US charter company JetDirect Aviation is racing along the acquisition trail, making northern California's largest business aircraft operator Sunset Aviation its fifth purchase in fewer than two years.
The move boosts JetDirect's 105-strong managed fleet by 25 aircraft and comes less than two months after the Berwyn, Pennsylvania-based company merged with fellow operator and block charter card provider Sentient Jet. "Advancing JetDirect's strategy to develop a nationwide operational base with quality supply in strategic markets, the acquisition of Sunset adds northern California as the company's ninth regional operating base," says the company.
In late 2005 JetDirect acquired the former New York regional charter and management company Summit Jet and its affiliate Summit Aviation, and at the same time it bought St Louis-based maintenance provider, charter operator and fixed-base operator JetCorp.
In late 2006 Spirit Aviation, a charter, sales and maintenance provider based in Van Nuys, California became a part of JetDirect's portfolio, while Presidential Aviation, an aircraft management, charter and maintenance company with operations in Fort Lauderdale, New York and Los Angeles was snapped up early this year.
Source: Flight International
