When I think about the last leg of a trip, or the “last mile,” it’s historically been unglamorous: a dreaded third flight connection, a mundane car ride or an inevitable delay after an already long travel day. This summer, however, private aviation firm Wheels Up upturned the mentality of a last leg through a first-of-its-kind partnership with Delta Air Lines.

In May, Delta One passengers flying to key destinations like Athens, Barcelona, Naples, Nice and Rome witnessed a new prompt to reserve a private jet through Wheels Up and its U.K.-based private aviation company Air Partner for the final leg of their journey. The partnership was designed to align with summer travel, as many of the season’s trendiest destinations are also the most secluded — think St Tropez, Mykonos, Ibiza and the Amalfi Coast, typically “last miles” for the aforementioned European hubs.

© Wheels Up

“Our goal for this summer has been to build on the interest we’ve already seen in our unique solution-oriented model for booking private aircraft,” George Mattson, CEO, Wheels Up, told Global Traveler. “Where we saw the most opportunity was continuing to reinforce our ability to help travelers book their ‘last mile’ private—or helping our fliers reach either far flung or coveted destinations where there isn’t the most direct flight path.”

While a typical commercial itinerary from the East Coast of the United States to St. Tropez may include a red-eye to Paris, a connection to Nice and a 90-minute car ride to the beloved resort town in southeastern France, this partnership allows passengers to swap the crowded terminals and wait times for runway-side private transfers and a connection that allows them to start their vacation before touching down in their destination.

“It’s about transforming the final leg of travel into something effortless and elevated,” explained Mattson, who credits the partnership with Delta for uniquely positioning them to make this type of commercial-to-private trip seamless and successful. “Historically, private and commercial aviation have operated as two separate ecosystems. Delta’s strategic investment in Wheels Up represents a shared vision to change that,” he said, noting how the partnership addressed “a clear gap in the aviation landscape.”

© Wheels Up

While private aviation has surged since the pandemic — the category experienced a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 percent from 2024 to 2025 — Mattson explained how an estimated 90 percent of individuals who can afford to fly private still don’t. Whether it’s a result of “perceived complexity, lack of awareness or absence of trust,” Mattson advised that by integrating with Delta, Wheels Up is giving customers who already fly in premium cabins access to private aviation through a brand they know and trust.

“The curated summer prompts we’re delivering to Delta One passengers are a perfect example of how this model can unlock a new audience — travelers who might not actively seek out private aviation, but are intrigued by the ease, access, and comfort when it’s presented contextually and seamlessly,” said Mattson.

Further, the last mile initiative solves a broader demand within travel at the moment, especially from premium travelers. According to The Business Research Company, the expansion of on-demand private jet services and a growing emphasis on personalized travel experiences are driving the demand for private travel.

© Wheels Up

It’s no secret customization is a term synonymous with private air travel — from the time you depart to the snacks and beverages onboard to even the aircraft you choose. In the case of Wheels Up, passengers not only get to streamline their route, but they can also choose from 7,000 aircraft worldwide, including a recent acquisition of 18 Phenom 300 series aircraft. Mattson added the number of airports servicing private aircraft — about 5,000 in the United States compared to 500 commercial airports — offer another advantage for private aviation travelers.

While its latest partnership is tied to Delta Air Lines, Wheels Up also offers ongoing opportunities for any type of traveler to book a “last mile” getaway. “We’ve adapted the term to address a very real challenge in luxury travel: the often time-consuming or complicated connections required to reach more remote, desirable, or crowded destinations,” said Mattson.

Other “last mile” offerings through Wheels Up include seamless travel to hard-to-reach island and coastal destinations like Martha’s Vineyard and the Hamptons, helicopter transfers in between private and commercial airports, and direct seaplane services via its partnership with Tropic Ocean Airways to transport customers directly to a water-flanked destination.

“Whether it’s a seaplane that lands steps from a resort on a remote island or yacht sailing in the Caribbean Sea or a jet that bypasses multiple layovers, we’re delivering time back to our customers and opening up never thought of destinations,” shared Mattson.