Magnifica Air Spooling up Operations With Hiring Drives

A year after unveiling plans to build an airline that fills a niche between commercial first class and private aviation with a fleet of Airbus A220s and A321neos, Orlando, Florida-based Magnifica Air has kicked off a series of recruitment drives as it takes the next steps toward launching operations. The company introduced its “private class” concept at NBAA-BACE 2025, describing an operation that it says “combines the privacy, personalization, and ease associated with private flying with the safety, reliability, and operating discipline of scheduled service.”

Charles and Stacey Carey, founders of the Magnifica luxury hospitality brand, co-founded Magnifica Air with aviation veteran Wade Black and brought on chief development officer Sean McGeough, who has held roles with Airbus Corporate Jets, Nextant, and Hawker Beechcraft. To start operations in 2027, Magnifica Air signed a leasing agreement with Air Lease for four new A220-300s and two new ACJ321neos that will be configured with 45 to 54 seats and two to four private suites.

Magnifica Air unveiled its first ACJ321neo in livery in February, and that aircraft is now undergoing completion. The company says its first A220-300 is now in production.

Meanwhile, Magnifica Air is looking to hire in areas such as flight and ground operations, technical and maintenance support, guest experience, and corporate functions. These positions are based in Orlando, Florida. Magnifica Air is further building a network of pilots, flight attendants, technicians, and customer service professionals who may be interested in future opportunities. 

Its recruitment drives kicked off last month with the company’s participation in the Military Influencer Conference Hiring Fair in Tampa, Florida, and continue at RTAG (originally called Rotary to Airline Group) in Orlando on Saturday and Sunday. Magnifica Air is also making a hiring push at its booth during NBAA-BACE next week in Las Vegas.

“When we stood at NBAA last year, private class was a vision for how the journey could work differently. Twelve months later, that vision is becoming tangible,” said Black, who is CEO of the airline. “We have our first undergoing completion, an experienced team around us and partners helping us build every part of the experience. There is still a great deal of work ahead, but it is exciting to see Magnifica Air taking shape.”