Inflite The Jet Centre acquires Excellence Aviation 

Inflite The Jet Centre, part of the Inflite group of companies, based at London Stansted Airport, announces the acquisition of Bombardier Challenger and Global Express specialist Excellence Aviation Services. The purchase includes Excellence Aviation Services Ltd, its Part 145 organisation and CAMO, as well as Excellence Aviation Ltd, its Part NCC aircraft management business.   

With fresh investment and a dedicated home within Inflite’s 250,000 sq ft hangar space, Excellence Aviation Services’ line station activity will expand to offer full base maintenance at Stansted for Challenger and Global Express aircraft. Inflite, meanwhile, will continue to grow its Embraer executive jet MRO, together with its BBJ work.

While London Stansted will be EAS’s new HQ effective immediately, it will continue to offer line maintenance at London Oxford, Luton, Stansted and Farnborough Airports. Its 12 staff, to be joined shortly by two more licensed engineers, will further strengthen Inflite’s 60-strong MRO team. 

EAS founder Colin Solley and partner Mike Smith will remain with the business and play a significant role in shaping the group’s growth plans, says Christoffer Creutz, Inflite The Jet Centre’s managing director, who joined from Lufthansa Technik two and half years ago. 

“This strategic acquisition is a perfect fit for us,” says Christoffer Creutz, acknowledging the two businesses have been in collaborative talks for some time.  “Excellence Aviation Services’ Bombardier capabilities and services complement our long-established activity on Embraer and Boeing BBJ platforms and together with our dedicated VVIP Corporate FBO at Stansted, we can offer a full turnkey solution to EAS’ customers too.”

 “The deal future proofs our business and we will duly be setting about cross training and sharing manpower to further expand our capabilities and UK coverage,” Mr Creutz adds.

 “We are both delighted and honoured to be joining the Inflite family. We had a couple of potential suitors, but Inflite was certainly the right partner for us,” comments Colin Solley, founder of EAS. “I have known Penny Stephens, the owner and CEO of Inflite The Jet Centre, since 1995 when I was director of maintenance for a Family Office flight department and the company has always had a terrific reputation for professionalism and outstanding commitment to their customers.” 

Colin Solley founded Excellence in year 2000 with Mike Smith joining in 2007, between them they have over 55 years of experience in the business aviation sector. 

Inflite The Jet Centre  provides an extensive range of aircraft handling, engineering and support services from purpose built and newly refurbished premises  With 30 years' experience the company's success has been built on the pursuit of excellence and a total commitment to maintaining the quality of its highly skilled workforce and state of the art facilities. Its MRO and VVIP award-winning FBO and MRO facilities are located at London Stansted Airport.