XO, an on demand and membership based private aviation provider, announced that it is adding 15 Citation light jets to complement its current super midsize aircraft offering. This move takes its dedicated fleet up to 58 light and super midsize jets. XO has further plans to expand to over 50 light jet aircraft over the coming years.
XO says its membership base has nearly doubled since April, and its new members, as well as existing customers, are increasingly looking for solutions for their short distance travels. This is particularly true during the pandemic, when commercial aviation has been cutting back and reducing routes. A light jet is a good solution to travel short distances between underserved locations.
XO already grants clients worldwide access to its Vista Global group-owned fleet of 130 aircraft, including aircraft flown by sister company Vistajet, along with access to the XO Alliance Fleet of over 2,100 safety-vetted aircraft globally. The new light jets are already being added to the fleet and will be a mix of Citation V Ultras and Citation Encores. Each new aircraft will be upgraded to match the advanced cabin standards of the XO dedicated fleet. Note XO has also been upgrading and refurbishing all their Bombardier Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X super-mid size jets.
XO offers several membership levels, with the highest Elite Access level providing jet card like fixed hourly rates on various jet sizes including the new light jets. All XO members will benefit from the 30% fleet expansion and the commitment to offering the best charter rates, which can be booked instantly through XO’s mobile app or calling its 24/7 team of dedicated Aviation Advisors.
Commenting on the expansion, Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of Vista Global, said, “This is an important chapter in XO’s growth and an immediate benefit for its clients, providing XO Members access to a new agile service, at the high standards that Vista Global is renowned for, on the ground and in the air.”
These new light jets are available through the recent acquisition of a controlling majority stake in Red Wing Aviation Company by XOJET Aviation LLC. Kevin Thomas, XOJET Aviation President and Chief Operating Officer, commented: “We are excited to welcome Red Wing Aviation and its employees into the XOJET Aviation operating group. By joining forces, we will now provide support to our commercial partners across all aircraft classes. Our combined partnership will address the increased demand in the light jet segment, which has previously been outside of XOJET Aviation’s core focus on super-midsize aircraft.”
XO is part of Vista Global Holding, having been acquired in 2018. The Vista Global group of companies has experience flying to 187 countries and completes over 70,000 flights and serves over 150,000 passengers annually.