Wheels Up (WUP, Teterboro) has officially retired the Citation Jet 3 from revenue service, the company disclosed in its second-quarter 2025 financial results.
"As part of streamlining its fleet, the company sold or completed lease returns on 31 legacy aircraft during the first half of 2025 and has retired the Citation CJ3 from revenue service," the filing stated.
The final three Citation Jet 3s operated by Wheels Up were 18.4-year-old N491J (msn 525B-0183), 17.4-year-old N831HS (msn 525B-0216), and 15.2-year-old N70FC (msn 525B-0339). All three were placed on the charter certificate of Wheels Up Partners, which was consolidated earlier this year and now includes two GIV-SPs.
N491J was the last of the three to remain in active service, operating under Wheels Up Partners' 'FTH' code until June 25, when it flew between Denver Centennial and Wichita Eisenhower. N70FC and N831HS were also repositioned to Wichita, where they have remained parked since May 11 and June 5, respectively. Wheels Up expects to return the final leased Citation Jet 3 to its lessor by the end of the year.
The retirement of the Citation Jet 3 forms part of a broader fleet renewal strategy unveiled in the third quarter of 2024. At that time, Wheels Up's Part 135-certified fleet included fourteen Citation Jet 3s and two Citation Jet 3+ aircraft. These are being replaced by Phenom 300, Phenom 300E, Challenger 300, and Challenger 350 models.
While the first Phenom 300s began operating in November 2024, initially under the Part 135 certificate of GrandView Aviation before transferring to Wheels Up's own certificate in April 2025, the first Challenger 300 was acquired in March and entered revenue service the following month. As of the end of June, the company's fleet includes thirteen Phenom 300s, five Phenom 300Es, and four Challenger 300s.
"Our premium jets now comprise approximately 20% of our controlled fleet, a number that will grow with the expected addition of three Challenger jets into revenue service during the third quarter and continued retirement of less-efficient legacy jets and turboprops," the filing revealed.
The company further plans to retire its remaining controlled Citation-series aircraft, currently comprising seven Citation Excels, six Citation XLS jets, and twenty-four Citation X aircraft. Its Hawker Beechcraft fleet, consisting of twenty-five Hawker 400XPs, is also being phased-out, while its King Air B350 Beech (twin turboprop) fleet, currently at 38 aircraft, is slated for reduction.
Wheels Up reported a USD13 million year-on-year increase in second-quarter gross profit, despite operating 33 fewer aircraft, citing gains from fleet modernisation and improved utilisation. Corporate membership fund sales rose over 25%, driven by growth in the Delta Air Lines partnership. Additionally, the company expects to realise USD50 million in annual savings from efficiency and cost reductions, with full impact expected in the second half of 2026.
