Wheels Up has acquired aircraft charter firm Mountain Aviation, the largest Part 135-operated Citation X fleet operator in the USA.
The move adds 59 total aircraft, most of which are Citation X aircraft, to Wheels Up’s fleet. The company said it plans to further expand the Citation X fleet during this year.
Wheels Up said the acquisition complements its June 2019 acquisition of the Travel Management Company, which operates the USA’s largest wholesale floating fleet of light jets.
Mountain Aviation has bases in Denver, Teterboro, and Southern California, including full Part 145 maintenance capabilities housed across seven hangar facilities. These are being added to Wheels Up’s in-house maintenance function and capability.
Wheels Up will offer comprehensive managed aircraft services to Mountain Aviation’s existing managed customers as part of the Wheels Up Aircraft Management platform. The deal also broadens Wheels Up’s customer base by servicing recently awarded and growing government defense contract business and expanding services to medical transportation customers.
Mountain Aviation’s legacy technology will migrate onto Wheels Up’s Avianis technology platform, creating greater efficiencies and offering more automation and streamlined services for Wheels Up members and customers.
Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up Founder and CEO said, “We’ve come to know and greatly respect Mountain Aviation’s talented team over the past few years and are excited to welcome them officially to our Wheels Up family.
“We are aligned on culture, forward vision, and business goals. This acquisition further strengthens the Wheels Up suite of products and services that we offer to our Members and Customers.”
Gregg Fahrenbruch, Mountain Aviation, CEO said, “This is an exciting day for all of us. We are proud of what we’ve built and thrilled to join Kenny and the Wheels Up team to continue to expand and grow.
“It’s remarkable to see how Wheels Up, with their vision to democratize, digitize, and disrupt, is transforming the industry.”
Gregg Fahrenbruch takes on a new role of senior vice president, operations strategy and will continue to run the Mountain Aviation business.
Mountain Aviation’s wholesale business will continue to operate independently with no interruption of service to their existing wholesale channel partners, who will continue to engage with their respective Mountain Aviation contacts.
Mountain Aviation’s team of approximately 300 employees will continue to operate out of its current locations in Coloardo, Teterboro, New Jersey, Anchorage, Alaska and Thermal, California.
Specific financial terms of the deal are not being disclosed.
S: Business Airport International