FlyUSA, a US-based private jet charter and aviation solutions provider, has opened a new 50,000 sq ft hangar and private owners-only lounge at Tampa International airport. Depending on aircraft mix, the hangar can accommodate approximately 20 light, midsize and heavy jets, and includes a specialised tail door designed for aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 737. It is one of the only corporate hangars in the region that can accommodate the newest jets from Gulfstream and Bombardier, including the G700 and the Global 7500.

The move addresses a capacity problem created by FlyUSA's growing regional fleet. Before the opening, there was no single hangar or facility that made operational sense for the fleet. Twenty of the company's 30 aircraft in the region are now based at the facility. The Tampa location now serves as FlyUSA's primary maintenance facility and will support approximately 30 employees.

“The sheer size of the hangar should help accelerate our move into managing larger aircraft, because we have space for them now,” says Barry Shevlin, CEO of FlyUSA.

The expansion comes as newer business jets place greater demands on airport infrastructure. Sky Harbour has reported that hangar construction has not kept pace with the growing footprint of the private aircraft fleet, leaving some markets with lengthy waits for suitable space.

The issue becomes more pronounced with a newer generation of jets. “The hangar shortage is still definitely an issue, and it's particularly bad for people buying the newest ultra-long-range aircraft like the Gulfstream G700,” Shevlin continues. “They don't fit in most hangars that were built more than five years ago.”

The private lounge is reserved exclusively for FlyUSA aircraft owners. Unlike a traditional FBO lounge serving passengers from multiple operators, the space includes individual owner lockers, a conference room and other amenities intended to function more like a private club and working base. Charter clients will continue to arrive and depart through traditional FBO facilities.

FlyUSA employees fuel and move aircraft based at the facility rather than relying on third-party line services, especially during high-volume periods such as holiday weekends, when multiple operators may be competing for the same ground service resources. “In our facility, it's just us,” explains Shevlin. “Our owners are the priority. It just runs smoother.”

The facility also gives FlyUSA a way to attract employees looking for a longer-term career in aviation. Many members of its line team are working toward becoming FlyUSA pilots or maintenance technicians. “That career path doesn't exist at an FBO. Which is why we'll win the talent war on those teams.”

The location also required a more self-sufficient model. The hangar sits on the north side of Tampa International, away from the airport's two existing FBOs, so FlyUSA needed to handle fuelling and aircraft ground movements directly. Shevlin believes the company's experience operating Clearwater Executive airport helped establish those capabilities more quickly, with the same facilities management team now supporting both locations.

The opening follows FlyUSA's third consecutive appearance on the Inc. 5000 and comes as the company works toward a long-term goal of managing 100 aircraft and reaching $500 million in annual revenue by 2032.

The company is also planning additional infrastructure beyond Tampa. FlyUSA holds a ground lease in Lakeland, Florida, where another 50,000 sq ft hangar could come online in late 2028 or early 2029. Shevlin states that the facility would likely be used for longer heavy-maintenance checks, while Tampa serves as the company's primary maintenance and owner base: “We expect the combination of hangar space and owners-only lounge to be the blueprint for locations in other important markets,” he concludes.

The two established FBOs at Tampa International are Signature Aviation and Sheltair Aviation.