Quantcast

Sky Industry News

Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA
Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up
LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
Joby’s Electric Air Taxi Makes European Debut
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation announces NLRB-scheduled vote to remove union officials
Families recount the horror of MH17 ten years on - Airline Ratings
777-9 Enters Certification Flight Testing - AVweb
Kompass Kapital Sets New Course with Airshare Investment
SATS, SIA Engineering Company and Changi Airport Group to Trial Autonomous Buses at Changi Airport
Qatar Airways Landing An A350 In Hamburg Makes A Powerful Statement - Airline Ratings
EBAA Backs Dassault's Sustainability Lawsuit against European Commission | AIN
Wheels Up relies on versatile Beechcraft King Air fleet for growing demand
Policy
Webp whellsup
Wheels Up Beechcraft King Air 350i | Wikipedia

Wheels Up, a private aviation company based in the United States, has become a significant player in the private aviation industry. Since its inception in 2013, Wheels Up has grown to operate over 200 private aircraft and is now recognized as the second-largest private aviation company after NetJets. The company primarily operates on an on-demand business model, offering both aircraft charters and memberships.

A key component of Wheels Up's fleet is the Beechcraft King Air 350i, a versatile twin-engine turboprop aircraft with a capacity for up to 10 passengers. Beechcraft launched this model in 2008 as an enhanced version of the King Air series that dates back to the mid-1980s. The King Air 350i offers efficient performance and flexibility for short-to-medium-range flights.

In August 2013, Wheels Up confirmed an order of 105 King Air 350i aircraft from Beechcraft, valued at $1.4 billion. This strategic acquisition enabled Wheels Up to target non-hub markets and regional airports where commercial airline services are less effective.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Beechcraft's design improvements have made the King Air 350i popular among various operators, including commercial, military, and cargo sectors. "When government, military and commercial customers want airborne solutions for critical missions," Beechcraft states, "they turn to BEECHCRAFT."

By incorporating these aircraft into its operations by 2014, Wheels Up had already taken delivery of 27 new King Airs and expanded its customer base significantly through charters and memberships. According to Wheels Up: "With the average private flight in the US being less than 2.5 hours, our exclusive and vast fleet of King Air 350i aircraft provides you with the most economical solution for flying private with up to eight passengers all year long."

The cabin of the King Air 350i is designed for comfort comparable to modern light jets while maintaining efficiency in terms of noise levels and fuel consumption. According to Beechcraft: “The Beechcraft KING AIR aircraft offers flexible reconfigurable interiors making them equally adept at accommodating passengers cargo air ambulance or other missions.”

Operating costs for a King Air 350i range between $1,300 and $1,500 per hour depending on usage conditions according to Liberty Jet Management estimates which also indicate that annual flying costs can vary significantly based on flight hours logged.

Pratt & Whitney engines power these planes requiring overhaul approximately every few thousand hours adding substantial maintenance expenses over time but ensuring continued reliability across diverse mission profiles whether transporting personnel or performing specialized tasks globally.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

For travelers seeking an alternative to commercial flights, semi-private air travel offers a middle ground between the exclusivity of private jets and the accessibility of commercial airlines.

Feb 25, 2025

Delta Air Lines offers a diverse range of routes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, connecting travelers to various destinations across the United States beyond its primary hub in Atlanta.

Feb 25, 2025

A JetBlue pilot was arrested at Boston Logan International Airport on February 20, after authorities discovered an active warrant for his arrest in North Carolina.

Feb 25, 2025

Norse Atlantic Airways, a long-haul low-cost airline, has announced plans to adjust its network from London Gatwick this winter.

Feb 25, 2025

The Airbus A380, known for its double-decker cabin and ability to carry up to 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration, relies on two powerful engine options: the Engine Alliance GP7200 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 900.

Feb 25, 2025

The Northrop B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, introduced in 1997, captured global attention with its unique flying wing design.

Feb 25, 2025