Bankrupt JetSuite's sister JSX nets $8.9 million in CARES Act funds

By Doug Gollan, May 17, 2020

After shutting down and filing for Chapter 11, JetSuite’s jet card customers may lose $50 million in unused flight credits. Sister JSX, which is still flying, just received $8.9 million in COVID-19 relief

OneSky Flight, parent of Flexjet, Sentient Jet, and PrivateFly; Airshare; FlyExclusive, and Tradewind all received CARES Act funding, according to the updated Treasury Department list

View the entire list, including all 202 aviation companies receiving COVID-19 payroll support

This may not sit well with JetSuite’s 1,000 or so SuiteKey customers who have around $50 million in unused flight credits. Delux Public Charter, LLC, a related company that flies under the JSX brand received $8.96 million in CARES Act COVID-19 relief funds.

Dallas-based private jet charter operator JetSuite suspended operations and then filed for bankruptcy protection last month in Delaware. It blamed the impact of COVID-19, although its chief restructuring officer said the company had struggled to turn profits during its more than 10 years of existence.

As part of its filings, Superior Air Charter, LLC, the official name of JetSuite, said it believed its impending insolvency would have prevented it from receiving Federal assistance.

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In court filings, JetSuite said it is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JSI, LLC. In turn, JSI is wholly owned by JetSuiteX, Inc. JetSuiteX, Inc. owns Delux Public Charter LLC, which operates as JSX.

JSX operates scheduled flights on reconfigured regional jets using private aviation terminals in the Western U.S. By avoiding main terminals and security lines, customers can cut total travel time in half on its short hops, mainly under 500 miles.

Between September 2019 and March 2020 parent JetSuiteX loaned JetSuite $16.2 million and has applied to the court to provide additional debtor-in-possession funding. Prior to suspending operations, JetSuite had about 100 employees.

JetSuite and JSX had touted major investments from both Qatar Airways and JetBlue, the latter which received $936 million in CARES Act help.

The updated COVID-19 funding appeared on the Treasury Department’s website sometime late Friday or on Saturday.

Who received CARES Act support?

The list added several additional prominent players in the private jet space. Most notable is OneSky Flight, parent of Flexjet, the second-largest fractional operator behind NetJets, Sentient Jet, a leader in jet cards with estimated annual revenues of $300 million, and PrivateFly, an on-demand charter brokerage. The group, which is part of the Directional Aviation family of companies, received $84 million, the most of any business aviation company so far.

Another high-profile player on the updated list is FlyExclusive, which received $7.1 million. It ranked as the nation’s eighth-largest Part 135 operator last year, according to Argus Traqpak.

https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2020/05/16/fractional-private-jet-flights-rebound-in-may/

Two regional sellers of jet cards and shares, Executive Flight Services, which trades as Airshare (5th largest fractional operator), and Northern Jet Management (8th on the fractional list), received $6.9 million and $2.9 million, respectively.

Other Top 20 charter operators, according to Argus Traqpak data, that received funding includes Mountain Aviation (Received $7.2 million; Ranked 10th), Corporate Flight Management ($6.9 million; 13th), Wing Aviation Charter Services ($4.7 million; 25th), Worldwide jet Charter ($4.2 million; 17th), Pegasus Elite Aviation ($3.6 million; 24th), LJ Associates ($3.1 million; 18th), Ultimate Jet Charters ($2.8 million; 23rd), Ring Wing Aeroplane ($2.7 million; 19th), Jet Access Aviation ($2.4 million; 21st), and Aero Aviation ($1.7 million; 14th).

Tradewind Aviation, which offers a regional jet card program in the Northeast U.S. on its fleet of Pilatus PC-12s, received $4 million.

Hopscotch Air, a New York-based Cirrus SR22 operator that offers a membership program under the ClubScotch banner, received $112,896.

Its CEO Andrew Schmertz has a mixed view of the future. He tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, “We are less optimistic on the regional on-demand travel market  We’ve seen a small uptick in bookings for May and hope that accelerates in June. But with travel restrictions in place at many of our popular destinations, we foresee a challenging summer. For example, Provincetown and Block Island are encouraging visitors to wait until later in the summer to come and restaurants and many hotels are not open. This is the story throughout the northeast.”

https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2020/03/16/covid-19-coronavirus-your-private-jet-travel-questions-answered/

At the same time, he sees a potential upside. “My outlook is brighter longer term. As the regional airlines all but collapse their services, air taxis can serve an important function in connecting small towns and cities to airline hubs,” Schmertz says. He adds,  “Will there still be airline service from Elmira, Ithaca, or Lancaster?  And what do we have to do to adjust our business model to make serving those cities viable?”

In the first release, Clay Lacy Aviation (11th) was granted $26.9 million, followed by fifth-ranked Jet Linx Aviation with $20 million.

Priester Aviation, which offers a jet card program in a number of key markets, received $4.5 million. Los Angeles-based Dreamline Aviation, which has a membership program targeting Southern California and Bay Area fliers, received $1.8 million. Advanced Air LLC, which operates Surf Air’s scheduled Pilatus PC-12 flights, received $2.7 million.

24 companies from California

In terms of where the companies were located, 24 were in California, 21 in Alaska, followed by Florida with 18, Texas with 17, and New York with 10.

So far, only two companies among the industry’s biggest players have said they didn’t apply for the money.

NetJets, the largest fractional operator and its Executive Jet Management arm, the second-largest charter operator, as well as Solairus Aviation, each said they did not seek any government relief.

https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2019/04/22/how-not-to-get-burned-when-you-buy-a-private-jet-membership/

None of the three Part 135 operators that belong to number one Wheels Up, including Gama Aviation Signature, Delta Private Jets, and TMC Jets, appear to have received funding. The same goes for XOJET Aviation, third-ranked on the Traqpak Part 135 list. It’s part of Vista Global Holdings.

Among other ranked fractional and charter operators, PlaneSense, Jet Edge, Jet Aviation, a unit of General Dynamics, Talon Air, Nicholas Air, SC Aviation, and Dumont Aviation have yet to show up on the Treasury Department’s list.

The Payroll Support Program provides payroll funding to passenger air carriers, cargo air carriers, and certain contractors for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries, and benefits.

A total of up to $25 billion is available for passenger air carriers; $4 billion for cargo air carriers; and $3 billion for contractors.

The amount to be received is based on its payroll expenses from April 2019 through September 2019, subject to proration.

Funds must exclusively be used for the continuation of payment of employee wages, salaries, and benefits, according to the Treasury’s website. More updates are promised as it approves additional applications and makes incremental payments. 

CARES Act Aviation Payroll Support (updated as of May 17, 2020)

ParticipantCityStateTotal Anticipated Payroll Support
AMERICAN AIRLINES INC.FORT WORTHTX$5,814,516,440
DELTA AIR LINES INC.ATLANTAGA$5,436,331,186
UNITED AIRLINES INC.CHICAGOIL$4,958,498,096
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.DALLASTX$3,259,181,720
ALASKA AIRLINES INC.SEATTLEWA$992,189,880
JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATIONLONG ISLAND CITYNY$935,754,826
SKYWEST AIRLINES INC.ST. GEORGEUT$438,021,524
SPIRIT AIRLINES INC.MIRAMARFL$334,736,832
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES INC.HONOLULUHI$292,459,908
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS INC. (F/K/A REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC.)INDIANAPOLISIN$205,986,653
FRONTIER AIRLINES INC.DENVERCO$204,877,426
ALLEGIANT AIR LLCLAS VEGASNV$171,912,904
EXPRESSJET AIRLINES LLCCOLLEGE PARKGA$109,883,984
MESA AIRLINES INC.PHOENIXAZ$92,467,745
ONE SKY FLIGHT LLCCLEVELANDOH$84,362,984
SUN COUNTRY INC.MINNEAPOLISMN$60,558,866
AIR WISCONSIN AIRLINES LLCAPPLETONWI$40,998,013
GOJET AIRLINES LLCBRIDGETONMO$35,456,672
CLAY LACY AVIATION INC.VAN NUYSCA$26,937,934
CHAMPLAIN ENTERPRISES LLCNORTH OLMSTEDOH$25,695,574
JET LINX AVIATION LLCOMAHANE$20,033,063
HYANNIS AIR SERVICE INC.HYANNISMA$14,719,957
SILVER AIRWAYS LLCFORT LAUDERDALEFL$13,616,171
WESTERN AIR CHARTER INC.VAN NUYSCA$11,485,372
ELITE AIRWAYS LLCPORTLANDME$11,276,814
EASTERN AIRLINES LLCWAYNEPA$9,259,648
DELUX PUBLIC CHARTER LLCDALLASTX$8,958,475
MOUNTAIN AVIATION INCBROOMFIELDCO$7,173,077
EXCLUSIVE JETS LLCKINSTONNC$7,098,628
CORPORATE FLIGHT MANAGEMENT INC.SMYRNATN$6,993,262
EXECUTIVE FLIGHT SERVICES LLCLENEXAKS$6,928,679
ROTORCRAFT LEASING COMPANY LLCBROUSSARDLA$6,291,119
CARIBBEAN SUN AIRLINES INC.VIRGINIA GARDENFL$6,127,638
REVA INC.FORT LAUDERDALEFL$5,477,452
BERING AIR INC.NOMEAK$5,367,784
GRANT AVIATION INC.ANCHORAGEAK$5,041,910
WING AVIATION CHARTER SERVICES LLCHOUSTONTX$4,740,313
TEMSCO HELICOPTERS INC.KETCHIKANAK$4,685,365
KEY LIME AIR CORPORATIONENGLEWOODCO$4,584,679
PRIESTER AVIATIONWHEELINGIL$4,482,420
WORLDWIDE JET CHARTER INC.PHOENIXAZ$4,179,700
TRADEWIND AVIATION LLCOXFORDCT$4,039,007
SEABORNE VIRGIN ISLANDS INC.FORT LAUDERDALEFL$3,934,446
SUN AIR JETS LLCCAMARILLOCA$3,773,256
PEGASUS ELITE AVIATION INC.VAN NUYSCA$3,647,106
SCOTT AVIATION LLCFRESNOCA$3,537,798
L.J. ASSOCIATES INC.LATROBEPA$3,100,359
AIR MED SERVICES L.L.C.LAFAYETTELA$3,041,463
MAYO AVIATION INC.ENGLEWOODCO$3,004,182
PRESIDENTIAL AVIATION INC.FORT LAUDERDALEFL$2,919,322
KENMORE AIR HARBOR LLCKENMOREWA$2,908,316
NORTHERN JET MANAGEMENT INC.GRAND RAPIDSMI$2,861,349
HILLSBORO AVIATION INC.HILLSBOROOR$2,850,605
ULTIMATE JETCHARTERS LLCNORTH CANTONOH$2,828,548
ADVANCED AIR LLCHAWTHORNECA$2,765,649
RED WING AEROPLANE COMPANYBAY CITYWI$2,698,908
DAVINCI JETS LLCCHARLOTTENC$2,666,486
KALININ AVIATION LLCJUNEAUAK$2,610,482
CCM COMPANY HOLDINGS INC.LAWRENCEVILLEGA$2,402,746
MEDWAY AIR AMBULANCE LLCLAWRENCEVILLEGA$2,394,350
JET ACCESS AVIATION LLCWEST PALM BEACHFL$2,371,863
PATHFINDER AVIATION LLCANCHORAGEAK$2,282,881
PRIME JET US LLCENGLEWOODCO$2,154,355
TROPIC OCEAN AIRWAYS LLCFORT LAUDERDALEFL$2,038,790
SCHUMAN AVIATION COMPANY LTD MKHA-108KHONOLULUHI$2,036,555
PACIFIC COAST JET LLCOAKLANDCA$2,012,940
TRANS-EXEC AIR SERVICE INCVAN NUYSCA$1,967,261
GREAT WESTERN AIR LLCLAS VEGASNV$1,869,608
NORTHEASTERN AVIATION CORPFARMINGDALENY$1,867,715
PINNACLE AIR CHARTER LLCSCOTTSDALEAZ$1,801,857
DREAMLINE AVIATION LLCVAN NUYSCA$1,795,135
MERCY FLIGHT CENTRAL INC.CANANDAIGUANY$1,749,912
AERO CHARTER INC.CHESTERFIELDMO$1,720,786
PAKLOOK AIR INC.BETHELAK$1,563,222
VENTURE TRAVEL LLCKETCHIKANAK$1,555,160
COASTAL HELICOPTERS INC.JUNEAUAK$1,544,173
DOMINION AVIATION SERVICES INC.RICHMONDVA$1,509,541
CTP AVIATION LLCHAYWARDCA$1,482,597
AMERICAN JET INTERNATIONAL CORPHOUSTONTX$1,438,637
PRECISION LLCMCMINNVILLEOR$1,432,940
CHANTILLY AIR INC.MANASSASVA$1,421,833
AIR 7 LLCCAMARILLOCA$1,339,827
MARTINAIR INC.RICHMONDVA$1,330,013
NORTHSTAR TREKKING LLCKETCHIKANAK$1,319,157
AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT GROUPMOON TOWNSHIPPA$1,177,280
TANGO AIR INC.CARLSBADCA$1,160,129
RUST’S FLYING SERVICE INCANCHORAGEAK$1,158,660
SUMMIT AVIATION INC.BELGRADEMT$1,138,718
EAST COAST JETS INCALLENTOWNPA$1,117,028
CHANNEL ISLANDS AVIATION INC.CAMARILLOCA$1,071,365
CAUSEY AVIATION SERVICE INC.LIBERTYNC$1,043,568
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FLIGHT CENTERWHEELINGIL$1,012,006
SIERRA PACIFIC AIRLINESTUCSONAZ$931,741
PARADIGM JET MANAGEMENT INC.MUSKEGONMI$921,017
MACH ONE AIR CHARTERS INCCHINOCA$910,944
TRIDENT AIRCRAFT INC.EASTONMD$876,718
DUPAGE AEROSPACE CORPWEST CHICAGOIL$850,786
STARFLITE MANAGEMENT GROUP INCHOUSTONTX$832,744
ALPINE AIR ALASKA LLCGIRDWOODAK$829,056
WORLD CLASS JETDALLASTX$803,735
GRANDE AVIATION LLCKNOXVILLETN$782,567
LOYD’S AVIATIONBAKERSFIELDCA$778,595
HOLMAN LEASING SYSTEMS INC.ZELIENOPLEPA$775,377
JET LOGISTICS INC.JOHNS ISLANDSC$774,107
ALANTE AIR CHARTER LLCSCOTTSDALEAZ$726,689
TAILWIND AIR LLCRYE BROOKNY$718,359
UNDERHILL HOLDINGS LLCSCARSDALENY$699,235
TREGO DUGAN AVIATION INC.NORTH PLATTENE$699,199
C.C. CALZONE LLCSANTA ANACA$693,536
IMAGE AIR CHARTER LLCWARSAWIN$687,387
PENTASTAR AVIATION CHARTER INC.WATERFORDMI$678,814
WARD AIR INC.JUNEAUAK$675,964
AIR TREK INC.PUNTA GORDAFL$672,600
GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INC.FILLMORECA$669,951
AIRCRAFT CHARTER MANAGEMENT EXPERTSNASHVILLETN$659,209
REDEMPTION INC.KODIAKAK$627,885
WINGS AIRWAYS LLCJUNEAUAK$621,346
EXECUTIVE AVIATION CORPORATIONMIAMIFL$612,134
ISLAND EXPRESS HELICOPTERS INC.LONG BEACHCA$603,838
TEM ENTERPRISESHOUSTONTX$583,561
SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE HELICOPTERS INC.ELK GROVECA$574,728
PLANESMART! AVIATION LLCADDISONTX$573,646
JPS AVIATION LLCMONROELA$564,998
PRO AIRWAYS LLC.PLYMOUTHMA$563,716
HELICOPTER SOLUTIONS INC.MYRTLE BEACHSC$543,310
MIRA VISTA AVIATION INC.SANTA ANACA$537,425
VENTURA AIR SERVICES INC.FARMINGDALENY$530,489
PREMIER JETS INC.HILLSBOROOR$518,890
ISLAND AIR INCFRIDAY HARBORWA$495,565
NORTH DALLAS AVIATION INC.ADDISONTX$478,451
EXEC AIR MONTANA INC.HELENAMT$469,005
MOSER AVIATION LLCENGLEWOODCO$457,305
CORPORATE FLIGHT INC.WATERFORDMI$450,237
NOVICTOR AVIATION LLCHONOLULUHI$439,385
STERLING AIR SERVICE LLCCORPUS CHRISTITX$430,523
EL AERO SERVICESELKONV$408,993
SAN JUAN AIRLINES (RUGBY AVIATION LLC)BELLINGHAMWA$390,488
LYDDON AERO CENTER INC.LIBERALKS$387,562
NEXGEN AVIATION LLCLEXINGTONKY$367,861
SP AVIATION INCOAKLANDCA$366,900
SMOKEY BAY AIR INC.HOMERAK$353,151
AIRCRAFT CHARTER SERVICES INC.GOSHENIN$351,418
CAPITAL CITY JET CENTER INCCOLUMBUSOH$342,402
AVALAIR AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT LLCHOUSTONTX$339,222
SKY NIGHT LLCKINSTONNC$333,091
AIRGATE AVIATION INC.NEW SMYRNA BEACHFL$333,023
LAKE AND PENINSULA AIRLINES INC.PORT ALSWORTHAK$332,063
FLYCAROLINA LLCCHARLOTTENC$331,461
ALTIUS AVIATION LLCSYRACUSENY$322,931
RAI JETS LLCSTURGISMI$322,423
BANKAIR INCWEST COLUMBIASC$315,016
MCPHILLIPS FLYING SERVICE INC.CHARLEVOIXMI$311,144
PM AIR LLCKETCHIKANAK$308,465
JETEX LLCSTUARTFL$308,222
CAPITAL CITY AIR CARRIER INC.PIERRESD$307,848
AIRSTAR INC.BISHOPGA$305,860
JET SERVICES INCMOBILEAL$297,558
COLEMAN JET LLCGARYIN$279,552
NORTH COUNTRY AVIATION INC.GAYLORDMI$275,514
JET METHODS INCCARLSBADCA$270,802
MERIDIAN AIR GROUP INCCHARLOTTESVILLEVA$266,777
EAST COAST FLIGHT SERVICES INC.EASTONMD$260,109
TOWER AVIATION MANAGEMENT LLCPFLUGERVILLETX$259,915
ABERDEEN FLYING SERVICEABERDEENSD$234,772
MCCALL AVIATION INC.MCCALLID$224,167
BUSINESS JET MANAGERS INC.CANTONMI$223,788
CATALINA AEROSPACE CORPORATIONN MIAMIFL$213,590
WINGS AIR HELICOPTERS LLCHARRISONNY$199,886
SPECIALIZED HELICOPTERS INCWATSONVILLECA$197,176
RITE BROS. AVIATION INC.PORT ANGELESWA$183,054
MID-PACIFIC AIR SERVICE LLCHONOLULUHI$175,521
FRESH AIR AVIATIONCHARLEVOIXMI$172,408
MAXAIR INCORPORATEDOSHKOSHWI$172,007
EGLI AIR HAUL INC.KING SALMONAK$171,862
HASKIN AVIATION LLCMIDLANDTX$165,283
GO AVIATION INC.SARANAC LAKENY$163,772
ISLAND WINGS AIR SERVICE LLCKETCHIKANAK$159,643
JEM AIR HOLDINGS LLCRALEIGHNC$158,775
AMERICAN JET CHARTER INC.BETHANYOK$152,466
WALKABOUT AIR INCTAMPAFL$140,819
DENALI AIR INC.DENALI NATIONAL PARKAK$140,790
JET OUT LLCMILWAUKEEWI$129,089
TURNKEY JET INC.WEST PALM BEACHFL$120,325
STOUT FLYING SERVICE INCLEWISTONID$114,403
HOPSCOTCH AIR INCWHITE PLAINSNY$112,896
WINDSTAR AVIAITIONADDISONTX$106,557
EXECUTIVE AIRLINK INC.WEST PALM BEACHFL$105,733
PUBLIC CHARTERS INCAVOCAPA$104,712
FLIGHT LEVEL AVIATION LLC.FRESNOCA$103,243
SUNNYFIELD AVIATION ASSOCIATES LLCMORRISTOWNNJ$101,454
MISTY FJORDS AIR & OUTFITTING INC.KETCHIKANAK$98,322
PRECISION AVIATION INC.KIMBERLYID$92,266
CAPITAL JET INC.HOUSTONTX$90,521
FLORIDA AEROCHARTER INC.KEY WESTFL$82,080
MIDWEST FLYING SERVICESHELDONIA$74,150
BLATTI AVIATION INC.ELWOODIL$74,096
BLACK HILLS HELICOPTERS INCRAPID CITYSD$73,465
PACJET INCGRANTS PASSOR$55,067
VALLEY AIR SERVICE INC.GENEVAIL$51,384
JANNUS AIR INC.TAMPAFL$49,780
ALAMO HELICOPTER TOURS SAN ANTONIO LLCSAN ANTONIOTX$23,411
AIR CHARTER EXPRESS INCGREENVILLESC$5,981
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