Wheels Up Experience (UP) expressed significant concerns on Wednesday regarding its ongoing operational viability. This announcement came alongside the revelation of short-term financial support from Delta Air Lines (DAL). Consequently, the stock price plummeted by 42%.

Wheels Up, known for its on-demand private jet charters, has implemented a series of restructuring initiatives throughout the year, which encompassed workforce reductions and alterations in management. The demand for private jet travel among affluent individuals surged during the pandemic but has waned as commercial air travel regained momentum.

Comparative data from July 2022 revealed a 3.6% decline in North American business flights, as reported by Argus International.

Delta Air Lines divulged that it is extending a temporary capital injection to Wheels Up through a secured promissory note. The precise amount of this financial assistance remains undisclosed. The private aviation sector observed substantial expansion during the pandemic due to a preference for avoiding commercial flights. However, as commercial travel rebounds, private operators like Wheels Up have encountered challenges.

In an interview with Reuters last month, Delta CEO Ed Bastian acknowledged the impact of recovered commercial air travel on private jet operators.

Wheels Up opted to cancel its scheduled earnings call for the day. The company also revealed a non-binding agreement with U.S. private jet operator Airshare. This agreement entails the potential acquisition of Wheels Up’s non-core aircraft management segment by Airshare. Should this arrangement proceed, Airshare’s aircraft management clientele would expand nationwide.

The uncertainties surrounding Wheels Up’s operational continuity have precipitated a sharp decline in its stock value. The adversity faced by the company mirrors the broader adversities confronting the aviation industry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing efforts toward recovery.