Solairus Aviation (TWY, Novato) will transition aircraft currently operating under the Part 135 certificate of Clay Lacy Aviation (CLY, Van Nuys) onto Solairus' certificate over a six-month period following completion of the acquisition of Clay Lacy's aircraft management and charter divisions, CEO Dan Drohan told Private Jet Card Comparisons.

“Each owner whose aircraft is managed by Clay Lacy has to sign an agreement to come to Solairus. The plan is a certificate migration over what we're calling the transition period, which is about six months,” he said.

Clay Lacy's Part 135-certified fleet comprises 51 aircraft, compared with approximately 140 aircraft under management. Solairus' Part 135 certificate covers 144 aircraft, while the company manages around 360 aircraft overall.

Drohan does not expect any changes in how Solairus handles charter activity. “We're just going to have more of it. We have around 150 aircraft on our certificate today, with perhaps 60 actively flying charter. We're going to add another 30 or 40. So we could have around 100 aircraft actively engaged in charter, with additional ones on the certificate that aren't as busy.”

Focus on aircraft management

Even with a combined fleet of approximately 500 aircraft, Solairus does not plan to expand into adjacent businesses such as MRO or FBOs. “The majority of our fleet are newer aircraft. They're not going to an independent MRO, they're going to the OEM. I would far rather have great relationships with the OEMs and strong, powerful MROs.”

A similar approach applies to FBOs, where Solairus prefers partnerships with major chains rather than acquiring hangar facilities.

Earning and retaining clients

He acknowledged that competitors are already approaching Clay Lacy clients, leaving Solairus with the task of earning their confidence during the transition. To minimise disruption, the two companies have established dedicated teams to oversee the transfer of employees, clients, systems, data and other resources.

At the same time, Drohan stressed the importance of retaining existing Solairus clients and preventing any losses during the integration. “I certainly hope we don't have any slippage on our side. That falls on our shoulders to make this totally invisible to those clients.”

Industry consolidation, further deals

Drohan first met Clay Lacy owner Brian Kirkdoffer two years ago, and the deal has been in development for over a year. As Kirkdoffer increasingly focused on real estate and FBOs, Drohan remained centred on aircraft management, creating an opening for a potential transaction.

He sees the transaction as a potential catalyst for further consolidation across the business aviation industry. Solairus has been owned by private equity firm Ancient since 2022, and successful deals could attract more private equity interest. “I don't know what those deals are sitting here today, but there will be more.”

AB Jets (FTD, Memphis International) has ordered two additional Challenger 3500s and is launching a jet card, founder and CEO Andrew Bettis told Private Jet Card Comparisons. A company spokesperson told ch-aviation the order was placed in April, with deliveries scheduled for December 2028 and November 2029.

The new order comes as the company takes delivery of the third and final Challenger 3500 in a batch ordered in October 2023. N376AB (msn 21128) follows N374AB (msn 21082), delivered in September 2025, and N375AB (msn 21098), delivered later that year.

AB Jets latest Challenger 3500, N376AB, departed Bombardier Business Aircraft's Montréal Trudeau production facilities on August 2, 2026, bound for Memphis International, with a stop at Burlington, VT. The jet is expected to enter charter service in September following FAA conformity and post-delivery modifications.

Initially expected in May, the delivery was delayed due to a combination of factors, including weather disruptions in Montreal and additional time required during Bombardier's production and quality-control process. “On our side, the timing also coincided with AB Jets' move into our new hangar facility, so we adjusted the delivery schedule accordingly,” the spokesperson noted.

The company now operates three nine-seat Challenger 3500s, with two more on order, alongside four Learjet 60s and four Learjet 60SEs. “We haven't set a target number for the Challenger 3500 fleet, and we're not putting a ceiling on where it could ultimately go. For now, we're thrilled about the momentum we have and what's ahead for AB Jets,” the spokesperson added.

Jet card launch

At the same time, AB Jets has launched a jet card offering guaranteed rates and availability across a service area stretching between South America and Alaska. Bettis and co-owner and director of operations, David Turner, said the move aims to attract coast-to-coast and East Coast customers while complementing the company's wholesale business.

The programme is deliberately capped at a small number of customers, potentially no more than a dozen, with the aim of keeping members aboard AB Jets' Challenger 3500 fleet rather than relying on outsourced aircraft.