One of the largest private jet firms in the US is upgrading its entire fleet as more wealthy flyers turn to private aviation – take a look inside one of the luxurious jets

A newly-refurbished XOJET Aviation Bombardier Challenger 300.
Thomas Pallini/Business Insider

XOJET Aviation is refurbishing its fleet of 42 Bombardier Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X aircraft.
Both aircraft will see upgrades to their exterior and interiors, as well as a branding alignment to XOJET's new parent, Vista Global.
We toured a Bombardier Challenger 300 during a layover in Westhampton Beach, New York.
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Private aviation firm XOJET Aviation is one of the many aircraft operators riding a wave of expansion as more wealthy turn to private jets for travel in the wake of the pandemic.

Like most private jet operators, XOJET saw a sharp reduction in flights in the weeks following the pandemic's peak in March but quickly rebounded over the summer. Now, the firm is growing with more aircraft and more pilots, with plans to grow its fleet up to 60 aircraft in the next 12 to 18 months.

And as expansion brings on new planes to the fleet, existing aircraft in the XOJET fleet will be getting an upgrade. The planned fleet renewal will see all Bombardier Challenger 300 and Cessna Citation X aircraft receiving interior refurbishments and a new exterior paint job.

The project is also aimed at aligning the fleet with the branding of the XOJET's new parent company, Vista Global. That's why the paint jobs found on the former all-white aircraft have been updated with Vista's iconic silver and red.

As the larger aircraft, the Challenger 300 is getting a more advanced upgrade in all aspects including the service, Kevin Thomas, XOJET Aviation's chief operating officer, told Business Insider in a prior interview. We caught up with one during a layover at Westhampton Beach, New York's Gabreski Airport.

Take a look inside one of XOJET Aviation's Bombardier Challenger 300s.

XOJET Aviation has 17 of these Bombardier Challenger 300 super-midsize aircraft in its fleet that can carry up to nine passengers and a whole lot of baggage.

It's the largest aircraft in the legacy XOJET fleet above the Citation X, ideal for larger groups traveling together.

Two Honeywell HTF 7000 engines offer 4,119 pounds of thrust each and enable a top speed of 541 miles per hour.

And with a range of 3,065 nautical miles, it can fly non-stop from coast to coast and even between the West Coast and Hawaii.

These planes were formerly painted in plain white with black lettering but its new paint job is nearly identical to sister company Vista Jet's aircraft.

Here's a VistaJet Bombardier Global 6000, a long-range jet built for intercontinental travel, for example.

Bombardier Global 6000 VistaJet — VistaJet's Bombardier Global 6000 aircraft.
David Slotnick/Business Insider

Alternatively, the Citation X has a slightly different look with the XO logo on the tail and no red stripe across the fuselage.

XOJET Aviation Cessna Citation X — XOJET Aviation's newly-painted Cessna Citation X aircraft.
XOJET Aviation

The VistaJet logo can also be found on the plane's winglets and tail.

As the largest aircraft, the Challenger 300s are receiving a complete overhaul inside and out. Climb aboard!

Inside the plane, the stand-up cabin seats nine passengers normally, four in the front and five in the back.

The forward section seats four with two pairs of club seats, a classic configuration found on nearly every private jet.

This section is typically where the lead passengers will sit, though there's no bad seat on this plane.

Each seat pair has a retractable table that's stored in the sidewall. It can be used during mealtimes or when working on a laptop.

All XOJET aircraft have complimentary domestic WiFi, a common trend in private aviation, allowing the jet to become a true workspace when flying.

Bombardier does, after all, call the plane a "true executive office for the skies."

Source: Bombardier

The headrest is adjustable to best fit the seat's users.

And seats can swivel and face inward, ideal if there's a group traveling together, for example.

Mechanical controls also allow the chairs to recline with leg rests offering additional comfort.

But for real comfort, the divan in the back can also be made up into a bed.

The rear section houses the five remaining seats on the jet.

The divan adds three seats in the back, a common trick to increase the seat count on the plane and squeeze and additional passenger.

Opposite the divan is another pair of club seats, completing the nine-seat layout. Some operators of the type opt for another pair of seats instead of the divan in an eight-seat layout.

The rear of the aircraft is more secluded, away from the forward galley and cockpit that could get noisy.

These aircraft also feature a "quiet cabin" package that further reduces noise levels in the cabin.

Pocket doors on both ends of the aircraft seal off the cabin to give it a private feel, also away from the cockpit and galley.

In-flight entertainment is limited to this small screen typically showing a map of the route and flight information but the plane does have a DVD player.

These panels at each seat controls the system with options for volume control and the video source, as well as the buttons to activate the overhead reading light and flight attendant call message.

Each seat also comes with two cup holders, which the flight crew stocks with water bottles before each flight.

In-seat power is available through a USB charging port and there's also an input for audio and video cables to connect to the in-flight entertainment system.

Each club seat also has its own storage compartment along the sidewall.

It's around a foot deep and can hold literature, a tablet, and possibly a small laptop.

Otherwise, it's where the safety card and airsickness bag can be found.

In the very back, there's a small, enclosed lavatory with a vanity and toilet.

The toilet seat has a seatbelt so it can be used to store an extra passenger, though that practice is discouraged in private aviation. It is often used by the cabin attendant, however, as aircraft of this size don't often have crew rest areas.

It comes stocked with the essentials like soap and hand sanitizer...

But also has some extras like skin cream and lotion.

Each seat is also a window seat on this jet.

Instead of the traditional airline-style pull-down window shade, a metallic slider controls the shade.

These planes can be found constantly roaming the country as they have no fixed home.

It's part of XOJET's appeal as flyers need only pay for the portion of the flight they're using, in most cases.

And as part of an industry-wide push for stronger cleaning procedures, the cabin is disinfected before each flight using Bacoban and masks are worn by the crew.

Five Challenger 300 aircraft have been upgraded so far with the project having to work around the peak travel times of the year.

There's no set completion date but all XOJET aircraft will have a whole new look in just a few years.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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One of the largest private jet firms in the US is upgrading its entire fleet as more wealthy flyers turn to private aviation – take a look inside one of the luxurious jets

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