Wheels Up, a leading brand in private aviation, has acquired Gama Aviation, a leading private aviation services company that provides aircraft management, private jet charter, and ancillary support for its managed aircraft. The transaction closed on March 2, 2020.
Gama Aviation Signature has been the exclusive operator of the Wheels Up fleet of King Air 350i, Citation Excel/XLS and Citation X aircraft since the company launched in 2013.
Wheels Up now takes ownership of Gama Aviation Signature, whose aircraft management and charter businesses complement the recent deal with Delta Air Lines and the acquisitions of Delta Private Jets (DPJ), Travel Management Company (TMC), and Avianis Systems.
“This transaction supports our long-term vision for the future of Wheels Up, and as we continue to build the fleet and offer aircraft management services, we are uniquely positioned in the market with a full ecosystem for all private aviation needs,” said Kenny Dichter, founder and CEO of Wheels Up. “We welcome Gama and their pilots into our Wheels Up family as a natural step based on the successful history of our two companies.”
“We are thrilled to officially join Wheels Up and will continue to provide Wheels Up members with industry-leading safety and service,” said Tom Connelly, president and CEO of Gama Aviation. “Kenny and his team have created a powerful and trusted brand, which we are excited to be a part of.”
Gama Aviation Signature will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Wheels Up and continue to provide the same service to existing aircraft management and charter customers out of its current location in Shelton, Connecticut.
