Justin Firestone Email Address

Founding Partner

Wheels Up is a revolutionary membership-based private aviation company that greatly reduces the upfront investment needed to fly privately. Created and led by Kenny Dichter, the Founder of Marquis Jet and original innovator of the 25-hour fractional jet card, Wheels Up has identified a need for one company to offer a total private aviation solution. With a modest initiation fee and reasonable annual dues, Wheels Up offers members mission-appropriate" aircraft, ranging from the King Air 350i to the Global 6000, through partnerships with industry leaders such as Beechcraft, Cessna, Jet Aviation, JetSuite, Heliflite, VistaJet and Gama Aviation. Wheels Up is developing proprietary cutting-edge booking and rideshare applications, and provides members with unmatched accessibility, flexibility, and the finest personalized service. With an 8,760-hour (referencing the number of hours in a year) culture, Wheels Up membership includes Wheels Down, the ultimate in client entertaining engaging members through exclusive events and opportunities to meet luminaries from the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and business. Wheels Up acts as agent for the Wheels Up members, and is not the operator of the program aircraft| FAA licensed and DOT registered air carriers participating in the program exercise full operational control of the program aircraft. Any aircraft owned by Wheels Up will be dry leased to the operating air carrier to facilitate operations by that carrier."

Justin Firestone is a true pioneer and proven leader in the private jet industry in both the U.S. and Asia. He is Co-Founder of Wheels Up (NYSE: UP) Firestone’s previous experience includes: · Founded Firestone Management Group, Inc. (in 2011) and currently serves as its Managing Director · President, Asia-Pacific for Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, now branded as Textron Aviation (NYSE: TXT) · Founded Asia Jet (in 2007) where he served as CEO of this regional leader in the private jet card industry. Asia Jet is a wholly owned subsidiary of the HNA Group headquartered in Haikou, China. · Six years as a Senior Executive with Marquis Jet, a wholly owned subsidiary of NetJets. Netjets is a portfolio company of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRKa) · Director with eBizJets, now branded as Sentient Jet, a portfolio company of Directional Aviation. Throughout his career Firestone has built a customer list that is a veritable who's who of business, sports, and entertainment personalities. He is frequently quoted in consumer and industry publications worldwide and is often consulted by industry leading investment banks, such as UBS, on the health of the private jet market. In addition to his many awards and accolades, he was also on Elite Traveler Magazine's short list for "Leaders in Luxury", featured in a USA Today cover story, named by Sports Illustrated as one of the "Top 30 Marketing Executives in America" and a recipient of the Miami Herald's prestigious "40 under 40 award". Firestone has also built an extraordinary stateside career in the professional sports industry holding various positions with the Phoenix Suns of the NBA, Miami Heat of the NBA and the National Football League. In 2006, he became a minority owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks MLB franchise. Firestone received degrees in both Communication and Business from Arizona State University. Firestone, his wife Natalie and three children currently reside in Miami where they are actively involved in many local and international charities.