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Wheels Up Confirms Pilot Layoffs

Estimates of the number of pilots affected range between 11 percent and 20 percent.

An aircraft from Wheels Up's fleet
An aircraft from Wheels Up's fleet [Credit: Wheels Up]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Wheels Up has laid off between 11% and 20% of its pilots, effective immediately.
  • The company attributes these layoffs to a "staffing imbalance" caused by a sharp decline in pilot attrition rates and the need to align its pilot roster with its fleet size.
  • These personnel reductions occur as Wheels Up continues to report losses despite a $500 million funding package from Delta Air Lines and new management, though it aims for profitability by year-end.
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Wheels Up has confirmed that it has laid off a number of pilots effective immediately.

Different sources have estimated the number as between 11 percent and as high as 20 percent. The company issued a statement to Private Jet Card Comparisons, an online news source that specializes in shared ownership aviation companies and their pricing programs.

Mark Phelps

Mark Phelps is a senior editor at AVweb. He is an instrument rated private pilot and former owner of a Grumman American AA1B and a V-tail Bonanza.

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