Solairus Aviation, a market-leading provider of private aviation management services, announced record flights, fleet expansion and employee growth in 2023. The news highlights the high-regard aircraft owners have for the company which has grown each year since its launch in 2009. Solairus’ growth came primarily from long range, large cabin and super mid-size aircraft owners who accounted for 87% of new additions and who make-up 88% of the 325 aircraft fleet.
Solairus manages a diverse composition of aircraft from all the leading manufacturers, with the long range, large cabin and super mid-size aircraft representing a majority of the fleet. Solairus added 18 ultra-long-range aircraft in 2023 and ended the year with 134, representing 16% growth and close to 70% of the company’s net new additions. The large cabin fleet now stands at 103 aircraft, while super-mids account for 45 aircraft. The company’s three largest manufacturers are Gulfstream (127 aircraft), Bombardier (111) and Dassault (41), while Embraer boasted the largest fleet growth in 2023 at 20%. More than half the fleet operates part 91 only, and about 25% of the total are available for third party charter.
“I am humbled and energized by the faith and trust owners place in us to safely manage and support their flight departments” said Dan Drohan, CEO of Solairus. “We have a remarkable, growing team of dedicated aviation professionals, and we strive every day to deliver the best, personalized ownership experience to each client we are fortunate enough to serve. One of our founding goals was to become big enough to matter, while remaining small enough to care. Certainly, this type of growth makes us big enough to matter. We work tirelessly, every day, to remain small enough to care.”
Solairus’ clients flew close to 35,000 flights and 74,000 flight hours in 2023, operating to 1,334 airports in 126 countries and all 50 states. The company’s ten most visited airfields were Teterboro, San Jose, Bedford, White Plains, Van Nuys, West Palm Beach, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and Oakland, while the five most commonly visited foreign countries were Mexico, UK, Italy, France and Canada.
To support its clients, in 2023 the company added 320 aviation professionals increasing its full and part-time staff to 2,099 with the former making up more than half of the total. Of note, Solairus added 230 full-time pilots, 56 maintenance supervisors and 29 flight attendants. The company now employs 1,866 full and part-time crew members. The company continues to look for exceptional candidates and anticipates hiring over 300 new crew members in 2024. As part of this effort Solairus will be at the 2024 NBAA Miami – Opa Locka Regional Forum on January 31 with the focus on meeting qualified Captains and Maintenance Supervisors. Individuals interested in working for Solairus should visit the company’s website at www.solairus.aero/careers
About Solairus Aviation
Solairus is a US private aviation services company whose core business is assisting aircraft owners with the safe, reliable, and efficient management and operation of their aircraft. Our services are customized to meet the client’s individual travel and financial requirements, and to support their flight operation with the highest standards of safety and personalized service, regardless of the location of the aircraft.
Solairus was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Solairus has over 70 base locations nationwide, employing more than 2,000 flight crew and support personnel to operate a fleet currently numbering 325 aircraft. Solairus is an IS-BAO Stage Three certified company and an Aviation Research Group/US Platinum-Rated and Wyvern Wingman certified charter operator. Solairus has also received the NBAA Commercial Business Flying Safety Award. Solairus offers a full range of services in addition to aircraft management, which includes aircraft charter sales, aviation support services, and consulting.