Story ID: 
Solairus Boosts Managed Aircraft Fleet and Team
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: Large-cabin, long-range jets account for highest percentage of fleet additions
Word Count: 445
Aircraft management services provider Solairus boosted the scale of its activities last year, reporting growth in its fleet, flight activity, and employees. According to the U.S. group, most of its growth last year was through the addition of long-range, large-cabin, and super-midsize business jets, which accounted for 87 percent of the new fleet. These segments also constitute 88 percent of its fleet of 325 aircraft.
Most of this fleet, which grew by almost 9 percent last year, is operated for private owners under Part 91, with almost a quarter on its Part 135 certificate and available for charter. According to Solairus, the number of legs flown in 2023 was up by about 1 percent and flight hours grew by 2 percent.
The large-cabin portion of the fleet now includes 103 aircraft and there are 45 super-midsize jets. The arrival of 18 long-range aircraft last year represented a growth rate of 16 percent, and these accounted for almost 70 percent of all new additions. Gulfstream (127 aircraft), Bombardier (111), and Dassault (41) now account for the vast majority of the fleet composition, but more Embraer-made equipment was added in 2023 at the fastest growth rate of 20 percent.
Last year, Solairus’ customers made almost 35,000 flights, logging 74,000 flight hours and operating to 1,334 airports in all 50 U.S. states and 125 other countries. The most popular U.S. airports were in the New York area (Teterboro and White Plains); Van Nuys, Oakland, and San Jose, California; Boston-area Bedford; Chicago; Dallas; West Palm Beach; and Miami. The most frequently visited countries were Mexico, Canada, the UK, Italy, and France.
The expansion of the Solairus fleet prompted the company, which has offices in Petaluma, California, and Purchase, New York, to add 320 employees to a full- and part-time payroll now numbering 2,099 people. These new arrivals included 230 full-time pilots, 56 maintenance supervisors, and 29 flight attendants.
Solairus said it aims to hire over 300 new crew members in 2024. Its presence next week at the NBAA Regional Forum at Miami-Opa Locka Airport is part of this recruitment drive. At this event, it will be particularly focused on meeting qualified captains and maintenance supervisors.
“I am humbled and energized by the faith and trust owners place in us to safely manage and support their flight departments,” said Solairus CEO Dan Drohan. “We have a remarkable, growing team of dedicated aviation professionals and we strive every day to deliver the best, personalized ownership experience to each client we are fortunate enough to serve. One of our founding goals was to become big enough to matter while remaining small enough to care. Certainly, this type of growth makes us big enough to matter. We work tirelessly, every day, to remain small enough to care.”