Wheels Up has agreed to buy six factory-new Embraer Phenom 300E light business jets, with deliveries scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of 2027. The order is the US private aviation operator’s first direct purchase of new aircraft from Embraer. Wheels Up, Delta Air Lines’ strategic partner, plans to use the jets to add capacity as it focuses on its premium fleet and Signature membership offering.
The aircraft are expected to be delivered with satellite Wi-Fi installed. The companies did not disclose the order’s value. Embraer’s planning for the aircraft began in 2024, according to the manufacturer.
Wheels Up is aligning its fleet investment with a shift in its business mix. In the third quarter of 2026, revenue from its premium Phenom and Challenger fleet rose 120% year on year, while revenue from legacy fleets declined as those programmes were wound down. The company had more than 1,500 Signature memberships by September.
Wheels Up reported a 99.3% completion rate and 86.4% on-time performance within 30 minutes for the third quarter. The six aircraft will add capacity in 2027 as the operator builds its premium offering.