Surf Air raises $200 million; hires former Virgin America CEO

Surf Air

Surf Air Mobility says it has received a commitment for $200 million in advance of plans to go public

Surf Air Mobility, the product of a recent merger between Surf Air and Blackbird, will announce next week it has secured a $200 million investment commitment from Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM). The company bills itself as “a $3.4 billion alternative investment group that manages a diverse set of investment vehicles focused on emerging markets across the world.”

Surf Air buys online private aviation marketplace BlackBird Air; Creates Surf Air Mobility Corporation

Surf Air

The new entity wants to ‘transform’ the 50-to-400-mile mobility market

50% of all flights are under 500 miles, it says

BlackBird was recently under FAA scrutiny

Surf Air has been trying to fly past liquidation of its European arm, a lawsuit with a former operator and IRS tax lien

Plans call for phasing out the BlackBird Air name

Los Angeles-based Surf Air said it has acquired BlackBird Air, an online aviation marketplace that has been under scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Authority.

Should you charter a private jet online?

private jet

After years of claims about Uber for private jets instant booking technology, it’s finally arriving. Should you book a private jet online?

After years of claims about Uber for private jets instant booking technology, it’s finally arriving. But should you use it?

Many of the broker websites and apps promising online bookings were nothing more than electronic request forms.

But that’s changing, and increasingly, you may find yourself able to rent a private jet or turboprop digitally from a broker or platform, and without much human oversight, or at least human oversight looking after your interests.

FAA warns pilots, consumers about illegal charters; lists red flags

Illegal private jet charter

“Illegal air charter operations pose a serious safety hazard,” says the Federal Aviation Administration

The Federal Aviation Administration yesterday issued what it called important information for pilots and passengers covering safe air charter operations.

It comes two days after sending the jet-sharing platform BlackBird a letter it has found serious issues.

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