Germany's Arcus Air to replace Phenom 100s with PC-12s

Arcus Air (AZE, Mannheim) is transitioning from the Phenom 100 to the PC-12, replacing the very light jets with turboprops as part of a fleet renewal programme, while also evaluating the addition of a first heavy jet, the company announced on LinkedIn.

"This marks a new chapter of greater efficiency, flexibility, and comfort for our customers. And who knows… maybe one day a heavy jet will join the family too," the post reads. Arcus Air has not disclosed the number or specifications of the PC-12s or the heavy jet to be inducted.

Between 2010 and 2012, the company added six Phenom 100s, followed by a seventh in 2017. All are now between 14 and 15 years old, and the type's fleet has been gradually retired since mid-2024, with four units having already left the fleet. Three are now active in the United States, including one privately operated, one in the charter fleet of Desert Wings Air Charter, and another under the Part 135 certificate of QuickCharter. The most recently retired Phenom 100 is now registered in the Netherlands, although the current operator is unknown.

Arcus Air continues to operate three Phenom 100s, namely D-IAAB (msn 50000180), D-IAAS (msn 50000132), and D-IAAT (msn 50000162). D-IAAB has been parked at Saarbrücken since August 10 and D-IAAS has been inactive at Zweibrücken since August 24, after a month of inactivity.

Arcus Air's fleet also includes two Phenom 300s added in 2023, alongside an E145 operated on behalf of Travelcoup (Zurich), which acquired Arcus Air in late 2024. Travelcoup is adding an E135 to Arcus Air's air operator's certificate (AOC) in September, followed by another newly acquired E145 in the second quarter of 2026.

In Germany, two AOC holders operate the Phenom 100, Pro Air Aviation with two aircraft, and Windrose Air Jetcharter, which flies a Phenom 100EX. German AOC holders operating the PC-12 include Pro Air Aviation with seven units, Air Independence (Germany) with five, one of which is registered in Austria, as well as Flyellow, Hahnair, and Heron Aviation each with a single unit.