Story ID: 365 Latitude Aero 
Latitude Aero’s VIP Seat Refurbs Bow 
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: Commercial seat overhauler Latitude Aero enters the business aviation aftermarket in its NBAA-BACE debut.
Word Count: 275
Seating refurbishment specialist Latitude Aero (Booth C8325i), making its NBAA Convention debut, is celebrating its “successful entrance into the high-end aviation market,” said Kevin Boyette, president and CEO of the Greensboro, North Carolina company.

A Certified Aviation Manager for nearly a decade, Boyette spent 10 years in business aircraft interiors before founding Latitude Aero in 2015. Initially focused on commercial aftermarket integration of seatback inflight entertainment systems and power ports, Latitude Aero has added full seat refurbishment and seat-parts supplies to its portfolio and recently teamed with a VIP leather supplier to offer “economically viable solutions for cabin upgrades of any scope” for seating needs. The company also offers “expertise in Avod [audio/video on demand] systems” for refurbishment projects.

Having experienced exponential growth in the last three years, Latitude is opening a facility in Burlington, Washington, and—with an airline partner—one in the United Arab Emirates, and seeks to open additional domestic and international facilities by 2020.

“Our presence at NBAA-BACE this year, exhibiting for the first time as we expand into the luxury VIP market, is a full-circle moment,” Boyette said.

In September, Latitude Aero was among hosts of a delegation from the United Arab Emirates’ Sharjah Investment and Development Authority at a gathering staged by the U.S.-UAE Business Council. Exports currently account for 25 percent of annual sales, Boyette said. In the last two years, Latitude Aero has delivered commercial and VIP seating to Aruba, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Mexico, Korea, Singapore, France, and Nigeria, and Boyette sees large opportunities in the Middle East for both airline and business aviation VIP seating services.