Wheels Up strengthens portfolio with acquisition of Mountain Aviation

Private aviation brand Wheels Up has strengthened its portfolio with the acquisition of aircraft charter company Mountain Aviation.

Headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, US, Mountain Aviation is a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 Air Carrier and maintains a full FAA Part 145 Repair Station with expertise in Citation aircraft product lines.

The addition of Mountain Aviation will enhance Wheels Up’s platform to fulfil the increasing flight demand from its membership and charter marketplace.

Wheels Up will also add a total of 59 aircraft, mostly Citation X aircraft, to its fleet and plans to further expand the Citation X fleet this year.

Mountain Aviation has bases in Denver, Teterboro, and southern California with 300 aviation specialists, including more than 150 pilots and 45 maintenance personnel.

The two companies did not disclose specific financial details of the deal.

Wheels Up founder and chief executive officer Kenny Dichter said: “We’ve come to know and greatly respect Mountain Aviation’s talented team over the past few years and are excited to welcome them officially to our Wheels Up family.

“We are aligned on culture, forward vision, and business goals. This acquisition further strengthens the Wheels Up suite of products and services that we offer to our members and customers and enhances our unique total aviation solution positioning.”

The acquisition will not interrupt service of Mountain Aviation’s wholesale business, which will continue to operate independently.

Mountain Aviation’s team will continue to operate from their existing locations in Broomfield, Colorado, and its additional locations.

Mountain Aviation CEO Gregg Fahrenbruch said: “We are proud of what we’ve built and thrilled to join Kenny and the Wheels Up team to continue to expand and grow.  It’s remarkable to see how Wheels Up, with their vision to democratise, digitise, and disrupt, is transforming the industry.”