What Surf Air does

Surf Air Mobility Inc. (NYSE: SRFM) is a publicly traded regional air mobility platform headquartered in Los Angeles that operates three integrated lines of business: scheduled commuter airline service through wholly owned subsidiaries Southern Airways Express (Essential Air Service routes across the U.S.) and Mokulele Airlines (Hawaii's largest inter-island commuter by airports served), an on-demand private charter brokerage branded Surf On Demand that acts as principal or ticket agent arranging flights on 100+ aircraft types across 800+ destinations, and an AI-enabled software platform called SurfOS that is powered by Palantir Technologies' Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform under a five-year exclusive partnership. SurfOS comprises three flagship products — BrokerOS (commercially live since December 2025 for Part 135 charter brokers), OperatorOS (planned external commercial launch H2 2026 for Part 135 operators with 17 Letters of Intent drawn from 440+ operator relationships), and OwnerOS (planned 2026 for private aircraft owners) — plus operational modules for fuel optimization and crew reserve optimization, all of which are validated inside the company's own airline operations before external deployment.

Name

Surf Air

Legal name

Surf Air Mobility Inc.

Website

https://surfair.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Surf Air Mobility operates a regional air mobility platform combining scheduled commuter airlines (Southern Airways Express, Mokulele Airlines), on-demand charter brokerage (Surf On Demand), and an AI-enabled software platform (SurfOS, powered by Palantir) serving charter brokers, Part 135 operators, and aircraft owners across the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Air Mobility

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Group & ACMI Charter Airlines (Ad-hoc/Wet Lease) (TLAFABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Brokerage & Charter Management (Passenger) (THABADAL), Business Jet Charter (On-Demand) (THABAFAA)

Keywords

• Regional air mobility
• Charter brokerage services
• AI aviation software
• Commuter airline services
• Electric aircraft operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Hawthorne

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Surf On Demand charter brokerage: On-demand private charter brokerage operated through Surf On Demand, which acts as principal or ticket agent arranging passenger and cargo charters on 100+ aircraft types from hundreds of air carriers; ARGUS-certified in March 2026 and recognized as expected largest contributor to 2026 revenue growth.
2. Scheduled regional airline service: Ticket revenue from scheduled commuter flights operated by Southern Airways Express (Essential Air Service contracts across the U.S.) and Mokulele Airlines (inter-island Hawaii), forming the company's largest U.S. commuter airline network by scheduled departures.
3. SurfOS software subscriptions: Multi-year enterprise software subscriptions for BrokerOS (and forthcoming OperatorOS and OwnerOS) sold to Part 135 charter brokers, operators, and aircraft owners; first flagship deal is the two-year Wheels Up BrokerOS agreement with a third-year option, expected to generate up to $12 million in subscription fees.
4. Maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services: Planned factory-authorized BETA Technologies MRO service centers in Hawaii with geographic exclusivity, creating a new maintenance revenue stream tied to the BETA partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion5 records

Distribution channels4 records

Core offering

Surf Air Mobility operates one of the largest commuter airline networks in the United States by scheduled departures (60,000+ flights annually across 800+ destinations) through its Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines subsidiaries, while also running a private charter brokerage (Surf On Demand) covering 100+ aircraft types. Layered on top is SurfOS, an AI-enabled aviation operating system built on Palantir Technologies' Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform, sold as enterprise software to Part 135 charter brokers, operators, and aircraft owners with the flagship BrokerOS, OperatorOS, and OwnerOS products.

Product overview

Surf Air Mobility operates as a regional air mobility platform offering both a software platform and physical air travel services in a tightly integrated architecture. The air travel business consists of three sub-brands — Surf On Demand (private charter brokerage), Southern Airways Express (commuter airline), and Mokulele Airlines (Hawaii inter-island airline) — which collectively operate 60,000+ scheduled flights annually and serve as the operational validation layer for the software. The software product, SurfOS, is an AI-enabled operating system powered by Palantir Technologies' Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform, organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture with three flagship products: BrokerOS (charter broker software, commercially live since December 2025; Enterprise BrokerOS launched with Wheels Up in June 2026), OperatorOS (airline operator software, scheduled H2 2026 commercial launch), and OwnerOS (private aircraft owner software, planned 2026). Supporting SurfOS modules include a Fuel Optimization Module and Crew Reserve Optimization Module launched in April 2026. Surf Air also markets a consumer iOS app for booking and managing charter flights.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Surf On Demand: On-demand private charter brokerage offering passenger and cargo charter flights on 100+ aircraft types; not an air carrier; operates as a principal or ticket agent.
• Southern Airways Express
• Mokulele Airlines
• SurfOS

Products and services

• Scheduled Regional Flights (Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines) Frequent scheduled commuter flights across the United States (including Essential Air Service contracts) and inter-island Hawaii, operated by wholly-owned subsidiaries Southern Airways Express and Mokulele Airlines. Combined network covers 800+ destinations with 60,000+ scheduled flights and approximately 300,000 passengers annually.
• Surf On Demand Private Charter On-demand private charter brokerage service operated by Surf On Demand Inc. as principal or ticket agent, arranging passenger and cargo charter flights across 100+ aircraft types from hundreds of air carriers. Achieved ARGUS Certified Charter Broker accreditation in March 2026 and powers a "Powered by Surf On Demand" broker enablement program.
• SurfOS (AI-enabled operating system for air mobility) SurfOS is Surf Air Mobility's AI-enabled operating system for the private aviation and air mobility industry, powered by Palantir Technologies' Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform. It develops schedules, improves dispatch reliability, reduces costs, and improves distribution and revenue in scheduled service and charter operations. The platform encompasses three flagship products (BrokerOS, OperatorOS, OwnerOS) plus operational modules.
• BrokerOS First commercially available SurfOS product, built for Part 135 aviation charter brokers. Consolidates aircraft sourcing, quote generation, booking, and customer relationship management into a unified system replacing multiple legacy software platforms. Delivered a 32% increase in bookings and 57% faster quote-to-close cycles comparing Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025.
• Enterprise BrokerOS Enterprise-tier SurfOS product for charter brokers, powered by Palantir Foundry and AIP. Consolidates aircraft sourcing, quote generation, booking, and CRM into a unified system replacing multiple legacy software platforms. Launch customer is Wheels Up under a two-year agreement with a third-year option.
• OperatorOS SurfOS product for Part 135 aircraft operators; scheduled for external commercial launch in the second half of 2026. Has 17 Letters of Intent and software agreements in the initial sales pipeline drawn from over 440 existing operator relationships. Targets first multi-year, multi-million-dollar enterprise contracts in 2026.
• OwnerOS SurfOS product targeted at private aircraft owners, positioned alongside BrokerOS and OperatorOS as one of three flagship SurfOS offerings slated for 2026 launch.
• SurfOS Fuel Optimization Module Operational module within SurfOS that reconciles fuel uplift records against vendor invoices, monitors fuel burn by route and aircraft, and identifies billing discrepancies to convert manual fuel processes into data-driven decisions.
• SurfOS Crew Reserve Optimization Module Operational module that automates reserve crew assignments for airline operations to replace manual processes that caused overstaffing and coverage inefficiencies.
• Surf Air iOS App iOS mobile application that gives users control over their travel, allowing discovery and booking of private charter flights on 100+ aircraft types, communication with the Surf On Demand team, and management of travel details.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6% reduction in airline costs driven by SurfOS
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Wheels UpflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2026Launch customer for Surf Air Mobility's Enterprise BrokerOS product, a charter broker software powered by Palantir Foundry and AIP. Under a two-year agreement with a third-year option, Wheels Up will replace multiple legacy software platforms with BrokerOS and is expected to deliver Surf Air Mobility up to $12 million in subscription fees.
• Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies (CAAT) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Surf Air Mobility joined the CAAT Consortium, a national initiative between Texas A&M University System and the FAA, becoming the first Part 135 passenger operator member; gains access to FAA-funded research programs, eligibility for task orders, and participation in working groups shaping future aviation technology priorities.
• BETA TechnologiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Strategic partnership and Aircraft Purchase Agreement under which Surf Air Mobility placed a firm order for 25 all-electric BETA ALIA CTOL aircraft plus options for up to 75 additional aircraft; Surf Air is the launch operator for BETA's passenger electric aircraft, initially under Mokulele Airlines in Hawaii, with demonstration flights planned for 2026. Surf Air Mobility also operates exclusive BETA factory-authorized MRO service centers in Hawaii.
• Hawaii Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Surf Air Mobility, BETA Technologies, and the Hawaii Department of Transportation jointly applied to the federal Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Integration Pilot Program (eIPP), a White House Advanced Air Mobility National Strategy initiative, to integrate electric aircraft into Hawaii's short-haul interisland network initially through Mokulele Airlines cargo missions.
• Electra.aerominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Surf Air Mobility partnered with Electra.aero and Virginia Tech for public demonstration flights of the EL9 Ultra Short hybrid-electric aircraft at Virginia Tech, showcasing sub-150-foot takeoff capability; Surf Air Mobility plans to integrate future EL9 aircraft into its scheduled flight platform through its SurfOS system.
• Palantir TechnologiesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Multi-year, exclusive strategic partnership under which Palantir's Foundry and Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) power Surf Air Mobility's SurfOS operating system. The relationship originated in 2021 and was expanded into a five-year exclusive software partnership with implementation services and go-to-market support; Palantir also holds a ~9.4% stake in Surf Air Mobility as a top shareholder.
• Textron AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft supplier for Surf Air Mobility's commuter fleet, including earlier deliveries for electric powertrain development and additional Cessna C208 Grand Caravan additions to the Mokulele Hawaii fleet in 2026; major shareholder partner.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Wheels Up Experience: Private aviation membership and charter company; directly comparable as both a charter brokerage competitor and Surf Air's launch enterprise BrokerOS customer. Comparable business model across on-demand charter, fleet management, and software-driven charter workflow.
• Blade Air Mobility: Urban air mobility platform offering scheduled and on-demand charter flights, including short-haul routes. Comparable as a tech-enabled, vertically integrated air mobility company pursuing software-driven operational scaling in regional and urban aviation.
• JSX: Semi-private/charter airline offering hop-on scheduled service using regional aircraft. Comparable regional scheduled-service model targeting time-sensitive travelers with a similar operational footprint to Surf Air's commuter network.
• Avinode Group: Provider of software platforms for the charter brokerage industry, including Avinode (charter sourcing/pricing) and Scheduler (operations). Direct competitor to SurfOS BrokerOS in the Part 135 charter broker software category.
• Linear Air: Private aviation operator offering on-demand charter and fractional-style services across the U.S. Comparable direct competitor in the regional on-demand charter market alongside Surf On Demand.

Broad incumbents

• Bristow Group: Global helicopter and vertical flight services operator with government, offshore, and commercial customers. Comparable as an established incumbent in regional air mobility and Part 135 operations, now pivoting toward electric vertical lift with BETA Technologies-adjacent strategy.
• Joby Aviation: Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer pursuing commercial passenger service with its own air carrier. Comparable as a publicly traded electric air mobility company targeting FAA-certified commercial operations.
• Archer Aviation: Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer pursuing urban air taxi and commercial operations. Comparable as a publicly traded electric air mobility competitor targeting the same FAA-certified commercial passenger opportunity as Surf Air's BETA partnership.

Emerging players

• Eve Air Mobility: eVTOL aircraft developer backed by Embraer pursuing urban air mobility. Comparable emerging electric air mobility player targeting similar FAA-certified passenger service and software-enabled operations.
• Vertical Aerospace: Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft developer pursuing commercial passenger service. Comparable emerging player in the broader electric air mobility category that Surf Air targets via its BETA partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SurfAir
• Facebookfacebook.com/surfair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surfair

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds24 records

Investors21 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surf Air