RAI Jets, a Part 135 operator headquartered at Kalamazoo Battle Creek International airport in Michigan that offers jet charter service and aircraft management, has announced an expansion in staff and is looking to add assets in 2021.

“Although the pandemic initially stalled our business and raised our operating costs, it has inadvertently opened new inroads for us also,” comments company president Becky Bakeman. “We have been able to service businesses, even those with in-house aviation departments, who expanded their use of jet charter for business to include not only the typical top tier employees but the next tier employees as well. Businesses came to us for the scheduling convenience of jet charter but found the safety of our limited capacity and upgraded COVID-19 safety protocols to be a bonus.”

Bakeman also says that travellers who had been curious about jet charter took the plunge and booked with RAI, spurred on by safety concerns from the pandemic. In response, the operator has added another pilot to its roster of nine, as well as another maintenance technician.

RAI Jets is also considering additional jet acquisitions to its fleet in 2021 and scouting locations for a potential third hangar. The company currently maintains its original 10,000 sq ft hangar at Kirsch Municipal airport in Sturgis, Michigan, and its current 24,000 sq ft of hangar space (with 6,000 sq ft of office space) at Kalamazoo Battle Creek.

“We are grateful that our service has been found important to our customers in these hard times,” Bakeman concludes. “Like most Americans, we are looking forward to a brighter 2021.”