Flexjet has announced the acquisition of London-based aircraft brokerage and advisory firm, The Jet Business. The deal extends Flexjet’s capabilities in whole private aircraft sales, procurement and advisory services, and brings together its existing FXSolutions brokerage entity and The Jet Business under a single global platform. The business will continue to operate under The Jet Business brand while benefiting from the expanded resources, infrastructure and global reach of the Flexjet ecosystem.
The Jet Business’ London-based team adds to Flexjet’s growing European presence, which currently includes a sales centre in London’s Mayfair as well as a Tactical Control Centre at Farnborough Airport, where a new Flexjet private terminal will open later this summer.
Flexjet says that the expanded aircraft acquisition and disposition capabilities will enable the company to gain greater strategic control over fleet quality, modernisation and lifecycle planning.
As part of its expanded role, The Jet Business will support the acquisition of aircraft entering the Flexjet fleet as well as the orderly transition of aircraft exiting service, providing market intelligence, transaction expertise and advisory capabilities that further strengthen Flexjet’s long-term fleet strategy.
Clients engaging with The Jet Business will gain access to Flexjet Solutions, which will provide access to the broader capabilities of the Flexjet ecosystem. Through this offering, owners and buyers can benefit from aircraft operational support, pre-purchase inspections, maintenance infrastructure, AOG response resources and turnkey aircraft management solutions designed to maximise aircraft availability, while minimising owner complexity and downtime.
“A core tenet of our luxury strategy is maintaining one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry,” said Kenn Ricci, chairman of Flexjet. “To do that effectively requires sophisticated capabilities around aircraft remarketing and transition planning.”
Steve Varsano, who founded The Jet Business in 2011, will assume a new strategic leadership role as president of Flexjet. “We are well aligned in our belief that clients, at the very top of this market, are seeking far more than access to aircraft,” he said. “They want trusted solutions that are designed around their needs, delivered by experts and presented in style. When I set out to build The Jet Business, my goal was to change how aircraft are bought and sold. Through social media, it evolved into something even greater – a brand built on education, mentorship and trust, anchored by an immersive London experience that reimagined how clients engage with private aviation. Being part of the Flexjet ecosystem creates exciting opportunities to expand upon that vision in new and highly differentiated ways, and we look forward to sharing more in the future.”
Kenn Ricci added: “Steve Varsano’s considerable insight, expertise and creativity add a great deal to our organisation. He will be a major asset as we advance our global reach in aircraft sales, procurement and beyond.”
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
