Flexjet has acquired The Jet Business, the viral TikTok aviation phenomenon with 2.5 million followers. The deal brings one of the industry’s most visible independent brokerages under the fractional ownership giant’s wing in a strategic consolidation move.
Announced today, the acquisition marks a major turning point in private aviation consolidation. Founder Steve Varsano—whose YouTube tutorials and aircraft showcase videos have racked up over 1 billion views on TikTok—will become president of Flexjet. The Jet Business stays separately branded within Flexjet’s portfolio and keeps its street-level showroom at Hyde Park Corner in London. That location is home to the world’s first aviation retail space, complete with an Airbus Corporate Jet cabin mock-up visible from Park Lane.
The timing is significant. Flexjet just finished construction of its first European private terminal at London Farnborough Airport, a 2,098-square-meter ramp-side facility set to open in summer 2026 ahead of the July Farnborough Airshow. The £15 million terminal will house Flexjet’s Tactical Control Centre, Red Label Training Academy, and dedicated passenger lounges. Interior design by Carver Hain Art & Design includes a light sculpture installation and a mock fuselage lounge with airfield views.
Strategic Consolidation in Motion
This acquisition consolidates Flexjet’s existing FXSolutions brokerage entity and The Jet Business into a single global platform. It underscores Kenn Ricci’s vertical integration strategy across his Directional Aviation holdings—which already include Sentient Jet, PrivateFly, Nextant Aerospace, and multiple maintenance and finance subsidiaries. The deal fills a critical gap in fleet transition management as Flexjet executes an aggressive expansion plan: the company has committed to doubling its fleet from approximately 320 aircraft to 600 by 2031 through a $7 billion aircraft order and an $800 million equity investment from LVMH valued at $4 billion.
Varsano founded The Jet Business in 2011 after a private equity career and built it into the world’s most recognizable aviation brand among consumer audiences. His highest-performing TikTok video—featuring a social media personality selecting a jet—has exceeded 35 million views. Beyond TikTok’s 2.5 million followers, The Jet Business commands 1.26 million YouTube subscribers and 392,000 on Instagram.
“This is the right time to take The Jet Business into a new era within the Flexjet ecosystem,” Varsano said. “I am excited to see what we can achieve inside what has become the definitive luxury brand in our sector today.”
Flexjet’s Chairman Ricci added: “By continuing to gain greater control of key aspects of our industry ecosystem, Flexjet is constantly elevating customer experience and innovating product offerings in a way that truly redefines private aviation today.”
Fleet and Service Expansion
The Jet Business will now offer clients access to Flexjet Solutions, a new service bundling aircraft operational support, pre-purchase inspections, maintenance infrastructure, and AOG response resources. This integration positions Varsano to manage fleet transitions for Flexjet’s expanding operations across North America and Europe, leveraging The Jet Business’s established reputation in aircraft remarketing.
Flexjet operates a fleet of more than 340 aircraft. The lineup includes Gulfstream G450, G650, and G700 models; Bombardier Challenger 300, 350, and 3500 variants; Embraer Phenom and Praetor platforms; and Global Express XRS. The Farnborough terminal, featuring 138 solar panels and four EV chargers, represents the company’s largest infrastructure investment outside North America.
The acquisition confirms an accelerating consolidation trend across private aviation brokerages. Independent operators are increasingly absorbed by vertically integrated platforms capable of offering sellers turnkey transaction management, aircraft management, and downstream charter and fractional access.
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