Wheels Up Experience Inc. has closed a $68 million committed secured mezzanine facility provided by Sankaty Jet Capital, a business aviation lending platform and wholly-owned subsidiary of AIP Capital. The deal, announced May 13, 2026, underscores continued institutional confidence in the private aviation sector that serves a growing segment of hospitality and food-and-beverage executives who depend on on-demand air travel for operations, sourcing trips, and investor relations. For operators and executives in the restaurant and hospitality space, private aviation platforms like Wheels Up have become an increasingly practical tool for managing multi-unit portfolio oversight, attending industry conferences, and conducting site visits across geographically dispersed locations. The availability of on-demand charter services — backed by stable debt financing — affects both the reliability and pricing of those services over time. The mezzanine structure of the facility, which sits between senior secured debt and equity in the capital stack, signals that sophisticated lenders see sufficient value and cash-flow stability in Wheels Up's business model to commit at a higher-risk, higher-yield tier. For hospitality procurement and travel managers, that kind of institutional backing can translate to greater platform continuity and service consistency. Wheels Up trades on the NYSE under the ticker UP and has positioned itself as a leading provider of on-demand private aviation. Sankaty Jet Capital describes its focus as providing financing solutions across the business aviation industry. The deal was headquartered out of Stamford, Connecticut, and New York. As the premium travel market continues to intersect with [restaurant and hospitality industry trends](/restaurants/industry-trends), deals like this one are worth monitoring for operators who budget for executive travel or manage guest transportation partnerships. Coverage of the broader [hospitality travel and transportation sector](/hospitality/operations) has noted rising demand for flexible, membership-based aviation options among C-suite and ownership groups in food service and lodging. Written by Michael Politz, Author of [Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1)](https://www.amazon.com/Beverage-Magazines-Guide-Restaurant-Success/dp/1119668964), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.