Operator Highlight: FlyExclusive – A Relentless Force in Light and Mid-Size Jet Charter

When your client needs a Light or Mid-Size jet on short notice—East Coast, Midwest, or increasingly out West—there’s a reason brokers reach for FlyExclusive. They’re not the loudest brand in the private aviation space, but they’ve built something far more valuable: trust. Reliability, fair pricing, professional crews, and a willingness to work with you when things get tight—FlyExclusive has quietly become one of the most broker-friendly operations in the country.

But this didn’t happen overnight.

The Rise of FlyExclusive

Founded in 2015 by aviation entrepreneur Jim Segrave, FlyExclusive launched with a vision to bring together scale and service in the mid-tier charter market. The company is headquartered in Kinston, North Carolina, where it operates a sprawling maintenance and refurbishment facility—allowing them to keep much of their fleet operations in-house and their aircraft in impeccable condition.

From its origins as a small Part 135 operator, FlyExclusive has grown into one of the largest private charter operators in the United States, managing a fleet that regularly ranks in the top 10 nationwide. Their growth hasn’t just been in numbers—it’s been in strategic positioning. FlyExclusive has stayed focused on core business charters and personal travel routes that actually move, particularly in underserved cities and second-tier hubs that are often overlooked by the bigger names.

They’ve taken the Jet Card model and made it more transparent. They’ve built internal systems that actually support brokers instead of obstructing them. And they’ve remained nimble enough to still answer the phone, adjust pricing, and make moves when your client needs flexibility.

Where They Fly (and Where They’re Going)

Right now, FlyExclusive’s dominance is most visible along the East Coast and throughout the Midwest. If you’re moving someone between Teterboro, DC, Charlotte, Atlanta, Chicago, St. Louis, or Florida, they probably already have an aircraft nearby—and if they don’t, they’ll get one there quickly and competitively.

Their Light Jet fleet, including aircraft like the Citation CJ3, which is ideal for short hops and quick turnarounds. The Mid-Size offerings, like the Citation Excel/XLS, Citation X, Sovereign, and Challenger 350 bring true coast-to-coast range and comfort without heavy jet pricing.

And keep an eye on the West Coast—FlyExclusive is quietly starting to base Mid-Size jets in key markets like Las Vegas, Scottsdale, and Southern California. That gives brokers more leverage when flights originate out West but end up on the opposite coast or in secondary cities where local options are limited.

Fleet Consistency and In-House Excellence

One of FlyExclusive’s most overlooked advantages is their in-house maintenance and refurbishment program. At their Kinston facility, they’ve built a highly controlled process to manage interior refurbishments, aircraft paint, avionics, and ongoing maintenance. The result? Uniform cabin experiences, spotless interiors, and aircraft that feel newer than their model year might suggest.

Crews are polished and professional—trained for consistency, not just certification. They understand the difference between flying a passenger and hosting a client.

This in-house model also allows them to keep costs down and avoid subcontracting surprises—something brokers appreciate when reliability and transparency matter most.

Digital Tools and Member Options

FlyExclusive has invested in a surprisingly robust digital platform—something you’ll notice as soon as you visit their website.

Their offerings include:

• Jet Club Memberships – A refreshingly flexible model with no long-term commitment. Clients can fly on-demand at fixed hourly rates and avoid the usual deposit-heavy contracts that scare off newer private fliers.

• FlyExclusive Fractional – Introduced as a more cost-effective entry point into ownership, their fractional program emphasizes service, not sales pressure. It’s designed for clients who want predictable usage without the legacy headaches of whole aircraft ownership.

• On-Demand Charter – Available through both their internal sales team and external broker relationships. This is where we come in—and they make it easy. Their quoting process is responsive, grounded, and always open to negotiation when the numbers need to work.

• Jet Card Program – Transparent pricing, minimal fees, and a clean structure that makes it easier to close high-frequency travelers without needing to oversell bells and whistles.

The Broker Relationship

Above all else, FlyExclusive gets brokers.

They’re not trying to replace us, they’re working with us. When a client says “we need to be at $21,500,” FlyExclusive doesn’t respond with silence or a take-it-or-leave-it attitude. They lean in. They review repositioning, timing, and other flights in the system to try and make it work. That flexibility often means closing deals others can’t—without sacrificing quality or safety.

They understand that being “competitive” doesn’t mean being the cheapest—it means being reasonable, fast, and collaborative. It means adjusting to weather, last-minute requests, and complicated client personalities. And in our experience, FlyExclusive always shows up with a solution instead of a wall.

Why FlyExclusive Belongs in Your First Call List

There’s no shortage of options in the Light and Mid-Size market—but not many operators bring together fleet depth, geographic reach, competitive pricing, and operational professionalism quite like FlyExclusive.

Their East Coast and Midwest coverage is unmatched in the category. Their willingness to work with brokers—rather than around them—makes them an asset on high-pressure trips. And with aircraft now appearing in the West, their network is growing in ways that benefit us directly.

For the flights where we need reliability, quality, and pricing flexibility to come together—FlyExclusive is one of our most trusted partners.