September 12, 2025

Steve Ciancio and Josh Lesnick of Magellan Jets

19 minutes

Our guests this episode of The Chicago Golf Report podcast are Steve Ciancio and Josh Lesnick of Magellan Jets, a Boston-based private aviation company that provides on-demand charter, jet card ownership, and fractional ownership services. Unlike traditional airlines, the company operates with an “asset-light” business model, utilizing a rigorously vetted network of third-party aircraft and crews to ensure clients have access to a wide range of jets.

In this interview, Ciancio and Lesnick discuss the benefits of private aviation for golf enthusiasts. They highlight how the company’s services, which include on-demand charter and jet card ownership, offer convenience, time savings, and personalized experiences for golfers. The interview touches on the cost-effectiveness of private jet travel for groups, the ability to access remote airports near top golf courses, and Magellan Jets’ future plans to partner with tour operators to provide comprehensive golf travel packages.

Interviewer – Walter Lis. Highlights from our discussion:

Company Specialization: Magellan Jets is a private aviation company specializing in on-demand charter, jet card ownership, and fractional products.

Affiliation with Golf: The company has strong ties to the golf community, with 30-40% of their customer base having an affiliation with golf [01:46].

Cost-Effectiveness: Private jet travel for golf trips can be financially feasible, especially when the total cost is divided among all the passengers in a group [03:04].

Enhanced Travel Experience: Private flying allows travelers to play multiple courses in different destinations back-to-back, which is difficult with commercial travel.

Convenience for Golfers: Magellan Jets handles golf bags with care, ensuring they fit in the cargo area, and can arrange ground transportation directly from the tarmac to the golf course [05:02].

Time Savings: Flying privately saves travelers a significant amount of time by avoiding long waits at commercial airports, including TSA security.

Access to Remote Airports: Private aviation provides access to the 5,000 municipal airports in the U.S., many of which are located near remote golf destinations [08:19].

Customized Experiences: The company creates personalized journeys for each client, offering custom experiences like branded aircraft and special catering [07:15].

Future Growth: The company’s future strategy includes partnering with on-the-ground tour operators specializing in golf to provide a comprehensive experience [16:52].

Memorable Client Story: As an example of their service, Steve Ciancio shared a story about arranging a multi-day, multi-stop golf trip to Ireland for a group of clients, including helicopter transfers [17:50].

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By Walter Lis