Brands

FXAIR Review 2026: Pricing, Fleet Sourcing, and Fit

Directional Aviation's charter arm, deposit tiers, and jet card rates

FXAIR is a legitimate premium on-demand private jet charter provider backed by Directional Aviation, the private investment firm that also owns Flexjet and Sentient Jet. At Jet & Beyond, we look past glossy aviation marketing to examine the actual corporate structures, deposit terms, and hourly rates that determine what a flight program delivers. The program offers open-market charter without a commitment, alongside refundable membership tiers that start at a $100,000 deposit for Aviator and a $200,000 deposit for Aviator+.

What FXAIR Is, in Plain Terms

FXAIR is the on-demand charter brand of Directional Aviation, launched in 2020 to handle retail charter bookings across a curated aircraft network. The business serves as the charter entry point within Directional Aviation’s wider portfolio of private aviation brands. Rather than operating as an isolated boutique shop, FXAIR belongs to the aviation family founded by entrepreneur Kenn Ricci. That corporate umbrella also controls Flexjet, which began in 1995 as a fractional division of Bombardier Aerospace before Directional Aviation acquired it in 2013, as well as Sentient Jet, Corporate Wings, and PrivateFly.

The service exists to give fliers access to private flights without requiring fractional ownershipBuying a share of a specific aircraft, typically 1/16 or larger, which entitles you to a set number of flight hours a year plus a monthly management fee. or multi-year flight contracts. A traveler can book individual trips directly with FXAIR through traditional retail charter. For regular travelers, FXAIR provides structured membership accounts known as Aviator and Aviator+. These accounts hold prepaid flight funds against future travel while offering priority aircraft access.

FXAIR also absorbs the operations of PrivateFly, an earlier on-demand booking pioneer that Adam Twidell co-founded in 2008. Directional Aviation acquired PrivateFly in 2018 and subsequently shifted its brand presence into FXAIR. Travelers who previously visited PrivateFly’s web portal were directed to FXAIR with the explicit confirmation that PrivateFly is now known as FXAIR. Our private jet charter broker guide details that operational evolution for travelers tracking broker consolidation.

FXAIR’s Access Tiers and Pricing

FXAIR splits its product catalog into three distinct access levels to accommodate varied flying frequencies and capital commitments. Each tier targets a specific travel pattern:

1. On-Demand Charter: Travelers book flights trip by trip without paying an upfront membership deposit. Pricing floats entirely with open-market charter supply and aircraft availability for the chosen routing.
2. Aviator Membership: Requires a refundable $100,000 account deposit. Members receive dedicated account support and streamlined booking terms against their deposited capital.
3. Aviator+ Membership: Requires a refundable $200,000 account deposit. This higher tier secures enhanced availability guarantees and preferential pricing terms across light through large cabin categories.

In 2023, FXAIR reintroduced a fixed-rate jet card program focused on two popular business aircraft: the Embraer Phenom 300 light jet and the Bombardier Challenger 300 super-midsize jet. This program requires a minimum deposit of $200,000. Under this structure, published Aviator+ pricing on the Phenom 300 starts at $8,250 per hour. That hourly rate includes the federal excise tax (FET) and the applicable fuel surcharge, removing volatile invoice surprises on standard flights.

FXAIR does not publicly disclose total active customer counts, annual gross revenues, or the specific individual serving as chief executive officer. These private metrics remain internal to Directional Aviation. Prospective fliers can verify current account terms and active card documentation directly on the FXAIR official site.

Ownership and Fleet Sourcing

FXAIR operates under the parent governance of Directional Aviation, drawing structural support from the group of aviation brands Kenn Ricci built. When BusinessWire covered the official brand launch in 2020, Directional Aviation highlighted the operational role FXAIR fills. While Flexjet focuses on long-term fractional shares and Sentient Jet specializes in traditional 25-hour prepaid jet cards, FXAIR directs open-market charter travelers through an aligned access pipeline.

Fleet sourcing at FXAIR relies on a hybrid network model. FXAIR arranges flights through Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified Part 135 air carriers across the country. Because FXAIR shares parent ownership with Flexjet, the charter desk maintains structured coordination with sister operations. When Flexjet transitions aircraft out of its fractional flight cycles, or manages off-fleet positioning demand, FXAIR provides a channel to place retail charter clients into thoroughly vetted cabins.

FXAIR also benefits from the charter booking platform built originally by PrivateFly. Directional Aviation acquired PrivateFly in 2018 to enhance digital sourcing capabilities. Folding that operational foundation into FXAIR gave the new brand an established digital backbone from day one. Fliers get charter access sourced from third-party operator networks alongside the high operational standards enforced across Directional Aviation’s wider corporate flight departments.

FXAIR Compared with Flexjet and Sentient Jet

Because Directional Aviation owns FXAIR, Flexjet, and Sentient Jet, choosing among them involves selecting the right flight contract rather than choosing competing ownership teams. The three entities serve different segments of private aviation:

FXAIR functions as the most flexible entry point among Directional Aviation’s brands. A traveler who wants to test the parent organization’s flight network can book an individual charter with FXAIR without wiring six figures. In contrast, Sentient Jet requires upfront capital for fixed-rate blocks, and Flexjet requires substantial multi-year capital outlays for fractional asset equity.

Who Should Use FXAIR

FXAIR fits private travelers who fly between 15 and 40 hours per year and need charter flexibility without a multi-year fractional tie. If your schedule requires an on-demand light jet one month and a super-midsize cabin six months later, FXAIR accommodates both through straightforward trip quotes. You avoid the heavy capital commitment and monthly management overhead that accompany a fractional share at Flexjet.

FXAIR also fits fliers who want a relationship with a large aviation holding group while retaining access to per-trip pricing. Depositing $100,000 for an Aviator membership or $200,000 for an Aviator+ membership makes sense if you fly frequently enough to benefit from dedicated service reps and priority booking status, but still want your funds sitting in a refundable deposit structure.

Travelers who focus their flight hours primarily on the Embraer Phenom 300 or Bombardier Challenger 300 will find the 2023 fixed-rate card compelling. Locking in a Phenom 300 at $8,250 per hour all-inclusive protects corporate travel budgets against unexpected seasonal price surges in high-traffic corridors like New York to South Florida.

Who This Is Not For

FXAIR is the wrong choice for private fliers who fly more than 50 to 100 hours annually and require guaranteed access to an identical aircraft type and standardized cabin configuration on every departure. Those high-volume corporate travelers are better served by fractional programs such as Flexjet or fixed-fleet jet cards that maintain an owned fleet of identical airframes. FXAIR uses an extended network of independent Part 135 operators for general charter, which means cabin layouts and tail numbers naturally vary from flight to flight.

FXAIR is also not a match for budget-conscious leisure fliers who are uncomfortable wiring a six-figure deposit. If an upfront $100,000 or $200,000 commitment strains your capital planning, a pure charter broker that operates strictly on a pay-as-you-fly basis without membership accounts will fit your routine better. Fliers can compare deposit-free alternatives using our jet card comparison tool.

What Would Change Our Answer

A published move lowering the initial deposit tier below $100,000 for entry-level memberships would widen FXAIR’s appeal for light fliers. Introducing a $25,000 or $50,000 trial membership tier would allow intermittent travelers to access member benefits without committing extensive personal funds.

Clear public disclosure of corporate operational statistics, including active membership totals and annual flight volumes, would also strengthen consumer confidence. Because Directional Aviation is an unlisted private investment firm, fliers must rely on brand reputation rather than public balance sheets when placing six-figure cash deposits on account. If FXAIR published audited fleet safety metrics and dedicated customer counts, the transparency would make evaluating their card programs even more straightforward.

Verify current membership rules and hourly terms on the official FXAIR portal before submitting account applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FXAIR?

FXAIR is an on-demand private jet charter company launched in 2020 by Directional Aviation, the private investment firm led by Kenn Ricci. FXAIR offers on-demand charter booking alongside Aviator and Aviator+ membership deposit accounts.

Is FXAIR the same as PrivateFly?

Yes, FXAIR absorbed PrivateFly's operations after Directional Aviation acquired PrivateFly in 2018. Directional Aviation consolidated the brands, and visitors to the former PrivateFly web presence were transitioned to FXAIR.

How much does FXAIR Aviator+ cost?

FXAIR Aviator+ membership requires a refundable account deposit of $200,000. In addition, fixed-rate jet cardA prepaid block of flight hours on a set aircraft category, bought at a fixed or capped hourly rate. No aircraft ownership is involved. pricing on the Phenom 300 under this tier starts at $8,250 per hour, which includes federal excise taxA 7.5% US tax on domestic air transportation, charged on top of the quoted charter price. It does not apply to flights that begin or end outside the continental US. and fuel surcharges.

Who owns FXAIR?

FXAIR is owned by Directional Aviation, the private investment firm founded by aviation leader Kenn Ricci. Directional Aviation also owns prominent aviation brands such as Flexjet, Sentient Jet, and Corporate Wings.

Is FXAIR legit?

Yes, FXAIR is a legitimate charter operation backed by Directional Aviation, one of the largest private aviation holding companies in the world. It provides vetted aircraft access through FAA-licensed Part 135 operators alongside structured sister programs.

Does FXAIR own its fleet?

No, FXAIR functions primarily as a charter broker arranging flights on certified third-party Part 135 air carriers. However, its position under Directional Aviation gives it strategic alignment with sister company fleets managed within the parent portfolio.

What is the minimum deposit for an FXAIR Aviator membership?

The standard FXAIR Aviator membership requires a minimum deposit of $100,000. The higher-level Aviator+ membership requires a minimum deposit of $200,000 to access preferential hourly charter rates and specialized card terms.

We update this guide as aircraft, program, and route pricing changes. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll check it.