PrivateFly, the global private charter
platform, has announced its takeover of the US charter broker, Bird Dog Jet. The
move is part of its continued US expansion program.
The Bird Dog Jet team brings industry
experience of on-demand charter, fractional and card programs from companies
including NetJets, Flight Options and Sentient Jets. Joining PrivateFly will be
Chris Early, Bird Dog Jet’s founder and president; its COO Ryan Folkening; and
sales advisor Zach Rankin, who will be based at PrivateFly's US head office at
Fort Lauderdale International Airport.
PrivateFly opened its first US office in Fort
Lauderdale in April 2016 and has since seen rapid growth of its on-demand
private jet charter business. The company’s combination of an innovative
technology platform and a 24/7 team of aviation experts has proved a winning
recipe in the North American market. In 2017 PrivateFly saw annual sales growth
of +51% and continued profitability, with over two thirds of sales outside the
UK - largely driven by its rapid growth in the US.
|
(L to R): Ryan Folkening, PrivateFly's Vice
President of Sales (USA) with Geoff Villano and Chris Early. |
Adam Twidell,
CEO and co-founder of PrivateFly, said: "We’re delighted to be bringing across
the experienced team from Bird Dog Jet, who have established some excellent
client and corporate relationships. This business combination helps us
strengthen our geographic reach in the US, and represents the next step in
PrivateFly's continued growth strategy.
"We have been looking for opportunities to
accelerate PrivateFly’s US growth for some time, and continue to do so. This
includes joining forces with companies that will help us grow faster than we
could do in an organic way. We also remain profitable, which sets us apart from
any other new business model in our sector."
Chris Early,
Bird Dog Jet founder and president, added: "We have been committed to delivering
the best combination of technology and service, and this move will help us
deliver even greater advantages for our clients. We’re excited about becoming
part of the PrivateFly group, a well-respected and fast-growing brand, with an
impressive international team.” |