Magnifica Air confirmed as buyer of 10 Airbus A220 corporate jets

Magnifica Air has been identified as the customer for a previously undisclosed order for 10 Airbus ACJ220-300 aircraft. The new aircraft would expand the Florida-based premium airline’s planned fleet to 17 jets as it prepares to launch operations in 2028.

Airbus Corporate Jets disclosed the customer on 10 November. The airline’s planned fleet comprises 14 ACJ220 aircraft and three ACJ321neos. 

Magnifica intends to use the jets for scheduled premium services combining low-density cabins with elements of private aviation, including dedicated terminals, ground transfers and concierge assistance.

Magnifica plans 54-seat A220 cabins

The newly disclosed ACJ220-300 aircraft will carry 54 passengers, including accommodation in a private suite, according to Corporate Jet Investor. A typical airline-configured A220-300 carries about 150 passengers, but Magnifica has significantly reduced the seat density for its all-premium service.

The A220-300 is the larger member of Airbus’s A220 family, not to be confused with the ACJ TwoTwenty corporate jet, which is derived from the smaller A220-100. The airline’s larger corporate jets would support its scheduled passenger operations.

Airbus says the ACJ220-300 can fly up to 4,000 nautical miles in a full business-class configuration. Actual range will depend on cabin fit-out, payload and operating conditions. The airline has previously identified major US cities and selected leisure destinations as potential markets for its ‘Private Class’ service.

Magnifica picks Skywise digital solutions to manage operations

Alongside the aircraft order, Magnifica selected Airbus’s Skywise digital solutions, including Skywise Core X1, flight planning, operations and crew management tools, and navigation databases. The systems would support flight and technical operations as the airline builds its fleet.

“Airbus is far more than an aircraft manufacturer. They understand high-end travel and where the business aviation travel market is going. From our first conversations, their team recognised what we set out to build: Private Class, a new category of flight, built on one principle: Beknown. From the first call to the final arrival, every detail is shaped around the individual travel experience. Our ACJ fleet is a critical part of delivering the Private Class experience. The ACJ220-300, together with Skywise, gives us the cabin, the range and the operational backbone to bring it to our members,” said Wade Black, CEO of Magnifica Air, in the announcement. 

Airbus Corporate Jets president Chadi Saade said: “The ACJ220-300 is the perfect fit for Magnifica Air’s disruptive model, offering unrivalled cabin space and intercontinental range with significantly lower operating costs. By selecting the ACJ220-300, Magnifica Air is securing the most efficient and comfortable aircraft in its class that perfectly suits their innovative business model to get its customers in the most efficient way where it matters, when it matters.”

Cabin completion and aircraft deliveries remain to be clarified

Magnifica previously selected Comlux for cabin completion work on aircraft in its initial fleet. However, Corporate Jet Investor reports that the airline is issuing a request for proposals for the interiors of the 10 newly identified ACJ220-300s. The contractor for that work has not yet been confirmed.

The publication also reports that the company’s first A220-300 is in production. Airbus and Magnifica have not announced a delivery timetable for the 10 aircraft, or when they are expected to enter service.

The aircraft order is a significant commitment for an airline that has yet to begin scheduled services. Magnifica’s model depends on attracting passengers willing to pay for a more private travel experience while profitably operating aircraft with far fewer seats.

Magnifica has revised its intended launch from 2027 to 2028, according to a clarification the airline’s press representative provided to Aerospace Global News in earlier reporting. The timing of aircraft deliveries, cabin completion and regulatory preparations will be central to meeting that revised target.

Aerospace Global News has reached out to Magnifica Air to confirm the completion arrangements and delivery schedule.