What OGARAJETS does

OGARAJETS is a privately held, Atlanta-based aircraft brokerage and acquisition firm founded in 1980 by John Foster III and Ed O'Gara. The company operates across three integrated service lines: full-service Brokerage for sellers, end-to-end Acquisition Services for buyers, and OGARA Direct, a proprietary principal-buying program that deploys the firm's own capital to purchase aircraft outright for cash in 7-14 days. Across 45+ years, OGARAJETS has overseen $8B+ in cumulative aircraft transaction value across 1,600+ deals in 50+ countries, and holds IADA Accredited Dealer status alongside founding membership in NARA.

The company's revenue model is transaction-based, with fee-based brokerage commissions on traditional buyer/seller representations and principal transaction economics on OGARA Direct inventory purchases. OGARAJETS serves ultra-high-net-worth individuals, corporate flight departments, and ultra-luxury consumers, with a go-to-market built around Sales Executives cultivating direct relationships, supported by Technical Services (A&P/AME-certified), Closing & Project Management, and Marketing/BI functions. The firm emphasizes proprietary market intelligence and predictive modeling for real-time private jet pricing, publishes quarterly market intelligence via The OGARA Report and content via The Jet Whisperer, and partners with all major aircraft manufacturers and aviation associations.

OGARAJETS is currently transitioning to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) as of May 2026, formalizing employee ownership while retaining Johnny Foster as President & CEO and adding Ashley Charnley as COO. The firm is independently operated with no disclosed private equity or strategic investor involvement, and uses its own balance sheet liquidity through OGARA Direct as a competitive differentiator against pure intermediary brokerages.

Name

OGARAJETS

Legal name

OGARAJETS

Website

https://ogarajets.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OGARAJETS is an Atlanta-based private aviation brokerage founded in 1980 that provides full-service aircraft buying, selling, and acquisition services to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and corporate flight departments, having overseen $8B+ in transactions across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Aircraft Brokerage

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (53121), Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers (425120)

SIC

Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate Dealers (For Their Own Account) (6532)

akta.pro primary industry

Equipment & Asset Finance Brokerage (FSAEAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD)

Keywords

• Private aircraft brokerage
• Business jet acquisitions
• Pre-owned jet sales
• Aircraft transaction advisory
• Aviation market intelligence

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Aircraft Brokerage Services: Full-service aircraft brokerage facilitating buying and selling transactions. Services include aircraft audit, data analytics, tailored marketing, pre-sale due diligence, and closing coordination. The company manages transactions from initial valuation through closing.
2. OGARA Direct (Inventory Purchase): The company uses its own liquidity and substantial financial backing to act as principal buyer, purchasing aircraft outright for cash in 7-14 days. This provides inventory for resale or trade-in opportunities.
3. Trade-In Services: Facilitates aircraft trade-ins where clients can trade their current aircraft toward a different acquisition. The company coordinates simultaneous transactions for seamless transitions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

OGARAJETS is a private aviation brokerage and acquisition firm that represents buyers and sellers of pre-owned business jets, managing the entire transaction from valuation, mission analysis, marketing, and negotiation through pre-purchase inspection, closing, and post-closing services. Its flagship OGARA Direct program allows the firm to act as principal buyer and pay cash for aircraft within 7-14 days, giving sellers a fast-liquidity alternative to traditional brokerage.

Product overview

OGARAJETS is a private aviation brokerage firm offering an integrated suite of aircraft transaction services built around three core offerings: Brokerage Services for sellers seeking to market and sell aircraft through a traditional retail process; Acquisition Services for buyers needing end-to-end support from mission analysis through closing; and OGARA Direct, a proprietary direct-purchase program enabling sellers to receive cash offers within 7-14 days by selling directly to OGARA as principal buyer. The company also maintains a curated inventory of pre-owned aircraft listings showcasing available jets across various manufacturers including Bombardier, Gulfstream, Dassault Falcon, Cessna, and Embraer. These services are designed to work both independently and in combination, such as coordinating a trade-in where OGARA Direct purchases the seller's existing aircraft while facilitating acquisition of a replacement from the inventory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brokerage Services Full-service aircraft brokerage facilitating the sale of private jets from initial valuation through marketing, negotiations, and closing, managing the entire transaction process on behalf of sellers. For aircraft owners and sellers seeking a managed sales process with expert valuation and negotiation.
• Acquisition Services Comprehensive aircraft acquisition support including mission analysis, due diligence, pre-purchase inspection oversight, closing coordination, and post-closing services such as refurbishments and registrations. For buyers of pre-owned business jets seeking end-to-end representation.
• OGARA Direct Direct aircraft purchase program where OGARA acts as principal buyer, offering cash for aircraft in 7-14 days, enabling fast liquidity and streamlined transactions without traditional broker fees or pre-purchase negotiations. For sellers seeking fast, certain closings or trade-in upgrades.
• Aircraft Listings Curated inventory of pre-owned business jets and private aircraft available for sale, featuring detailed specifications, maintenance records, and virtual tours for prospective buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• $8 billion in transactions completed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980OGARAJETS is a founding member of NARA (since 1990). NARA is a leading trade association for the aircraft resale industry.
• International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOGARAJETS is an IADA Accredited Dealer, holding key positions on aviation boards. The company has worked with IADA to grow the organization to represent top aircraft dealers handling significant portion of global used business aircraft sales.
• Georgia Business Aviation Association (GBAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOGARAJETS joined the board of the newly formed GBAA in 1996 and maintains ongoing partnership with the regional aviation association.
• IADA FoundationminorOthersCharitable arm of IADA supported by OGARAJETS through the company's commitment to donate first 1% of all revenue to charitable organizations.
• Aviation Women International (AWI)minorOthersOrganization supporting women in aviation supported through OGARAJETS charitable giving program.
• Women in Aviation International (WAI)minorOthersOrganization dedicated to providing networking, education, mentorship, and scholarship opportunities for women in aviation supported through OGARAJETS charitable giving.
• Alabama Business Aviation Association (ALBAA)minorOthersRegional business aviation association supported through OGARAJETS charitable giving.
• Ace Aviation (ACE)minorOthersAviation nonprofit organization supported through OGARAJETS charitable giving program.
• Aircraft Manufacturers (Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Cessna, Embraer, Hawker Beech)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing relationships with key personnel at all major aircraft manufacturers enabling access to market intelligence, off-market opportunities, and industry insights.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AvPro Inc. One of the largest U.S. business aircraft brokerages, offering acquisition, brokerage, and management services for pre-owned jets. Directly comparable to OGARAJETS in customer base (UHNW individuals and corporate flight departments), product offering, and transaction-based revenue model.
• International Aircraft Marketing & Sales (IAMS): U.S.-based full-service aircraft broker specializing in pre-owned business jets and turboprops. Closely aligned with OGARAJETS on brokerage services, target customers, and reliance on multi-OEM relationships for off-market inventory.
• Guardian Jet: Aircraft brokerage and consulting firm serving buyers and sellers of business jets. Comparable transaction-based model, advisory positioning, and UHNW client focus; competes with OGARAJETS in pre-owned jet transactions.
• Jeteffect: Business aircraft sales and acquisition firm offering broker, acquisition, and management services. Similar mid-sized broker profile and customer base to OGARAJETS, with emphasis on owner-flown and light jet segments.

Broad incumbents

• Duncan Aviation: Large, established business aviation services group providing aircraft sales, maintenance, and management. Overlaps with OGARAJETS in aircraft sales and acquisition services but operates at greater scale and across broader service lines, including MRO.
• Jet Aviation: Global business aviation services provider (a General Dynamics company) offering aircraft management, charter, sales, and FBO services. Comparable in serving UHNW clients and corporate flight departments but with vastly greater scale and integrated service portfolio.
• Solairus Aviation: Large U.S. aircraft management and charter operator that also supports acquisition and sales services. Comparable UHNW client base and corporate flight department focus, though primary revenue is management and charter rather than brokerage commissions.

Emerging players

• Global Jet Capital: Provider of financing solutions for business aircraft with adjacent brokerage and advisory services. Comparable transaction-driven business model and high-value-asset focus, with overlap in client relationships during aircraft acquisitions.

Regional players

• ACASS: Aircraft management, charter, and sales services firm with strong presence in Canada and international markets. Comparable in aircraft sales support and UHNW client servicing but with primary geographic concentration outside the U.S.

Others

• VREF (Aircraft Value Reference): Provider of aircraft valuation data, appraisal services, and market intelligence for business aviation. Indirectly comparable to OGARAJETS as a data/valuation ecosystem player; complements rather than competes with brokerage services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ogarajets
• Facebookfacebook.com/ogarajets

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about OGARAJETS