Writer

Amy Wilder

Jet Excellence is expanding its wholesale charter model around a growing fleet of Cessna Citation Xs, a direction CEO McQueen Campbell said is rooted in operating economics and scale. He emphasized&nbsp;the importance of matching cost structure to aircraft type and noted that rising operating expenses have altered the economics of light and midsize jets.
“Fuel was $3.50 a gallon, so every input cost we’ve got was less then,” Campbell told AIN. “The cost per hour for a pilot has gone up a lot…it’s gotten much tougher to make money in the light and the mid jet class versus the super mid.”
The air charter provider already had several Citation Xs in service before the opportunity arose to acquire additional aircraft linked to Vista-associated operations, according to Campbell. “We were already growing. We had seven Citation Xs already. This just gave us a chance to grow faster.” The larger fleet has also helped the company gain the scale it needs, he added.
Much of Jet Excellence’s expansion has centered on wholesale relationships, which Campbell described as involving strong ties with brokers and jet card providers. At the same time, he said the company is not aiming for rapid expansion at the expense of quality. “We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re trying to be the best.”
Looking ahead, Campbell emphasized building out operations internally. “We’ve got to continue to build our team…to work the size of the fleet that we’ve got now,” he said.
Campbell said Jet Excellence’s geographic focus remains consistent. “We’ve already been going down to the Caribbean, to the Bahamas, to Mexico, to Canada, into Central America,” he said, adding that the company intends to finish integrating its recently added aircraft as a priority. “Once we do that…we’ll assess when there’s an opportunity in geographic areas that we haven’t traditionally been going.”
Jet Excellence is a <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-10-14/wholesale-charter-operator-bellair-becomes-jet">rebrand from BellAir</a> following its acquisition of Red Wing Aeroplane and&nbsp; adding 19 Citation Xs. Wheels Up executives Michael Vargo and Zach Palmer recently joined the company as COO and v-p of commercial strategy, respectively. Jet Excellence now operates 27 Citation Xs under long-term leases and aims to build its fleet to more than 30 aircraft, alongside several other Citations, Hawker 800XPs, and a Beechcraft King Air 350.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Jet Excellence Plots Course for Growth with Cessna Citation X Jets

CEO cites scale and cost advantages of speedy twinjets

Jet Excellence CEO McQueen Campbell shares comments on Jet Excellence’s wholesale focus, fleet scale, and operating economics.

Jet Excellence Plots Course for Growth with Citation Xs

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Aircraft operator is expecting its first ACJ delivery next year

RoyalJet Selects LEAP Engines for Upcoming ACJ320neos

Corporate tier emphasizes speed and flexibility, and access to Vista fleet

XO Rolls Out Corporate Membership for Business Travel

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Intensive care doctors will support FAI medical evacuation flights 

Dubai Hospital Teams with FAI Air Ambulance Service

Matt Thurber

Charter operator has access to pre-and in-flight security and medical assistance

Valo Selects MedAire360 for Medical, Security Support

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Inaugural show appearance celebrates 23 years of UAE presence 

FAI Aviation Dubs Dubai Airshow as Desirable Debut

Managed fleet now includes 25 business aircraft, of which one third can be chartered

Empire Builds Dubai HQ to Meet Growing Private Jet Demand

Hanneke Weitering

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Alatau Advance Air Group to introduce electric air taxi service in Almaty

Kazakhstan Joins eVTOL Race With $250 Million Joby Deal

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

In this article

Cessna Citation 750 X and X+

Textron Aviation

More In Charter & Fractional