U.S. private aviation membership program Wheels Up is laying plans to launch European operations in the fourth quarter of 2016. It intends to place part of its fast-growing fleet of Beechcraft King Air 350i twin turboprops in Europe and these will be operated by its existing partner Gama Aviation, which is headquartered in the UK.

“Effectively, the King Air can fly anywhere in Europe non-stop and it works well for short fields like London City Airport,” Wheels Up founder Kenny Dichter told AIN. At the 2014 EBACE show, he indicated that he hoped to have the European operation up and running in early 2015.

The company has been growing quickly since it’s operational launch in November 2013, and now has a fleet of 41 aircraft (31 King Airs and 10 Cessna Citation Excels and XLSs). The program now has 1,350 members, including just over 100 corporate members. Individual membership costs $17,500 (with annual dues of $8,500) and corporate membership is priced at $29,500 (plus $14,500 annual dues).

According to Dichter, more than 90 percent of its initial members renewed for a second year and he expects to add between 800 and 1,000 members by the end of 2015. The total number of revenue hours to be flown this year is projected at 25,000.

Wheels Up has introduced an app that allows members to arrange shared flights to reduce their costs. It currently operates around 6,000 to 7,000 positioning flights annually and the company intends to allow members to book some of these at discounted rates using the app.