AIRPORT-ST.MAARTEN--Atlantic Aviation has officially entered the St. Maarten market with the acquisition of the ExecuJet FBO at Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA), a move announced by CEO Jeff Foland during the opening of the airport’s new General Aviation Terminal on Friday evening.
Addressing Ministers, Members of Parliament, airport management and invited guests, Foland said, “It is an honor to be here with all of you to celebrate this beautiful new General Aviation Terminal. What a wonderful evening and what a remarkable new facility.”
Foland confirmed that Atlantic, which already has an extensive regional footprint, has now added St. Maarten to its network. “At Atlantic, we own and operate more than 100 FBO campuses across North America and the Caribbean. And as of this morning, I am very excited to share that we officially become the new owner of the ExecuJet FBO here,” he stated.
He praised the standard of service built by ExecuJet and pledged continuity and enhancement under the Atlantic brand. “ExecuJet brings a very high-quality service to important individuals who visit the island and beyond, and we are fully committed to continuing that great service. We intend to retain the established team familiar to you all to ensure that long-standing relationships are maintained, not just locally, but with our clients across the globe. I can assure you that we are fully committed to partnering closely with this wonderful community, with the airport, and with the customers who trust us for their needs,” Foland said.
The CEO highlighted the long effort by PJIA’s leadership to realize the new FBO facility. “I have been made well aware of the efforts of the airport team here at Princess Juliana International Airport, led by Mr. Cleaver and his predecessor, Brian Mingo, to bring this much-needed facility to life. I want to thank them and everyone involved. Your commitment to this development will not only protect the very important business it brings to the St. Maarten economy, but it positions it at the forefront of raising the customer experience, which we all want to do.”
Foland explained that Atlantic’s philosophy places strong emphasis on local partnerships. “At Atlantic, our mantra is ‘Local Everywhere,’ and that is certainly true here. The emphasis on local flavor is something we are very keen to carry forward, not only in the team but now fully reflected in this facility, especially in our custom-designed lounge of which we are very proud.”
Looking ahead, Foland said the company sees PJIAE as a long-term strategic partner. “We at Atlantic are very grateful to be starting this journey with PJIAE as a key stakeholder, and we look forward to being involved well into the future as we develop the business further, attracting clients from our other 107 locations across North America and the Caribbean.”
He added that Atlantic plans to build on ExecuJet’s track record with new standards and programs. “We are committed to building on the great success of ExecuJet and plan to introduce even higher standards for training, safety, and client loyalty programs, all of which will further enhance the reputation of this airport and the island of St. Maarten as a whole.”
With the island moving into its busy winter period, Foland underlined Atlantic’s experience with high-demand environments. “We know we are entering peak season here in St. Maarten, and we are very familiar with handling peak seasons and large-scale events, from major sporting events in Las Vegas, to Super Bowls in Florida, to ski season in Aspen, to the World Cup across 13 of our facilities, and the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. So the peak seasonality presents a challenge, but it is familiar territory for us.”
He noted that customers will soon see visible changes as the rebranding progresses. “In a matter of months, you will see the introduction of the Atlantic brand as we transition from ExecuJet to Atlantic. This will give our clients and this market the stability of the operation as the season kicks into high gear.”
Foland closed by expressing gratitude for the island’s welcome and confidence in the partnership ahead. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you once again for welcoming us so warmly. We are honored to be part of the future of aviation in St. Maarten, and we look forward to building something exceptional together."
Photo caption: CEO of Atlantic Aviation Jeff Foland (center).
https://tribune-site.webflow.io//articles/atlantic-aviation-ceo-announces-acquisition-of-execujet-fbo-during-opening-of-new-facility-at-pjia
