Buying a super-midsize jet is the easy half. The other half happens in a paint bay and an interior shop before the aeroplane carries anyone.

flyExclusive announced the addition of the fifth Challenger to its expanding super-midsize fleet, with the sixth and seventh in final preparation for service. The additions are intended to improve operational efficiency, increase aircraft availability and lift the customer experience, and the growing Challenger fleet is central to the company’s broader modernisation programme. At the time of the announcement the company said it aimed to reach 15 Challengers by year end.

Why the type

• Spacious cabins, larger windows and a flat floor for long-range travellers.
• Short-field performance that keeps thousands of US airports — including Hawaii — reachable.
• Comprehensive exterior and interior refurbishment on every aircraft before it enters service.

Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Segrave said the Challengers were exceeding expectations across the operation, and that integrating the type unlocks the full potential of the company’s vertically integrated model — the refurbishment being done in flyExclusive’s own hangars rather than bought from a third party.

Where it went

The Challenger fleet stood at eight aircraft by January 2026, by which point the company had also identified the type as the most economically productive segment of its fleet.

Aircraft detail is on the Challenger 350 page.

Based on the company press release of 21 April 2025. Read the original on the flyExclusive investor relations site.