This Tom Brady-backed Company Is Providing Private Jet Flights for Delta One Passengers—What to Know

Travel + Leisure

15-05-2025

Delta One Passengers flying into five major European cities can reach their final destination in style via private jet with Wheels Up.
The cities include Nice, France; Naples, Italy; Athens, Greece; Barcelona; and Rome.
Wheels Up is a private jet company that's backed by high-wattage stars like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and Darius Rucker.
European travel just got a bit more luxurious for those flying Delta One.
Wheels Up, a private aviation company backed by stars like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, and Kevin Durant, recently teamed up with Delta Air Lines to offer Delta One passengers a luxe travel option this summer, as first reported by The New York Post . The collaboration enables passengers who are flying Delta One into five major European cities—Nice, France; Naples, Italy; Athens, Greece; Barcelona; and Rome—the option to board a private Wheels Up flight to reach their final destination after their commercial flight.
The new program intends to target a growing demand for personalized travel in the post-pandemic era. By flying private, travelers can skip crowded airports and long security lines, and they can usually arrive at the airport shortly before departure.
Wheels Up, which is based in Atlanta, underwent a big transformation when Delta Air Lines purchased a 95 percent stake in the company in 2023. The acquisition was intended to stabilize Wheels Up financially, promote future growth, and empower the company to operate one of the largest private jet fleets in the United States. Since then, Wheels Up has invested in modernizing its planes and introduced a flexible 72-hour booking and cancellation window.
One of the distinctive features of Wheels Up is its membership model and its digital-first approach. Members can book private jets through a mobile app—a move in line with former CEO Kenny Dichter's vision of becoming the '... the Airbnb, the Open Table, or Hotel Tonight of private aviation.' The company offers several membership tiers, including a Connect membership that allows members to access flight-sharing options. While you don't need to be a member to book a Wheels Up flight, individual charter itineraries are subject to dynamic pricing.
In addition to Delta Air Lines, the company is also backed by a bit of star power. Brady, a brand ambassador, was an early investor in the company, and other celebrities associated with Wheels Up include country star Darius Rucker and ESPN commentator Scott Van Pelt.
The company is also using its celeb-driven branding for good. In 2020, Wheels Up and New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson launched Meals Up, providing tens of millions of meals in partnership with the non-profit Feeding America. Sustainability is also a priority for the company, and it recently launched a Sustainable Aviation Fuel program with Delta, enabling customers to support the purchase of SAF, which, compared with traditional aviation fuel, generates dramatically lower carbon emissions.
Editor's note: Travel + Leisure reached out to Delta Air Lines and Wheels Up for comment but didn't receive a response.