US FBO network Sheltair Aviation has sold its Long Island MacArthur airport operation to fellow FBO chain Modern Aviation.

Modern Aviation currently operates FBOs at Wilmington, North Carolina; Seattle, Washington; and Denver, Colorado. It agreed to acquire Sheltair's five New York locations back in October 2021. The properties under contract include those at LaGuardia, JFK, Westhampton, Republic/Farmingdale and Long Island MacArthur airports. The sale of the JFK and LaGuardia FBO operations was completed in February this year. The sale of the Westhampton and Farmingdale facilities is still to be completed.

Sheltair president Lisa Holland says: “Long Island MacArthur remains one of the most important community aviation assets on Long Island thanks to the leadership of the Town of Islip, supervisor Angie Carpenter and airport commissioner Shelly LaRose-Arken. We have been enormously proud of our tenure there, made possible by the incredible work of our dedicated team of professionals.

“The ISP aviation community should have every confidence in Modern Aviation and its ability to meet the needs of this dynamic and vital airport as it will be hiring our Sheltair employees. Accordingly, we anticipate a smooth and coordinated transition in the days ahead. In addition, we wish to publicly thank the Town of Islip, which has worked closely with us to ensure a seamless transfer of our operations.

“As a family business Sheltair has long recognised that it is our employees who define a company's reputation for service. I cannot adequately express my genuine appreciation for the work of our entire New York team for they have played an integral role in helping Sheltair become a nationally respected FBO throughout the general aviation community.”

Modern Aviation CEO Mark Carmen adds: “Our Long Island customers will find familiar faces when they taxi up to our FBOs. In keeping with our agreement with Sheltair, we will be hiring Sheltair's New York employees as they have demonstrated professional excellence with every arrival and departure.”

The decision to transition out of the New York market allows Sheltair greater flexibility in pursuing its ongoing national strategy for growth in other parts of the country such as Florida, Georgia and Colorado.