Beechcraft Secures $1.4 Billion Order

Beechcraft Corp., Wichita, Kan., has secured an order for up to a total of 105 King Air 350i aircraft, valued at $788 million, from Wheels Up, representing the largest general aviation propeller driven aircraft order in history. Wheels Up is a membership-based private aviation program that eliminates fixed costs and provides flexibility. It was established by Kenny Dichter and the team that founded Marquis Jet, which introduced the first 25-hour fractional jet card program. Beechcraft has been named the aircraft and comprehensive maintenance provider for Wheels Up in North America and Western Europe, with the entire value of the deal totaling up to $1.4 billion.

 

The first 35 Beechcraft King Airs will be delivered to Wheels Up between now and mid-2015 with the first nine deliveries to be made in 2013. Wheels Up will initially focus on the Northeastern United States. The deal includes options for 70 additional aircraft as Wheels Up expands nationally over the next two to three years.

 

Bill Boisture, Beechcraft CEO, says, “The Beechcraft King Air 350i is the perfect aircraft for Wheels Up due to its proven track record of tremendous flexibility and efficiency for regional travel. The pairing of the 350i and support from our world-class maintenance organization with the innovative founders and management team of Wheels Up is a winning combination.”

 

Wheels Up is designed to appeal to individuals and corporations currently flying privately, as well as new entrants to private aviation. Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up founder and CEO, notes, “We are excited to offer the King Air 350i for the first time on an exclusive basis in a national fleet format as Wheels Up redefines private aviation’s entry point.”

 

The Wheels Up King Air 350i aircraft will have several special enhancements for Wheels Up members including state-of-the-art interiors, Wi-Fi connectivity and a luxury lavatory vanity. 

 

The Wheels Up deal also includes a comprehensive maintenance program from Beechcraft valued at more than $600 million. This includes service for airframe, engines, avionics and propellers; scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, labor, parts and consumables. From its Hawker Beechcraft Services Wilmington, Del., hub, which is strategically located for this program, the maintenance program will also include mobile AOG support.

 

As its segment’s greenest aircraft, the King Air 350i can take more passengers farther on less fuel for consistent savings, according to company information.