In late 2024, Magnifica Air announced its intentions of offering a business-class and premium-economy only commercial airline service, catering to U.S.-based travelers looking for a more high-end experience.

At the time, the plans were somewhat similar to what France’s La Compagnie offers, but in their latest unveiling, Magnifica Air plans to kick things up a notch, catering to an even wealthier clientele. On Thursday, the boutique airline unveiled its first of four aircraft, an Airbus ACJ321neo.

This barely two-year old aircraft previously flew for Spirit Airlines as N715NK. First delivered to the low-cost carrier in 2024, it was withdrawn from use in October 2025, and later converted into an Airbus ACJA321neo.

With retrofitted fuel tanks, their ACJ321neo (now registered N148MA) has an increased range of about 6,100 nautical miles, a step up from the typical 3,500-4,000 miles on regular A321neos. The aircraft also features Pratt & Whitney PW1133 engines, and I’m curious if they’ll be prone to engine issues experienced by many other PW operators, or if their less intensive operations may work in the airline’s favor.

The aircraft was unveiled at Orlando International Airport wearing its new livery, but will spend the next 10 months undergoing extensive cabin refitting. Originally, the airline’s founders Wade Black and Charles Carey originally envisioned the airline as one offering premium-economy and business class seating, but have since pivoted with plans to offer a more than first-class only cabin instead.

Dubbed ‘Private Class’, the aircraft will be configured with 54 seats designed to offer a mix of traditional first-class seating, and those featured on private jets. The overhead bins will also be removed, giving the cabin a generally larger, airier feeling.

In their statement, they say, “it is positioned not as an upgrade, but as an alternative: one that blends the discretion and spatial freedom of private aviation with the safety infrastructure and operational discipline of commercial flight.”

Unfortunately, we have no previews of this cabin yet, so we’ll just have to wait and see what they come up with, but it will be adapted to their fleet of four aircraft comprising of both 321neos and ACJ220s.

magnifica air airbus a321neo 02
Credit: Magnifica Air

The Florida-based carrier plans to start flights in 2027 once they gain regulatory approval, initially from Miami to New York. If their website is anything to go by, they are targeting major cities including New York City, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Palm Beach, Los Angeles, San Jose and Orlando. It’s possible they may also operate seasonal service to various islands in the Caribbean.

Like other premium carriers, they will offer other premium chartered plans, catering to members who want access to bespoke event such as Formula 1, The Masters Tournament, art shows, football games, and so on.

It’s still early days, but it’s nice to see the airline progressing. There has been an undoubtedly general shift towards more premium travel across all spaces within the United States. Legacy carriers are constantly rolling out improved premium cabins, with much more seating, while the low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Southwest are moving away from their economy-only models.

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