Flexjet is one of the best-known names in fractional jet ownership. This review sets out what the company offers, how it is structured and how it has changed, using public records, so you can judge whether its model fits the way you fly. It is not a ranking, and it does not rely on testimonials.
Key Takeaways
- Flexjet sells fractional ownership, leasing and jet card access to private jets, plus a helicopter division.
- It started in 1995 as a division of Bombardier and has been owned by Directional Aviation since 2013.
- A 2022 plan to go public through a merger with a SPAC was terminated in 2023. In 2025, Flexjet raised $800 million in an equity round that valued it at $4 billion.
A Glimpse into Flexjet's History and Business Model
Flexjet, LLC is an American provider of fractional ownership, leasing and jet card services, headquartered in Richmond Heights, Ohio.
- 1995. Flexjet was founded as a division of Bombardier Aerospace and entered the fractional ownership market.
- 2013. Directional Aviation, the private investment firm founded by Kenn Ricci, agreed to buy Flexjet from Bombardier for $185 million in cash. Flexjet also ordered 85 Bombardier jets at the same time.
- 2014. Flexjet left the charter market. Directional moved its companies' charter brokerage to the Skyjet brand, with Flexjet focusing on fractional programs and its sister company Sentient Jet on jet cards.
- 2015. Flexjet launched Red Label.
- 2016 onward. The company opened private terminals, starting in Naples, Florida, and later added West Palm Beach, Westchester County Airport, Dallas Love Field, Teterboro and Van Nuys. It also began building a European operation.
- 2021. Flexjet bought two helicopter companies, U.K.-based Halo Aviation and U.S.-based Associated Aircraft Group, and formed a private helicopter division.
- 2022 to 2023. Flexjet agreed to merge with Horizon Acquisition Corporation II, a SPAC led by Todd Boehly, to become a public company. The deal was terminated in April 2023.
- 2025. Flexjet completed an $800 million equity round led by L Catterton, with KSL Capital Partners and J. Safra Group, valuing the company at $4 billion. In September 2025 it added the Gulfstream G700 to its fractional fleet.
Kenn Ricci is chairman and Michael Silvestro is chief executive officer.
How fractional ownership works
In a fractional program, you buy or lease a share of an aircraft rather than the whole jet. The share gives you a set number of flight hours each year, and the provider manages the aircraft, crews and maintenance. It suits people who fly often enough that an hourly charter adds up, but not so much that owning a whole jet makes sense. A jet card works differently: you prepay for flight hours without buying into an aircraft.
Exceptional Private Travel Experiences
Flexjet's fleet spans the main private jet categories. Its published fleet includes:
- Light jet: Embraer Phenom 300
- Midsize jets: Embraer Legacy 450/500 and Praetor 500/600
- Super midsize jet: Bombardier Challenger 300 family (Challenger 350/3500)
- Large cabin jet: Gulfstream G450
- Ultra-long-range jets: Gulfstream G650 ER and G700
Red Label is Flexjet's premium tier. Each Red Label aircraft has a dedicated flight crew, customized interiors and customized seating configurations. The helicopter division sells fractional, lease and on-demand charter access to a fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters.
The Flexjet Team: Pilots, Crew, and Support Staff
Flexjet's Red Label model assigns a dedicated crew to each aircraft, so owners fly with a familiar team. All commercial pilots in the United States work under FAA rules: for on-demand operations, the FAA's Part 135 sets minimum experience for pilots in command, including at least 1,200 hours for IFR flying. Ask any provider about its own pilot hiring standards, which can go beyond the federal minimum.
Employee Benefits and Perks
Pay, benefits and schedules for pilots and staff change with each contract and hiring cycle. For current details, check Flexjet's own careers pages and recent job postings rather than figures repeated in older articles.
Company Culture and Work Environment
Flexjet is headquartered in Richmond Heights, Ohio, with private terminals in several U.S. cities and a European operation based in the U.K. If you are weighing a role there, current employee reviews and conversations with crew members are the best guide to day-to-day culture.
Client Testimonials and Reviews
We do not publish testimonials, and we have not verified any satisfaction or retention figures for Flexjet. If you are considering a fractional share, the most useful checks are practical:
- Contract terms. How many hours you get, what happens to unused hours, and how and when you can exit.
- Fees. Monthly management fees, occupied hourly rates, fuel charges and any peak-day rules.
- Availability. How much notice you must give, and what happens on peak days.
- Aircraft access. Whether you can fly other aircraft types in the fleet, and at what rate.
- Safety. Which certificated operator flies the aircraft, and which third-party safety audits it holds.
Industry Recognition and Awards
Award claims are best checked at the source. Ask the provider for the year and the awarding body of any rating or award it cites, then confirm it with that organization.
Flexjet's Commitment to Sustainability
Sustainability plans, fuel targets and new-technology partnerships change often. If this matters to your decision, ask for the company's current published commitments and how progress is reported.
How BLADE fits alongside a fractional program
BLADE is not a fractional provider. It is an air charter broker that arranges helicopter, seaplane, turboprop and jet flights, with every US flight operated by a DOT/FAA licensed direct air carrier. In New York, BLADE offers flights between Manhattan and JFK or Newark in about 5 minutes, from $195 per seat, which many travelers use to reach their departure airport.
Bottom Line: Flexjet Company Review
Flexjet is a long-established fractional, leasing and jet card provider, with roots at Bombardier, a broad Bombardier, Embraer and Gulfstream fleet, a premium Red Label tier and a helicopter division. Whether it is right for you depends on how many hours you fly and on the contract terms, so compare written proposals line by line before you commit.
FAQS about Flexjet Company
Who is Flexjet owned by?
Flexjet is owned by Directional Aviation, the private investment firm founded by Kenn Ricci, which bought it from Bombardier in 2013.
When was Flexjet founded?
In 1995, as a division of Bombardier Aerospace.
What types of aviation services does Flexjet offer?
Fractional ownership, leasing and jet card services for private jets, and fractional, lease and charter access through its helicopter division.
What makes Flexjet's Red Label service unique?
Each Red Label aircraft has a dedicated flight crew, customized interiors and customized seating configurations.
Is Flexjet a public company?
No. A planned merger with Horizon Acquisition Corporation II that would have taken it public was terminated in April 2023.