ADAM VOGLER | KCBJ [May 30, 2024 11:27am CDT]
KCBJ | Learn More: 2024 Champions of Business – Airshare
Airshare has been in business for more than two decades, but it accomplished one big goal overnight.
The aviation company had offices in Overland Park, Wichita, Fort Worth and Buffalo, New York, before acquiring the aircraft management business of Wheels Up last fall.
“We were very regionally based,” CEO John Owen said. “We sold services in less than half of the U.S. We didn’t have much of a presence on the coasts. The goal was to be a nationwide service provider.”
The Wheels Up acquisition gave Airshare offices in San Jose; Milwaukee; Waukegan, Illinois; Teterboro, New Jersey; Shelton, Connecticut; and West Palm Beach. The sale also increased the company’s fleet from 60 aircraft to 150 and its headcount from 253 to 571.
In April, Airshare announced it had entered into a fixed-base operator (FBO) agreement with Signature Aviation. The partnership between one of the world’s largest networks of private aviation terminals and one of the nation’s largest fleet operators will provide Airshare customers with aviation hospitality, including hangar services and preferential pricing on fuel and other fees, at roughly 102 locations. Owen said the company previously had a “hodgepodge” of FBOs.
“This gives us a more defined agreement,” said Owen, whose company’s revenue has grown more than 40% annually in the past three years. “Size is a significant factor in what we can negotiate. We’ll have better rates than in the past. Having more buying power is beneficial to the company and customers.”
In June 2023, Airshare announced a multiyear extension of its endorsement and brand marketing partnership with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“He was a great partner and advocate before anyone knew him,” Owen said. “We felt like he was a good person to tie us to the local market, and he blew up overnight. Now we utilize his partnership nationally.”
— David Mitchell
Description: A private aviation company offering private aircraft management, fractional ownership, jet cards, charter services and aircraft maintenance
Top executive: John Owen, CEO
Founded: 2000
Employees: 130 local; 571 total
Address: 6240 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park
Highlight: Airshare bought the aircraft management division of Wheels Up in September, more than doubling the size of its fleet, workforce and number of offices.
To view the article, read KCBJ’s article here.