Richmond Executive Aviation (REA) is the latest FBO to join the growing Fly Louie Alliance Preferred FBO network. As an Alliance Preferred FBO, REA becomes the only FBO to offer discounted Fly Louie fuel rates to independent charter operators at Richmond Executive airport, a reliever airport for Richmond International in Virginia.

The Fly Louie Alliance offers competitive fuel pricing and its WholesaleFlex product matches buyers with a diverse range of aircraft to meet the current surge in charter demand. Getting a foothold in the Richmond market will help to accelerate the expansion of that programme.

“This partnership enables us to offer new levels of service and savings to our customers and Alliance members. We’re ready to support the continued growth of Part 135 certificate charter operators in central Virginia,” says REA CEO Mark Hackett.

Meanwhile, both companies express interest in seeing what other synergies might exist between them. Fly Louie CEO Julia Takeda adds: “REA is an important addition to our network, and with its ambitious growth plans, fuel savings may just be the start of a very fruitful partnership. We hope to expand our work together in the coming months.”

REA is lead by 25 year airline captain Hackett and regional class A building contractor Ray Gibson, both pilots with years of experience and tens of thousands of flight hours between them. Together, they have secured a number of contracts such as those with the State Police and Med Trans, and have also started a flight school centred around airline quality training and fundamentals. REA currently operates two 10,000 sq ft hangars, and it has secured a third pad site for the construction of an additional hangar of the same size.