In 1996 Magna Air Luftfahrt GmbH was founded as a 100% subsidiary of Magna International Inc. and started with two factory new business jets, a Falcon 900B and a Citation V Ultra. Frank Stronach, President of the Magna group, had the vision from the very beginning, of building the youngest fleet of aircraft in Austria, thereby offering “a better product for a better price”.

1998 saw four further business jets added to the fleet and the year after a Lear and a Citation jet. In order to ensure a proper structure and cover international growth for the fast expanding airline, the decision was taken to change the legal form of the company (commercial entity) into a stock company and the acquisition of shares by the management. The enterprise since then is known as Jetalliance Flugbetriebs AG.

From the year 2000, Jetalliance Chief Executive Officer, Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer, held 75% of the shares, Norbert Winkler, who became a member of the board of directors, 25%. In 2002, through a strategic investor, the company expanded and advanced to the East of Europe. In the same year it introduced a staffed 24/7 dispatch. Continuing in this vain, Jetalliance expands its fleet of long-range aircraft introducing a Gulfstream IV, Gulfstream V and a VIP MD83.

2003 saw, above all, the further development of the short and medium range fleet. The enterprise strategically prepared itself for the economical growth of the year ahead. Shaped by the strategic goals of 2002 and 2003, a B737 VIP with a seat capacity of 40+ increased the fleet further as well strategically positioned aircraft in Russia, England, Ukraine, Kuwait, Bulgaria and Rumania.

In 2004 Jetalliance got FAA Part 129 approval which allows them to operate business jets commercially in the US and Canada.

In November 2005 Jetalliance announces a 230 million USD deal with Cessna Aircraft. Within the next years two Citation X, seven Sovereign, four XLS, five CJ2+, as well as two CJ3 will be delivered by the American company and help Jetalliance on its expansion in Eastern Europe.