Airshare Celebrates 25th Anniversary

In 2000, Executive Airshare was founded in Wichita, Kansas by Bob Taylor, a former CFO at Rent-A-Center and the architect of our revolutionary days-based fractional ownership model. Joining him as lead investor was businessman David Murfin, who understood the powerful impact private aviation could have on productivity and quality of life. Five years later, we relocated our headquarters to Kansas City, MO.

Unlike traditional hours-based programs, our model gave customers full use of their aircraft throughout the day, dramatically increasing flight potential and value. This innovation quickly built a loyal customer base and drove expansion throughout the Midwest. In 2008, we acquired Executive Flight Services, broadening our offerings to include aircraft management and charter.

The trajectory shifted again in 2016 when Curran Companies—fractional customers who shared our belief in reliable “out-and-back” travel—purchased a controlling interest. Two years later, then-CFO John Owen was promoted to CEO, bringing his logistics expertise to lead the next stage of growth. A defining moment came in 2023 with the acquisition of Circadian Aviation, Wheels Up’s aircraft management subsidiary. The deal more than doubled our size, expanded staff and services, and integrated Circadian’s FAA Part 135 certificate into our framework—strengthening our charter and management programs.

Momentum continued in 2024 as private equity firm Kompass Kapital became majority owner, accelerating national expansion and advancing our coast-to-coast fractional, jet card, charter, and management services.

For a quarter of a century, our commitment to serving our customers with excellence has been unwavering, and as we look to the future, we remain more excited than ever about what lies ahead.

To commemorate this momentous occasion, we hosted a special celebration at our CHQ in Overland Park, bringing together our incredible team for an afternoon of food, drinks, and fun. We took time to reflect on the countless milestones we’ve reached, the relationships we’ve built, and the strides we’ve made to become the trusted partner we are today. We were also honored to celebrate Terri McKown’s remarkable 35th anniversary with Airshare—a true testament to dedication and hard work that continues to inspire our team.

Congratulations on 35 years Terri!

As we celebrated the successes of the past, we also looked forward to the future with optimism and enthusiasm. The journey continues, and we’re excited to keep pushing boundaries, embracing new challenges, and delivering innovative solutions to our customers for the next 25 years and beyond.