Solairus Acquiring Clay Lacy Aircraft Management & Charter Divisions

Two of the largest aircraft management companies, Solairus Aviation and Clay Lacy Aviation, are combining to produce the world’s largest managed fleet of more than 500 aircraft.

Solairus Background

Solairus, founded in 2009, is a U.S.-based private aviation services company whose core business is assisting aircraft owners with the safe, reliable, and efficient management and operation of their aircraft. Solairus currently manages approximately 360 aircraft from more than 100 base locations across North America, and employs over 1,200 flight crew and support professionals.

“With this transaction, Solairus solidifies its position as the leading pure-play aircraft management company in the world,” said Dan Drohan, Founder and CEO of Solairus. “As key players in the aircraft management business, Solairus and Clay Lacy Aviation have both been successful because of our fundamental belief that the aviation business is not simply about airplanes,” he continued. “It is about people, relationships, trust and service. Together, we will be better equipped to enhance the client experience while maintaining the high-touch, personalized management services that have been the hallmark of Solairus and Clay Lacy. Ultimately, our goal is simple: to ensure the combined company is the clear provider of choice for private aircraft management and charter services.”

Clay Lacy Background

Founded in 1969, Clay Lacy provides aircraft management, charter, maintenance, avionics, interiors, and FBO services and manages approximately 140 aircraft. The company has aircraft operations and regional offices across the U.S., including full-service FBOs at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, and Waterbury-Oxford Airport, with a future location serving Sun Valley, Idaho.

Solairus is not acquiring the Clay Lacy Aviation Fixed-Base Operator (FBO), Maintenance and Real Estate businesses, which will remain stand-alone entities under the Clay Lacy name with their current ownership.

“The foundation of this transaction is our shared philosophies and our common emphasis on safety, customer experience and employee culture,” said Brian Kirkdoffer, Chairman of the Board of Clay Lacy Aviation. “We know that we’re putting our valued clients in good hands with Solairus. In addition, this transaction will enable us to implement a more focused strategy for our FBO, Maintenance and Real Estate businesses. Clay Lacy will continue forward as a focused aviation infrastructure platform built around FBOs, aviation real estate, and aircraft maintenance. These businesses remain strong, important, and full of opportunity. They are central to the next chapter of Clay Lacy, and we are excited about their potential.”

In addition to managing aircraft, Solairus will charter out the aircraft if owners want to earn revenue and offset ownership costs. It offers both on-demand charter and a fixed-hourly-rate jet card product called Altitude by Solairus.

The acquisition is expected to close at the end of September 2026. When the transacton is completed, Solairus will remain headquartered in Petaluma, California, with offices in Los Angeles and New York.