability against planned expansions when choosing an operator.

The takeaway

Fleet investment in newly built aircraft signals that membership-based private aviation operators are committing to long-term capacity rather than relying solely on the pre-owned market. Business travelers evaluating these services should consider how fleet growth may affect availability and pricing over the next several years.

What happens next

The six Phenom 300E aircraft are scheduled for delivery during the third and fourth quarters of 2027.

Further reading

For more on how companies are reshaping their travel options, see Business Travel coverage.