The former CEO of Global Crossing Airlines (GlobalX) has named his new US airline Zoom and confirmed that it will launch using a fleet of E-Jets
Ed Wegel, now the head of AVi8 Air Capital, announced in a LinkedIn post that Zoom will take flight using a fleet of Embraer E190 and E195 jets before eventually switching to Airbus A220 aircraft.
“We are moving forward on our scheduled airline operation, and we will launch with the Embraer E190/195 E1, as we await Airbus A220s in a few years,” Wegel wrote.
Wegel praised the Embraer E1 for providing “great range with an excellent engine type- the GE 34”.
No details regarding a launch date or exactly where the airline will commence operation were given but it is thought that it will mirror the network of former Miami-based operator Air Florida.
Earlier in the year it was reported that Wegel planned to launch an airline called Air Flo which would operate an “Air Florida narrowbody route network”.
In a LinkedIn post last month Wegel said Air Flo will “operate scheduled service from several Florida focus cities” with an Airbus A220 fleet.
Wegel, who used to be president and CEO at Eastern Airlines, also founded a Florida-based startup airline called UrbanLink.
On May 6, 2024, Lilium announced it has reached an agreement with UrbanLink for 20 units of its electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the Lilium Jet, plus options for 20 more.
UrbanLink aims to operate inter-urban services in South Florida, connecting places such as Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Marco Island, from 2026.
In his most recent LinkedIn post Wegel said that “Zoom will work closely with UrbanLink to connect passengers”.
Wegel also suggested that future UrbanLink pilots, who will start with 500 flight hours, will eventually be able move to Zoom’s E190s and eventually A220s.
“We will home grow our cockpit crews,” Wegel wrote.
The name Zoom has previously been used by a Canadian low-fare carrier that ceased operations in 2008.