Story ID: 100Oct18
Directional Aviation's OneSky Acquires PrivateFly
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Combination of PrivateFly and OneSky's Skyjet will create one of the world’s largest online booking platforms for private jet charter.
Word Count: 278
 
Directional Aviation subsidiary OneSky LLC—a division that includes Flexjet, Skyjet, and Sentient Jet—has acquired UK-based online air charter broker PrivateFly, the companies announced last month. PrivateFly, which launched in 2008, will combine with air charter brokerage Skyjet “to create one of the world’s largest online booking platforms for private jet charter, one with a robust digital platform and a physical geography and assets tailored for countries on four continents,” they said. Those continents are North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
“PrivateFly co-founders Adam Twidell and Carol Cork are true innovators who recognized early on how important mobile capabilities and on-demand digital bookings are in the charter space, and they will continue to play a critical role in the company’s future,” said Kenn Ricci, principal of Directional Aviation. “Pairing PrivateFly with Skyjet, OneSky’s current digital on-demand charter broker, brings together two innovative companies that are in different geographies to support OneSky's vision of a world-leading on-demand charter operation.”
The combined entity will operate offices in both the U.S. and Europe and leverage the infrastructure and assets available within OneSky. Twidell and Cork will lead Skyjet/PrivateFly as CEO and chief marketing officer, respectively, a OneSky spokesman told AIN. They will both report to Andrew Collins, who is now the global brand manager for Skyjet, PrivateFly, and Sentient Jet, and also retains his title as president and CEO of Sentient Jet.
Meanwhile, OneSky said it has a series of forthcoming technology-driven innovations that will further cement its global leadership in providing digitally accessed on-demand private jet travel.
 
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