Separately, NetJets owner Berkshire Hathaway takes a $2.6 billion stake in Delta Air Lines, the largest shareholder of Wheels Up.
Wheels Up has tallied 74 days in 2026 to date without a single flight cancellation, achieving a 100% completion factor on those dates.
That number exceeds its 2025 full-year count of zero cancellation days.
Like backer Delta Air Lines, Wheels Up refers to the perfect days as Brand Days.
Speaking on Fox Business this morning, Wheels Up CEO George Mattson said the private jet company has been “leveraging the Delta playbook.”
In a press release, he added, “2025 was a record performance year for Wheels Up, and not five months into 2026, we’re already beating our previous annual benchmarks.”
He continued, “Since day one, our mission has been to build the best-run private aviation company, and this latest proof point further demonstrates the progress we have made towards that goal.”
Mattson joined Wheels Up as CEO in October 2023 after serving on the board of Delta Air Lines for more than a decade.
Delta Air Lines is the biggest shareholder in Wheels Up.
Its most recent quarterly report shows a 36% stake in the private jet company.
Mattson said, “Having recently completed our fleet transition, we look forward to delivering even higher operational reliability.”
The company’s jet fleet now consists of the Phenom 300 light jet and the Challenger 300 super-midsize platform.
WingX data shows the duo as the two most popular jet types in North America so far in 2026.
Mattson continued:
‘We have the best operations team in the business, and these continued achievements are a result of major improvements in the company’s operational reliability, disciplined planning, proactive communication, and real-time decision making by teams across flight operations, maintenance, scheduling, and customer service. I want to personally thank every member of our operations team for their impassioned commitment to creating such seamless operations and continuing to raise the bar for our members and customers.’
During his appearance on Mornings With Maria, he noted that during the fleet transition, Wheels Up “added and subtracted” more than 200 aircraft over the past 18 months.
Mattson also spoke to Fox Business about how Wheels Up is working with Delta Air Lines to market its charter and membership services to Delta’s corporate accounts and frequent flyers.
He noted 90% of private flyers switch between airlines and private aviation.
Mattson said enabling flyers to switch back and forth will make it easier to convert the “90% (of addressable market) who have never flown privately.”
Over the past decade, Delta has led the industry in earnings by focusing on premium cabins and customers.
Last week, Berkshire Hathaway, which owns NetJets, disclosed it had taken a $2.6 billion stake in Delta earlier this year.
DAL currently has a market cap of $49.7 billion.
Back in 2020, Berkshire sold stakes in Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines.
Delta was Berkshire Hathaway’s 14th-largest holding at the end of March, according to CNBC.
Since joining Wheels Up, Mattson has been seeking to turn the company profitable.
Following its 2021 IPO, Wheels Up’s losses mounted as it struggled to integrate a series of acquisitions.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian has said Wheels Up is a key part of the airline’s premium customer strategy.
There was no indication that Berkshire’s move back into Delta Air Lines stock is related to the two private jet companies.
Mattson said that despite increased fuel prices and global uncertainty, Wheels Up has yet to see any impact on demand.
He told the Fox Business listeners, “We’re seeing people travel a lot.”
Mattson said he believes the industry will see extra demand from the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
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