BellAir buys Red Wing and rebrands as Jet Excellence
Part 135 charter operator BellAir has rebranded as Jet Excellence following its recent acquisition of Red Wing Aviation from Vista Global.
The deal brings an additional 19 Citation X aircraft into the Jet Excellence fleet with further fleet upgrades planned over the next 12 to 24 months.
“By acquiring Red Wing and expanding our Citation X fleet, we’re bringing speed, scale, and reliability together under one brand,” said McQueen Campbell, CEO, founder and chairman of Jet Excellence. “We are now positioned to deliver a best-in-class wholesale charter experience with a singular operational standard.”
The deal combines aircraft management, wholesale charter, and shared services under one operating standard. It also creates a stronger balance of owned, leased and managed aircraft. The result is a more agile and resilient platform to meet an increase in market demand, said the company.
An eye on super-midsize
In 2024, following two years of double-digit fleet growth, BellAir started streamlining the fleet to focus on Citation Xs. The company also invested in purpose-built facilities at Raleigh Executive Jetport and expanded maintenance capabilities.
“We could see the growing enthusiasm for Citation X, a versatile, super-mid-size jet that is ideal for both business and leisure travel,” said Campbell.
Michael Vargo appointed as COO
Also in 2024, Campbell recruited Michael Vargo to join him at BellAir. With the formation of Jet Excellence, Vargo has been promoted to chief operating officer of the larger entity where he will oversee both BellAir and Red Wing operations.
Before joining Jet Excellence, Vargo served in senior operating leadership at Wheels Up. Before that, he led Mountain Aviation through a period of expansion, building the world’s largest Citation X fleet. Vargo has also held leadership roles across a Part 135 operation and is an airline transport pilot with 8,500-plus flight hours and five type ratings.
Vargo said: “I’m excited to drive operational excellence across all teams. We are scaling for high-performance flight operations centred around safety, reliability and availability. The addition of Citation Xs to the Jet Excellence portfolio enables us to focus on a single-type, super-mid program and unlock multiple value streams.”
Zach Palmer joins from Wheels Up
Last month, Zach Palmer joined the Jet Excellence team as vice president of commercial strategy from a five-year stint at Wheels Up. With 10 years’ experience in private aviation, Palmer also served in a leadership capacity at Travel Management Company after beginning his aviation career at Jets.com.
Campbell said: “Zach has one of the best minds in the industry. He is building the pricing architecture, revenue plan, and cross-functional, go-to-market engine behind our fast-scaling, national fleet. Zach will put the right aircraft in the right place at the right time, driving high-yield flying and durable unit economics.”
Palmer added: “I’m thrilled to join the Jet Excellence team and be part of its vision for the future of private aviation. We are building a best-in-class commercial framework based on data-driven pricing and schedule efficiency.”
