Magnifica Air aims to reinvent premium travel in 2027 with small-scale cabins, personalised service and a seamless ground experience that feels closer to a private jet than a commercial flight. Olivia Palamountain reports

Magnifica Air has revealed plans for a new kind of airline that sits between private aviation and first-class commercial travel, offering what it describes as the privacy of a jet with the operational scope of a major carrier.

When it launches in 2027, the Florida-based startup will introduce a fleet of Airbus A220-300 and A321neo aircraft, each configured for between 45 and 54 passengers. The aim is to create a quieter, more personal flying experience at what the company claims will be a fraction of the cost of chartering a private jet.

According to The Independent, the airline believes it has identified “a gap in the market” for wealthy travellers who want a calmer, more human experience without paying private jet prices.

Boutique design

The concept blends low-density cabins with the scale and consistency of scheduled operations. Aircraft interiors will feature private suites, hand-crafted business-class seating and open spaces created by removing overhead bins. Renderings shared by the airline show two-by-two seating in warm brown tones, residential-style sofa suites and an onboard bar, highlighting its ambition to make the cabin feel more like a boutique hotel than an aircraft. Lighting will adapt throughout the flight, menus will be designed with chefs and sommeliers, and service will follow the rhythm of a private members’ club.

Seamless connections

Magnifica Air’s guest journey begins long before boarding. Travellers will arrive at private terminals only 30 minutes before departure, where baggage will be handled by concierge staff and security screening will take place within the lounge. Aided by facial recognition technology, the process is designed to be quick and unobtrusive. From there, guests will be escorted directly to the aircraft by sprinter van or private ramp walk. On arrival, baggage will be returned within minutes, chauffeurs will meet passengers at the kerb, and onward lounges will be available for those continuing their journey.

Clean tech

The company places sustainability at the centre of its design. Magnifica Air will launch as carbon neutral, supported by more than seven million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel integrated into its East Coast operations each year. Lounges will run on solar power and the airline is exploring hybrid-electric aircraft as part of future planning. On board, aircraft will introduce the world’s first commercial-scale surface purification system using Aviation Clean Air technology, paired with a humidification system to reduce the drying effects of long-haul travel.

Experience trips

The route network will begin with six to seven daily flights, connecting Miami, New York, Los Angeles, the Bay Area, Dallas and Houston, with seasonal services to Napa Valley and the Caribbean. Magnifica Air has already signed agreements for six Airbus A220s and two A321neos, with the first scheduled for delivery in early 2027 before refurbishment and entry to service later that year. Alongside scheduled flights, curated “experience trips” will be offered to cultural and sporting events, including Art Basel and Formula 1.

Affordable luxury

Supporting the launch is a leadership team drawn from both private and commercial aviation, led by chief executive Wade Black. He describes the airline as a response to a fragmented premium market where customers must choose between crowded first-class cabins or costly private jet charters. As he explains: “This is the space in between.” The Independent reports that the company’s blog positions the airline as “a fully private, seamless experience for a fraction of what you’d pay to charter a jet.”

Member perks

Magnifica Air has also introduced The Seven Club, a membership platform that blends air travel with art, wellness and cultural access. Members will receive priority booking, concierge support and invitations to curated events, from artist previews at Art Basel to tailored programmes at major sporting fixtures. Family and corporate memberships will be available through a tiered structure, with prices starting from US$14,950.

Black describes the programme as an opportunity to bring “joy and excitement back to the sky,” positioning the club as an emotional extension of the airline rather than a list of perks.