Solairus Announces Record Growth in 2023
Solairus Aviation, a provider of private-aviation management services, announces record flights, fleet expansion and employee growth in 2023. The news highlights the trust aircraft owners have in the company, which has grown each year since its launch in 2009. This year's growth primarily came from owners of long-range, large-cabin and super mid-size aircraft, who accounted for 87% of new additions and who make up 88% of the 325 aircraft fleet.
Solairus manages a diverse composition of aircraft from all the leading manufacturers. In 2023 it added 18 long-range aircraft, ending the year with a total of 134, representing 16% growth and close to 70% of the company’s net new additions. The large-cabin fleet now stands at 103 aircraft, while super-mids account for 45 aircraft. The company’s three largest manufacturers are Gulfstream (127 aircraft), Bombardier (111) and Dassault (41), while Embraer boasted the largest fleet growth in 2023 at 20%. More than half the fleet operates Part 91 only, and about 25% of the total are available for third-party charter.
“I am humbled and energized by the faith and trust owners place in us to safely manage and support their flight departments,” says Dan Drohan, CEO of Solairus. “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.”
Solairus’ clients flew close to 35,000 flights and 74,000 flight hours in 2023, operating to 1,334 airports in 126 countries and all 50 states. The company’s ten most-visited airfields were Teterboro, San Jose, Bedford, White Plains, Van Nuys, West Palm Beach, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and Oakland, while the five most commonly visited countries were Mexico, UK, Italy, France and Canada.
To support its clients, the company added 320 aviation professionals in 2023, increasing its full- and part-time staff to 2,099, with the former making up more than half of the total. Of note, Solairus added 230 full-time pilots, 56 maintenance supervisors and 29 flight attendants. The company now employs 1,866 full- and part-time crew members.
The company continues to look for exceptional candidates and anticipates hiring over 300 new crew members in 2024. As part of this effort, Solairus will be at the 2024 NBAA Miami-Opa Locka Regional Forum on January 31 with the focus on meeting qualified captains and maintenance supervisors. Individuals interested in working for Solairus should visit the company’s website at https://www.solairus.aero/careers.