Solairus buying Clay Lacy’s aircraft management and charter, brings fleet to 500 jets

Clay Lacy will continue to run its FBOs, maintenance and real estate divisions.

Solairus has agreed to buy Clay Lacy’s aircraft management and charter divisions.  The two companies hope to close the sale by September.

Clay Lacy, owned by Brian Kirkdoffer, will continue to run its FBOs, maintenance and real estate divisions.

Solairus already has the world’s largest aircraft management fleet with about 360 aircraft. Clay Lacy manages around 160 aircraft. This means that the combined company will be the first aircraft manager with more than 500 aircraft. (NetJets has more than 650 fractional aircraft plus more than 200 aircraft managed by Executive Jet Management).

“This has little to do with size — Solairus already manages the largest fleet of managed aircraft in the United States,” said Dan Drohan, founder and CEO of Solairus, in an email. “What matters is that this brings together two like-minded companies built on a passion for personalized service and the most forward-thinking support systems in the industry. We will work hard every day to be the BEST, not just the biggest.”

“What matters is that this brings together two like-minded companies built on a passion for personalized service and the most forward-thinking support systems in the industry. We will work hard every day to be the BEST, not just the biggest.”

Ancient, a private equity firm founded by Alexander Klabin, bought Solairus in 2022. It also owns Burgess, the superyacht brokerage and management company, and Sotheby’s Financial.

“Neither company has been successful because of airplanes. We’ve been successful because of people, relationships, trust and personalized service,” said Drohan. “That common belief is what gives us confidence this combination makes us an even more valuable partner to your clients and the industry. We will continue to provide the high-touch, personalized management services that have been the hallmark of Solairus and Clay Lacy and we are very mindful of ensuring that continuity.”

Drohan founded Solairus in 2009. Clay Lacy was founded in 1968 by Hershel Clay Lacy. He was the first person to land a business jet in Los Angeles.