Merger Creates New Leader in Private Jet Travel
Combination Forms a Full-Service Private Aviation Services Company with National Infrastructure, Largest Non-Fractional Fleet of Aircraft and Extensive Operational Expertise. The Combined Company Offers Extraordinary Product Flexibility and Commitment to Service and Safety
Weymouth, Mass., April 11, 2007 - JetDirect Aviation, LLC, one of the country's largest full-service private jet operations, and Sentient Jet, Inc., the leading provider of private jet membership and one of the country's fastest-growing private jet companies, today announced they are merging operations. Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Added Steven Hankin, current chief executive officer of Sentient Jet, who will serve as president and chief operating officer of the combined company: "We have tripled our membership base in the last two years because our customers consistently tell us they value our product flexibility and relentless focus on service. This merger will provide the infrastructure and operational capabilities to sustain our growth as well as introduce new products to the market. Importantly, our two companies share a complete dedication to an uncompromising safety culture and, as an industry leader, we will continue to innovate with programs and initiatives in this critical area."
JetDirect has overcome the fragmentation of the private jet industry to build a comprehensive charter and aircraft management company by integrating a portfolio of the most successful, highest-quality operators. At the same time, the Sentient Jet Membership Program has transcended the limitations of jet-specific fractional jet ownership and fractional jet cards to provide the most flexible, convenient and economically attractive guaranteed availability product on the market. The combined company will offer private jet customers a range of flexible products coupled with deep industry experience, an industry-leading safety program and a shared passion for customer service excellence.
Surrounding it all - and critically important because it solves the supply capacity issues that have plagued the national players for years - the company has the operational base required to support rapid expansion. With more than 110 aircraft under management, private jet travelers will have access to the largest FAA Part 135 managed aircraft fleet strategically located across the U.S. In addition, the company will also continue to work extensively with a network of high-quality operators carefully certified and selected as strategic partners. Operations will be supported by one of the largest FAA certified maintenance facilities in the U.S. to provide higher dispatch reliability and faster mechanical recovery.
Both Sentient and JetDirect share an intense focus on safety. Sentient was the first private aviation company to develop an Independent Safety Advisory Board, which includes former top officials from the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. The Safety Advisory Board has formulated stringent standards for Sentient that will now be combined with the strong operating practices from JetDirect and, together, these programs and standards will be codified and implemented across the entire company.
"It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Sentient Jet to create the Independent Safety Advisory Board, and I am thrilled that this group will now have the opportunity to work with this combined organization," said Dave Thomas, chairman of the Safety Advisory Board and former director of the FAA Office of Accident Investigation.
About JetDirect Aviation
JetDirect Aviation LLC, is a leading aircraft management and aviation services company with operations in New York, Philadelphia, Ft. Lauderdale, St. Louis, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. The company's combined fleet of aircraft covers the complete range of light jets to wide body long-range jets, and is one of the newest, safest and most efficient in the private jet industry. The company offers charter services, jet membership programs and aircraft management options designed to meet the specific needs of its clientele. Investors include Philadelphia based private equity firms CD Ventures and Argosy Capital, as well as ABS Capital Partners of Baltimore, MD, Brantley Partners of Cleveland and New York based HSBC and AIG. More information is available at www.jetdirect.net.
About Sentient Jet
Sentient Jet, Inc., is the leader in private jet membership, the most flexible and economically sound approach to private aviation. Members enjoy access to premium executive-class aircraft with a guaranteed response time of as little as ten hours anywhere in the continental United States. The program features guaranteed availability as well as both one-way and round-trip pricing at fixed hourly rates. Sentient's TravelCard Membership requires only an initial deposit. This is not a fee and there is no capital risk or long-term commitment. Members pay only for the trips that they take and the funds on deposit are fully refundable at any time.
All Sentient flights are operated by FAR Part 135 carriers. Operators providing service for Sentient must meet both FAA safety requirements and additional Sentient safety standards. Sentient is also the owner of Atlantic Aviation Flight Services, which operates in full compliance with all FAA and Sentient safety standards and provides some flights for Sentient Members. The company is headquartered in Weymouth, MA. More information is available at www.sentient.com.
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