The Times also reported that a new air-taxi operator, Magnum Jet, plans to launch next year with a fleet of Adam A700 jets. Jim Burns, who founded Magnum Jet in a partnership with ubiquitous FBO operator Million Air, said he wanted to keep a low profile until he was sure the airplanes would be available. The company will start service in Texas and the Southwest, with plans to expand to New York and the East Coast, then to California. Magnum Jet placed orders for 50 Adam A700s and options for 51 more, plus another 50 orders and 50 options for Embraer’s Phenom 100, which is expected to start flying next year. Burns told the Times the company will operate as an “air-limo” service on select city-pair routes, generally regional cities with poor airline service. Customers would book the entire airplane by the hour.
