August 5, 2026
flyExclusive is a vertically integrated private jet operator founded by Jim Segrave in 2015, headquartered in Kinston, NC, with a fleet of over 90 jets spanning light, midsize, and super midsize categories.
The flyExclusive Jet Club membership program starts with a $100,000 deposit and provides fixed hourly rates, transparent pricing, and guaranteed aircraft availability without blackout dates.
BlackJet Fractional Jet Ownership focuses on fractional aircraft ownership and tailored membership solutions for travelers flying 25–150 hours per year across the United States and globally.
When comparing options, evaluate predictable access, cost structure, tax benefits such as depreciation on business-use aircraft, and fleet control to determine whether a jet club model or a fractional program best fits your travel profile.
flyExclusive is a private aviation company headquartered in Kinston, NC, founded by Jim Segrave in 2015. Segrave, who owns the company through LGM Ventures and holds over 10,000 flight hours with type ratings in seven jets, launched the business with just four aircraft and six employees. Today, flyExclusive operates under FAA Part 135 certificates and manages a fleet of roughly 90+ Cessna Citation and Bombardier Challenger private jets covering light, midsize, and super midsize categories.
The company focuses on point-to-point private travel within the United States, with particular strength along eastern corridors such as New York to South Florida, Atlanta routes, and key Texas business markets. Private jet services from flyExclusive also operate across North America and beyond, including the Caribbean for seasonal demand.
Its vertically integrated model includes approximately 300 pilots, in-house aircraft maintenance, and a 24/7 FAA Part 145 repair station spanning over 100,000 square feet in Kinston. Safety ratings include ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman certifications. Over 98% of customer flights are fulfilled by flyExclusive's own fleet, and the company has invested in new Citation CJ3+, XLS Gen2, Longitude, and Challenger 350 orders to deepen its fleet across cabin classes.
This deposit-based membership program was revamped in October 2021 for better service and now starts at a $100,000 one-time deposit (or $200,000 for Jet Club Plus). The Jet Club program eliminates complex hidden costs by bundling landing fees, crew, and taxes into fixed-hourly rates. Members enjoy guaranteed access without blackout dates, even during holidays and peak periods. Private jet membership programs like this offer locked-in rates and transparent pricing, making them well-suited for travelers flying roughly 50–200 hours per year. Booking can be done up to 24 hours before departure for domestic trips, and private aviation offers guaranteed aircraft availability without blackout dates for qualifying members. The program supports tailored itineraries and departure times, allowing flexibility for last-minute travel plans.
Announced in April 2022, flyExclusive offers fractional programs on its Citation and Challenger fleet. Fractional ownership allows buying a share of an aircraft, with shares typically ranging from 1/16th to 1/4 of an aircraft, granting priority scheduling and predictable availability. Fractional ownership guarantees aircraft access and locks in hourly rates, while requiring less operational management than full ownership, making fractional jet ownership a cost-effective alternative to full aircraft ownership. flyExclusive fractional share sizes start at 50 hours per year, with no monthly management fees—a notable departure from traditional operators and an important factor when considering fractional jet ownership financing and costs. Fractional ownership can provide significant tax deductions, including depreciation on aircraft used for business, and owners can deduct operational costs associated with fractional jets under specific tax rules. The IRS allows certain deductions for business-related flights, though tax advantages vary based on usage and ownership structure. As with all tax matters, a qualified advisor should be consulted. flyExclusive guarantees access without blackout dates for members in both programs.
The flyExclusive fleet spans multiple cabin categories. Aircraft types vary from light jets like the CJ3+ (ideal for 6–7 passengers on routes like New York to Miami) to midsize jets such as the Citation Excel/XLS for business trips, and super midsize platforms including the Citation Sovereign and Challenger 350 for coast-to-coast missions exceeding 3,000 nautical miles. While flyExclusive's fleet centers on light through super midsize categories, travelers interested in heavy jets for international or longer-range flight profiles may need to explore additional operators.
Operationally, flyExclusive uses a floating fleet model dispatched from over 80 pilot domiciles nationwide, designed to reduce repositioning and increase efficiency in high-demand regions. The company provides on-demand flights tailored to trip needs, and private aviation allows for tailored itineraries and departure times—a core advantage for business travelers and family trips alike. Private aviation services can be tailored to individual travel preferences, ensuring a seamless travel experience. Private aviation also allows travelers to bypass commercial airport security lines, moving quickly from car to cabin.
The customer journey typically begins with booking and trip coordination through the company website, whether through the Jet Club or on-demand charter access, followed by arrival at a private FBO. Private aviation supports flexible travel plans for last-minute trips across North America and the Caribbean, with private jet services operating across these regions and beyond.
The scale of flyExclusive's hiring efforts reflects the broader demand across the private aviation industry. As of mid-2026, the company employs approximately 800 people, with active recruiting for pilots, AOG maintenance technicians, flight attendants, and operations staff across the United States.
Sample pilot compensation context suggests captains on Citation and Challenger jets earn approximately $175,000 per year on a 15-on/13-off schedule, with company-funded type ratings and 401(k) matching, reflecting the scale of demand driven by leading fractional jet ownership programs. Benefits include company-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off increasing with tenure, and travel perks. The expansion of AOG teams, mobile support units, and nationwide crew domiciles reflects growing commitment to reliability and the broader demand for fractional jet ownership and membership access across the industry, as more travelers analyze the total cost of fractional jet ownership versus charter and jet cards.
BlackJet Fractional Jet Ownership does not operate aircraft like flyExclusive. Instead, the company specializes in structuring and managing fractional aircraft ownership and tailored membership solutions across multiple operators throughout North America and the Caribbean, as well as Europe for international travelers, guiding clients through essential contract terms in fractional jet ownership.
Private aviation encompasses jet memberships and on-demand charters, and private aviation services include fractional ownership and membership programs. BlackJet serves clients needing roughly 25–150 flight hours per year—business owners, executives, and corporations who want predictable access without full ownership complexity. On-demand charter flights are ideal for occasional travelers, while private aviation supports flexible travel plans for last-minute trips across a broader network.
BlackJet's two core models create flexibility:
Reserve Fleet: Pay-as-you-go access with guaranteed availability and no capital outlay, offering customizable private charter options suited to variable schedules.
Equity Fleet: True fractional aircraft ownership with priority access, essential liability and insurance coverage considerations, and potential tax advantages under U.S. rules.
This contrasts with flyExclusive's Jet Club, which centers users on a single operator's dedicated fleet and fixed membership deposits. BlackJet acts as a strategic advisor, helping each client evaluate whether a program like flyExclusive, an alternative operator, or a blended per diem and fractional structure delivers the best consistency for their actual flight profile and geography. Any interested party can comment or reach out via the BlackJet page for a personalized consultation.
This section directly addresses the decision: when does a jet club model like flyExclusive's make sense versus fractional jet ownership through a provider like BlackJet?
Ideal for travelers wanting simplicity, a single-brand private jet experience, and set hourly rates without asset risk.
Leading operators like flyExclusive offer convenience for domestic U.S. routes at 50–200 hours per year.
No need to manage depreciation schedules or residual values.
Equity in an aircraft provides priority scheduling during peak periods.
More direct control over cabin configuration and mission range.
Can provide significant tax deductions, including depreciation on aircraft used for business.
Owners can deduct operational costs associated with fractional jets.
The IRS allows certain deductions for business-related flights, though tax advantages vary based on usage and ownership structure.
A qualified tax advisor should review any structure before a client makes a commitment.
Learn more about why super midsize jets dominate fractional ownership in today's market.
To evaluate options, consider the following:
Annualize Jet Club deposits, hourly rates, and fees.
Compare against fractional share acquisition costs, monthly management fees, and occupied hourly charges.
Factor in the potential resale or exit value of a fractional share.
For example, at 100 hours per year in a midsize jet, fractional ownership may deliver a lower per-hour cost but requires greater capital up front.
BlackJet helps clients model these scenarios, factor in corporate travel policies, multiple home bases, and international flying, then recommend either a club membership, a fractional share, or a blended strategy that balances flexibility and cost.
flyExclusive is a direct operator with its own Part 135 certificates, fleet, pilots, and maintenance infrastructure. BlackJet Fractional Jet Ownership does not operate aircraft but designs and manages ownership and access strategies across multiple operators to find each client the best fit.
Jet Club deposits often start around $100,000 with fixed hourly rates, while fractional ownership requires a larger upfront aircraft share purchase (for example, starting from approximately $695,000 for an XLS+ share) plus hourly fees. Fractional can be more economical on a per-hour basis at higher usage levels. See a complete cost breakdown here.
Most programs allow both business and personal use. However, travelers should coordinate with their tax and legal advisors to correctly track business versus personal use for IRS reporting and corporate policy compliance.
BlackJet reviews historical travel data, anticipated routes, passenger counts, and corporate needs, then builds side-by-side models comparing jet clubs, fractional aircraft ownership, and reserve-style membership options so clients can make a data-driven choice, often referencing a detailed aircraft fractional ownership sample contract to clarify rights and obligations.
A hybrid strategy—such as a smaller fractional share plus Reserve Fleet access, or a membership like Jet Club supplemented with on-demand charter—can balance flexibility and cost. BlackJet regularly designs these blended solutions for clients whose travel patterns shift seasonally or year over year.
flyExclusive offers a robust in-house fleet, Jet Club membership, and fractional options backed by strong operators and a clear mission to simplify private travel. BlackJet Fractional Jet Ownership specializes in crafting the most efficient ownership or access structure across the broader private aviation landscape—treating membership programs like flyExclusive's as one tool among several alongside fractional jet ownership, reserve-style jet card programs, and on-demand charter.
The right solution depends on your flight hours, route patterns, need for global versus regional coverage, appetite for equity ownership, and desire for tax optimization.
Ready to explore the smarter way to fly private? Visit FractionalJetOwnership.com to request a personalized analysis comparing Jet Club, fractional ownership, and Reserve Fleet options based on your last 12–24 months of travel.
