High‑speed charter capabilities position the company to meet rising demand from business and leisure travellers seeking efficient coast‑to‑coast and transcontinental service. It will enter service shortly.
Premier Air Charter Holdings has added a Citation X to its fleet, marking the Carlsbad, California-based Part 135 operator’s second major fleet expansion initiative in recent months. This acquisition builds on Premier’s previously announced Challenger 604 addition and reflects the company’s continued execution of its disciplined growth strategy.
The Citation X, historically recognised as one of the fastest civilian business jets, enhances Premier’s long‑range and high‑speed charter capabilities, positioning the company to meet rising demand from business and leisure travellers seeking efficient coast‑to‑coast and transcontinental service. The aircraft is expected to enter charter service shortly following completion of final FAA certification, pilot training and operational integration.
“Quickly adding the Citation X to our fleet demonstrates our commitment to scaling with intention and investing in aircraft that strengthen our operational flexibility and market reach,” says Vincent Monteparte, chairman of Premier Air Charter. “The Citation X aligns perfectly with our long‑term strategy to deliver exceptional performance, reliability and value to our clients and shareholders.”
The addition of the Citation X further solidifies Premier’s market position as demand for private aviation continues to grow. Together with the recently acquired Challenger 604, the company is advancing a multi‑aircraft expansion plan designed to increase charter availability, broaden service offerings and deliver a superior service to a growing roster of repeat PAC travellers.
“We believe securing FAA certification and pilot readiness for the Citation X so quickly reflects the strength, discipline and expertise of the Premier team. With both the Challenger 604 and now the Citation X joining our fleet, we are entering 2026 with expanded capabilities. Our sales organisation is already cultivating new and existing clients that we believe positions Premier for growth,” explains Premier Air Charter president, Ross Gourdie.
Premier has also appointed Greg Johnson to its board of directors. As president and CEO of Tuvoli, a sales and payments platform designed for the air charter industry, Johnson brings more than two decades of leadership experience across private aviation operations, FBO management, charter brokerage and aviation-focused financial technology.
Johnson is widely recognised for his expertise in modernising the transactional and operational backbone of private jet charter. In a recent industry interview on the Iron Bird Podcast, he outlined the systemic challenges facing operators, including quoting inefficiencies, payment ambiguity, data fragmentation and the widening gap between sales activity and actual booking conversion. His perspective on reducing friction in charter transactions and improving revenue management aligns directly with Premier’s commitment to operational excellence and technology-enabled growth.
“Greg’s understanding of where private aviation is headed and what must be fixed for operators to scale profitably makes him an invaluable addition to our board,” says Monteparte. “His insights into payment systems, workflow automation and customer experience will help guide Premier as we expand our fleet and strengthen our market position.”
Johnson has held leadership roles across multiple segments of the industry, from running FBOs and charter brokerages to building the financial and transactional infrastructure now used by operators nationwide. His work at Tuvoli has focused on solving one of the industry's most persistent challenges: ensuring that trips are quoted, booked, paid for and tracked with clarity and speed.
“I'm honoured to join Premier’s board at such a pivotal moment in the company’s growth,” he says. “Premier is expanding its fleet, modernising its operations and positioning itself to meet rising demand with greater efficiency and transparency. I look forward to supporting the team as they continue building a scalable, technology-forward charter platform.”
