StrategicAir Holding Company, LLC led by Keith St. Clair, former chairman and founder of TraveLeaders, one of the 10 largest travel distribution companies in the USA and the largest in Florida, announced today the formation of the entity and a board of directors comprising experts from the aviation and financing industries. St. Clair, President and CEO of StrategicAir, also announced with the formation, the Company’s acquisition of Reliance Aviation of Ft. Lauderdale, Signature Private Jets, certain assets of Advanced Flight Concepts and the purchase of six aircraft from Starwood Aviation, in transactions valued at approximately $50-million.
The formation of StrategicAir underscores the increasing role of private aviation in our nation’s air transportation system,” said St. Clair. “This deal will revolutionize an industry that is already flying high. We have consolidated select air charter and maintenance companies aimed at serving a growing niche for the North American, South American and Caribbean markets for high-end travel services for both business and leisure travelers.”
The Company’s initial assets consist of owned Gulfstream, Hawker and Challenger aircraft; three managed aircraft; a maintenance facility at Ft. Lauderdale Executive Airport; and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 and Part 145 certificates that allow StrategicAir to operate private charter services and provide maintenance operations. This was accomplished through the acquisition of Signature Private Jets, a leading aircraft charter broker; Reliance Aviation, a South Florida aircraft services source for over 20 years; certain assets of Advanced Flight Concepts, including three jets and an in-house maintenance group; and, the purchase of six jets from Starwood Aviation, a worldwide aviation holding and leasing company. The Company has also entered into letters of intent to acquire additional Part 135 companies including a pending contract to acquire an operator with an FAA 135 Amphibious Certificate and 10 years of continuous operation.
“The advent of StrategicAir provides more options in the executive and personal air transportation sectors,” said St. Clair. “What sets StrategicAir apart from brokered flights or fractional ownership is its ability to control the customer’s travel experience from beginning to end without the customer incurring the expense of airplane ownership.”
“Our aggressive consolidation of Part 135 operations allows us to vertically integrate a broad spectrum of offerings for both business and personal charter travel,” said St. Clair. “Travelers who choose StrategicAir will enjoy all the benefits of personalized, comfortable, efficient and convenient travel. Personalized walk-up aviation is the future.”
StrategicAir’s aggressive growth strategy will lead to significant upticks in volume and pricing during the next 24 months, St. Clair predicted. The Company will benefit from the increased demand for specialty aviation as top executives and leisure travelers eschew the security delays and scheduling issues of commercial jet travel and embrace general aviation’s flexibility; and by flying to destinations that are underserved by commercial airlines says St. Clair.
“StrategicAir has a strong and experienced board, a product with multiple years of exemplary records for safety and a great reputation for the highest levels of customer service,” said St. Clair. “We’re bringing a great business with an exemplary record for service to the specialty aviation travel market.”
Kevin Parrott, former CEO and Owner of Signature Private Jets has been appointed StrategicAir’s Chief Marketing Officer. “As private jet brokers, we were typically at the mercy of the markets with prices varying for identical aircraft types. StrategicAir’s clients will be protected from price fluctuations through the fixed cost attributes of owning our own fleet. Frustrated fractional owners will welcome StrategicAir’s approach as we are in the best possible position to offer unparalleled luxury, quality, service and value while maintaining charter rates on advantageous terms,” added Parrott.
The law firm of Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin represented StrategicAir in its formation and acquisitions. “Our firm has represented clients in the private aviation industry for years and we have never seen such a team of diverse industry expertise come together in a new enterprise,” said Eliot Abbott, co-chair of the Business and Real Estate Transaction Group of Kluger Peretz Kaplan & Berlin. “The diverse expertise that the principals bring to the company is extraordinary.”
The StrategicAir Holding Company Board consists of:
Mark Ginsburg, Chairman, currently CEO of Nationwide Laboratories
Keith St. Clair, Director, formerly Chairman/founder of TraveLeaders
Richard Oster, Director, formerly CFO Pegasus Aviation
Jack Burstein, Director, CEO Strategica Capital Group
Kevin Parrott, Director, formerly CEO Signature Private Jets
Craig Lawson, Director, CEO Starwood Aviation
About StrategicAir:
StrategicAir, based in South Florida, serves the executive business and leisure travel market offering air service with exemplary safety records and the highest level of customer service. The Company is distinguished in the marketplace for its ability to offer a controlled travel experience from start to finish that meets the highest standards available.