Wheels Up Experience

Wheels Up Experience was founded in 2013 by Kenny Dichter and veterans of Marquis Jet Partners.

It was based in New York City until it moved its headquarters to Atlanta in 2024.

Following a SPAC merger with Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle in July 2021, Wheels Up is a pure-play publicly traded private jet operator and broker.

It trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol UP.

Wheels Up Experience Inc. is the new name of Wheels Up Partners Holdings LLC, following its merger with Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp. in July 2021, which made it a public company.

It remains known as Wheels Up.

In 2022, it was the third-largest charter and fractional operator in the U.S., behind NetJets and Flexjet.

In 20 months through January 2021, it acquired TMC Jets, tech platform Avianis, Delta Private Jets, Gama Aviation Signature, and Mountain Aviation. In February 2022, it acquired Alanate Air Charter, adding 12 light jets to its fleet.

The acquisition of Delta Private Jets made Delta Air Lines the largest shareholder in the company. (Review private jet fractional and membership company M&A activity with our PRIVATE AVIATION DEAL BOOK.)

Following Wheels Up’s IPO, Delta Air Lines remains the largest shareholder.

Wheels Up offers various membership options across its fleet of King Air 350i turboprops, Citation Excel/XLS, and Citation X jets, as well as off-fleet partners.

It is a leader in jet sharing, offering flights by the seat and split among members.

In November 2021, it retooled its membership program, increasing rates, minimums, and call-outs but maintaining the number of peak days.

It was revised again, effective June 2022.

Its changes, announced on November 1, 2022, take effect on December 1, 2022.

It has a wide variety of partnerships, including the NFL Players Association, Porsche, American Express, Costco, Landry’s, Waldorf Astoria, and Inspirato.

It stated that it would launch a helicopter service in partnership with Textron Bell in 2021. No further announcements have been made. 

In May 2023, it announced a new reduced service area aimed at cutting losses.

In August 2023, it announced a $500 million Delta-led investment package following mounting losses, decreasing cash, and bankruptcy rumors.

The deal closed in September 2023.

At the same time, CFO Todd Smith was named Interim-CEO, replacing Dichter.

In August 2023, Delta named Dan Janki, its CFO, as the Chairman of Wheels Up.

In September 2023, Delta Board member George Mattson was named CEO, with Smith returning to his CFO role and Dichter exiting the board.

As of June 2025, Wheels Up had 116 aircraft on its charter certificate.

It remains the fourth-largest charter and fractional operator in North America.