Story ID: 
Louisiana FBO Expands with Rival Purchase
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: BTR Jet at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport will acquire Executive Aviation this summer, and embark on a major construction project.
Word Count: 227
Baton Rouge Jet Center (BTR Jet), one of three service providers at Louisiana’s Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, will expand its operation with the purchase of competitor Executive Aviation. Following the merger later this summer, BTR Jet, which opened in 2015, will begin construction on a new 5,000-sq-ft FBO operations facility and three hangars totaling 45,000 sq ft of aircraft storage. That project is expected to be completed in the first half of next year.

“This opportunity was truly a positive for both buyer and seller,” said John Schempf, president of the Newtron Group, parent company to Executive Aviation, which was founded in 1973. “The fact that we know the ownership team of BTR Jet and are familiar with their operational values and beliefs helped us feel comfortable that the long-term employees of Executive Aviation would be in great hands.”

Once the merger commences, a smooth transition between the two companies is anticipated.

“In a little over three years, BTR Jet has grown to be the number-one FBO on the field,” said company president Brett Furr, adding they accomplished that through offering concierge service at fair prices. “We have rapidly outgrown our facilities and have much need for expansion. When completed, our new facilities will be among the finest in the country and will distinguish Baton Rouge in a very positive manner."