A new airline is about to taxi onto the runway. Magnifica Air, a Florida-based startup offering private jet-style travel at a fraction of the cost, is preparing to take off in 2027.
The company hopes to carve a new niche in the increasingly crowded luxury air travel space, somewhere between private jets and commercial first-class cabins. The company says it will operate as a fully scheduled airline rather than a charter service, but will offer the space, service and privacy typically associated with private jet or semi-private air travel.
When Magnifica enters service, it plans to have a fleet of six Airbus aircraft, including four A220-300s and two A321neos. However, the plane will have much fewer seats than the standard version, around 45 to 54 seats instead of 120 or more. The leather lie-flat seats are arranged in two rows, and the plane has two to four enclosed “private suites” with chaise seats and sliding doors, as well as a bar area at the end of the plane. The plane will have a sleek, minimalist look. The overall design concept recalls the aesthetics of luxury round-the-world charter flights, such as those operated by Four Seasons and Aman.
The company plans to offer a door-to-door experience, starting with chauffeured transportation and check-in at a private terminal, and ending with expedited baggage processing upon arrival. According to reports, travelers will be able to check-in 30 minutes before departure. It’s an experience designed to seem smooth compared to commercial air travel and the long security lines and crowded airport boarding gates that come with it. The company also says sustainability is a core part of its brand. Magnifica is committed to using a 50 percent blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from its inception (with 100 percent SAF utilization by 2030) and operating new, more fuel-efficient aircraft to reduce emissions.
Initial routes will connect major business and leisure markets in the United States, including New York, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston, as well as seasonal flights to Napa and the Caribbean. The airline says it will operate as a fully scheduled airline rather than a charter service, targeting travelers who want the intimacy and speed of a private flight, but with the consistency and reliability of commercial aviation. “We offer a completely private and seamless experience at a fraction of the price you would pay to charter a jet,” Magnifica wrote in a blog post. However, ticket prices have not yet been announced.
The market for more premium travel has grown rapidly in recent years as travelers seek greater comfort, more personal space and less time spent in crowded terminals.
Airlines like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and American Airlines are all investing heavily in upgraded premium products (onboard and in airport lounges), and commercial airlines are seeing record membership numbers. Magnifica is betting that there is a middle ground: an audience willing to pay more than business class fare for a quieter, faster, more curated experience without the full price of a private jet.
Magnifica’s model places it among a small but growing group of boutique airlines experimenting with ultra-premium air services. U.S. airlines such as JSX and Aero already offer semi-private flights from private terminals using small jets (30-seater on JSK flights, 16-seater Embraer regional jets on Aero flights) on domestic flights, while France’s La Compagnie and Maldives-based Biondo are introducing all-business class flights on long-haul international flights.
