Surf Air, which operates an “all you can fly” membership service with its fleet of Pilatus PC-12 turboprops based in northern California, has acquired Rise, a similar operation based in Texas, and its closest competitor. The consolidation brings the total number of weekly flights for Surf Air up to 445, serving 17 destinations. “Today, the all-you-can-fly membership model is here to stay,” said Sudhin Shahani, CEO of Surf Air. “Our current routes from the Los Angeles to San Francisco areas already corner one of the largest short-haul markets in the country; now, with our acquisition of Rise, we’re taking a significant step into expanding this footprint across the southeastern U.S.” The expanded company also announced it will add service to more markets in the next 18 months, including Las Vegas, New Orleans, Scottsdale and Tucson, plus weekend flights to Mexico, Aspen and Sun Valley, Idaho.
The monthly subscription flight-sharing model, introduced by Surf Air in 2013, provides its members access to scheduled daily flights that launch from easy-to-access general aviation FBOs instead of crowded commercial terminals. The service is affordable compared to regional, commercial airlines, and offers the comfort, time savings and premium experience of flying privately, according to Surf Air. Since inception, both Surf Air and Rise report they have experienced escalating demand for more service, flights and destinations. Surf Air membership fees start at $1,950 per month. A new fleet of Surf Air aircraft will be brought to Texas to fly the scheduled Rise routes between Dallas, Austin, Houston and San Antonio, the company said.
