Carlsbad-based Schubach Aviation has quietly leveled up its charter lineup, adding four super mid and ultra long range jets, including a Gulfstream G650ER that pushes the boutique operator deeper into coast-to-coast and international service. The new metal signals a clear tilt toward longer nonstop missions and larger group charters, even as the company keeps its San Diego hub at McClellan-Palomar. It is the latest in a string of expansions under owner and CEO Kimberly Herrell since 2020.
Schubach's refreshed fleet now includes a G650ER, a second Gulfstream G200 and two Cessna Citation Sovereigns, positioned across Florida's Gulf Coast and Southern California as part of a coast-to-coast growth strategy, according to Corporate Jet Investor. "With these strategic fleet additions, Schubach is further expanding our service to nationwide and international audiences," Herrell said in the announcement, adding that the G650ER "enables us to fly passengers to virtually anywhere in the world." The goal is more nonstop options for bigger groups, with room for their luggage to match.
G650ER unlocks transoceanic reach
The G650ER is being based on the Gulf Coast, giving Schubach the range to reach Europe, the Middle East and other intercontinental markets without fuel stops, while the two Citation Sovereigns and the G200 support busy West Coast routes, trade reporting shows. Business Air News notes aircraft placements at Naples Municipal (APF), Van Nuys (VNY), John Wayne (SNA) and Hollywood-Burbank (BUR). For San Diego travelers, that setup means more direct long haul options without backtracking through major airline hubs.
Numbers behind the growth
Schubach's growth spurt comes with some eye catching stats. The company reported a 124% revenue increase since 2020, roughly 20,000 flight hours and about 27,500 passengers carried in that span, along with a staff of roughly 56 employees, according to reporting by the San Diego Business Journal. Herrell, who acquired Schubach in January 2020, has overseen the aircraft additions as the operator shifts further into larger, long haul jets, a pivot detailed in trade coverage. Those numbers help explain why the company is prioritizing wide ranging aircraft while keeping its North County base intact.
Local impact and wider market context
On the ground in Carlsbad, the extra jets translate into more maintenance, crewing and support activity at McClellan-Palomar, and Schubach added new hires last year as it scales operations, according to the company newsroom Schubach. Industry analysis also shows charter and fractional operators captured a big share of private jet hours during the pandemic and have kept elevated traffic levels since, a structural shift that favors operators adding long range capacity. For a deeper market view, see a review from the National Academies.
For now, Schubach is playing a familiar boutique strategy: keep a strong San Diego home base, then stretch capability east and overseas. The next test is whether that G650ER turns into a steady stream of nonstop long hauls out of Southwest Florida and reliable demand from Southern California.
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