Pittsburgh-based OneJet, which flies business travelers on
point-to-point routes in mid-sized markets, has agreed to acquire
Cincinnati-based Ultimate JetCharters.
The acquisition includes the Ultimate Air Shuttle brand,
which operates regularly scheduled charters between Cincinnati and five eastern
cities, utilizing private airports.
The move comes as OneJet is growing routes and increasing
the size of its aircraft, having launched its first 30-seat Embraer ERJ 135
this spring, with three more such launches scheduled for the summer. Prior to
that, all OneJet flights were on seven-seat business jets.
The acquisition means OneJet will take over JetCharters'
fleet of like-sized 30-seat aircraft, giving it a collective fleet of 25 planes
by the end of 2018.
The Ultimate Air Shuttle brand will remain independent and will
continue to operate out of private airports, where passengers don't have to go
through TSA security. However, beginning June 4 OneJet will also use aircraft
with the Ultimate Shuttle livery on some of its routes from commercial
airports.
Nevertheless, all flights booked through Ultimate Shuttle
will operate under the Ultimate Shuttle business model while all flights booked
through OneJet will operate on its business model.
Combined, the companies will serve 17 mostly midsized cities
in the eastern U.S. OneJet said it plans to announce several new routes this
month as the Ultimate operations are integrated into its network.
As of early April, OneJet marketed approximately 300 flights
per week.