iFLY
iFLY operates 42 U.S. indoor skydiving facilities and 100+ global wind tunnels under a corporate-franchise hybrid, offering simulated freefall experiences to consumers, corporate clients, K-12 schools, military, scouting organizations, and tourism operators.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersAustin, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What iFLY does
iFLY (legally SkyGroup Investments, LLC / iFLY Holdings, LLC) is a privately held indoor skydiving operator founded in 1998 and headquartered in Austin, Texas. Its core technology is a vertical wind tunnel that creates a steady, controlled column of air allowing individuals — ages 3 to 103, including those with disabilities — to experience simulated freefall in a safe, climate-controlled environment without a plane or parachute. All instructors are required to hold International Bodyflight Association (IBA) certification, which the company treats as the global safety standard for the category.
The company operates 42 U.S. facilities and licenses the brand to operators of more than 100 wind tunnels worldwide, blending corporate-owned and franchise models. Revenue is generated across a diversified set of streams: individual flight experiences and gift cards (the primary consumer stream), birthday and group party packages, corporate events, social events and private buyouts, K-12 STEM field trips, Scouting America and Girl Scout programs, accredited U.S. military free-fall training, tourism and travel agency channels (including an API-integrated Viator partnership), and advanced coaching/AFF training. Pricing is unit-based, with promotional bundles (such as the May–July 2026 'World Plays. We Fly.' package starting at $109 per flyer) and military discounts verified via GovX.
iFLY is led by founder and CEO Alan Metni, has 501–1,000 employees, and has accumulated 54+ million flights flown and a 4.8-star Google rating across 38,000+ reviews. The business combines a capital-intensive physical asset base with high-margin franchise royalty potential and recurring institutional contracts (military, education, scouting, tourism).
iFLY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- iFLY
- Legal name
- SkyGroup Investments, LLC
- Website
- https://iflyworld.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- iFLY operates 42 U.S. indoor skydiving facilities and 100+ global wind tunnels under a corporate-franchise hybrid, offering simulated freefall experiences to consumers, corporate clients, K-12 schools, military, scouting organizations, and tourism operators.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
iFLY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indoor Skydiving
- NAICS
- Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Flight Training (611512)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training) (THAAAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses) (THAAAMAJ)
Keywords
Where iFLY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Austin
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
iFLY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Individual Flight Experiences: Per-person flight packages ranging from single flights to multiple flight options; includes training, gear, and instructor guidance. Primary revenue driver with booking through website or walk-in.
- Birthday Party Packages: Private party packages (Cloud Nine, Sky Master, Custom Built) including flights, private room, food, drinks, decorations, and media. Catered for children, teens, and adults.
- Corporate Events: Team offsites, leadership retreats, client celebrations with private or shared flight experiences and event spaces.
- Group/Social Events: Bachelor/bachelorette parties, reunions, fundraisers, youth group outings with group discounts and private buyout options.
- STEM/PE Field Trips: Educational programs for K-12 combining science curriculum with flight experiences; aligned with STEM standards.
- Scouting Programs: Scouts America and Girl Scouts programs with merit badge opportunities and STEM Nova Award completion.
- Gift Cards and Vouchers: Flight vouchers and gift cards for specific packages or open-value cards redeemable at any location.
- Military Training Programs: Accredited airborne training for U.S. military branches including basic, sustainment, and advanced free-fall training; 24/7 access and multiple locations.
- Tourism/Travel Agency: Partnerships with tour operators, destination management companies, and Viator travel agent portal with wholesale and commission-based arrangements.
- Flight Coaching and Training: Advanced coaching for skill development, AFF/solo skydiving training, and flight school programs for kids and adults.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Level Up Flight Package - Limited-time summer promotion including 2 flights, photos, videos, t-shirt, and sweepstakes entry |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group Party Package - Private flights, room, food, drinks for 5-13 flyers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Birthday Party Packages - Cloud Nine, Sky Master, Custom Built options |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Flight Experience - Individual indoor skydiving |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
iFLY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
iFLY operates a network of indoor skydiving facilities powered by vertical wind tunnel technology, enabling customers ages 3–103 to experience the sensation of free-fall flight in a safe, controlled, weather-independent environment without a plane or parachute. Its offering spans individual recreational flight experiences, group events (birthday, corporate, social, private buyouts), educational STEM field trips, scouting badge programs, accessible "All Abilities" sessions, accredited U.S. military free-fall training, advanced coaching/AFF instruction, tourism wholesale partnerships, and gift cards/vouchers.
Product overview
iFLY is a vertical wind tunnel indoor skydiving company offering a portfolio of experience-based products centered around the core iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience. The core product is the indoor skydiving experience using vertical wind tunnel technology for individuals ages 3+. The product ecosystem includes educational programs (STEM Field Trips, Scouting America, Girl Scouts), specialized programs (All Abilities, Military Training), recreational offerings (Birthday Parties, Corporate Events, Social Events, Private Events), skill development (Coaching, Flight School for kids, AFF Training), and tourism partnerships. A limited-time summer promotion called 'The World Plays. We Fly.' offers bundled packages. Gift Cards/Vouchers and a Refer a Friend program round out the consumer offerings. All programs share the common wind tunnel infrastructure and IBA-certified instructor workforce.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- iFLY Indoor Skydiving Experience
Quantifiable outcome
- 54+ Million flights flown globally
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use iFLY
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
iFLY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature3 records
iFLY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Viator (TripAdvisor)coreTravel agent portal partnership allowing real-time availability and bookings for FIT (Foreign Independent Travel) segment. Platform supports bookings and payments in multiple currency options. iFLY's signature 2-flight package is available on the platform with API integration for seamless booking experience.
- IBA (International Bodyflight Association)coreGlobal certification standard for indoor skydiving. iFLY maintains highest safety standards, training and competitions in accordance with IBA standards. All instructors must be IBA-certified and maintain up-to-date credentials. This certification ensures consistent safety and training protocols across all locations.
- Tour Operators and Destination Management CompaniesminorCompetitive wholesale rates offered to tour operators for all group types. Each facility accommodates groups from 7 to 60 with ease, with flight, food and beverage, and meeting space packages available. Groups of 60+ accommodated via customizable half or full day facility rental options. Partners earn ancillary commission on every sale.
- Scouting AmericaminorSTEM Nova Award program partnership allowing Cub Scouts, Scouts, and Venturers to earn the STEM Nova Award at any U.S. iFLY location. Includes lab activities, physics demonstrations, and indoor skydiving experience completing the Up and Away Nova Award requirements.
- Girl Scouts of the USAminorPartnership offering STEM Career Exploration Badge opportunities, PE field trips, and exclusive Cookie Rewards program for Girl Scout troops. Curriculum available for kindergarten to college level with evening time slots available with advance notice.
- U.S. Military BranchescoreLong-time accredited airborne training partner providing basic, sustainment, and advanced free-fall training. Training available 24/7 outside normal business hours at over 35 U.S. locations. Benefits include increased safety and cost-effectiveness versus airborne maneuvers, and controlled weather-independent environment. Advanced training covers equipment flight, emergency procedures, and instructor certification.
- Franchise PartnerscoreFranchise business model allowing independent operators to open iFLY locations under brand license. Corporate locations and franchise locations operate across the U.S. Some promotions and referral programs exclude certain franchise locations.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
iFLY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Main Event Entertainment: Main Event is a large U.S. family entertainment center chain offering bowling, laser tag, gravity ropes, and group events; it competes with iFLY for the same group party and corporate event bookings across major U.S. markets.
- Sky Zone Trampoline Park: Sky Zone is the largest U.S. trampoline park franchise and a broader incumbent in the indoor family recreation category, overlapping with iFLY on birthday parties, group events, and active family entertainment demand.
Emerging players
- Urban Air Adventure Park: Urban Air is a U.S. franchise operator of trampoline and adventure parks that competes for the same family and group-outing discretionary leisure dollars as iFLY's party, group, and family experiences.
- Defy Trampoline Parks: Defy (formerly CircusTrix) operates a national U.S. network of trampoline and adventure parks targeting families, birthday parties, and group events — a comparable indoor adrenaline-experience operator competing with iFLY for share of family leisure spend.
Direct peers
- FlyStation: FlyStation operates indoor skydiving tunnels in Russia and internationally using vertical wind tunnel technology, serving the same consumer recreation, training, and sport-flying segments as iFLY.
- Paraclete XP: Paraclete XP SkyVenture in Raeford, NC is one of the original and largest vertical wind tunnel operators in the U.S., serving both consumer flyers and U.S. military freefall training — directly competing with iFLY's military and consumer offerings.
- SkyVenture: SkyVenture operates multiple indoor skydiving wind tunnels in the U.S. (including Colorado Springs) using vertical wind tunnel technology nearly identical to iFLY's, targeting the same first-time flyers, military trainees, and experiential customers.
Regional players
- Windoor Realfly: Windoor Realfly operates one of Europe's largest indoor skydiving wind tunnels in Empuriabrava, Spain, with the same vertical wind tunnel model targeting tourists, sport flyers, and military training — a leading European counterpart to iFLY.
- Airkix Indoor Skydiving: Airkix operates indoor skydiving tunnels in the UK using the same vertical wind tunnel technology, offering first-time flights, coaching, and parties — directly comparable to iFLY's core UK-adjacent experience offering.
- Airborne (iFLY Brisbane / Bodyflight): Bodyflight operates indoor skydiving wind tunnels in the UK and beyond under the Bodyflight brand, competing directly with iFLY on first-time flyer experiences, coaching, and AFF training.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
iFLY social profiles
Digital presenceiFLY compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
iFLY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
iFLY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
iFLY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
iFLY M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about iFLY
What does iFLY do?
iFLY operates a network of indoor skydiving facilities powered by vertical wind tunnel technology, enabling customers ages 3–103 to experience the sensation of free-fall flight in a safe, controlled, weather-independent environment without a plane or parachute. Its offering spans individual recreational flight experiences, group events (birthday, corporate, social, private buyouts), educational STEM field trips, scouting badge programs, accessible "All Abilities" sessions, accredited U.S. military free-fall training, advanced coaching/AFF instruction, tourism wholesale partnerships, and gift cards/vouchers.
Is iFLY a public or private company?
iFLY is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was iFLY founded?
iFLY was founded in 1998. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is iFLY based?
iFLY is headquartered in Austin, United States, in the North America region.
How does iFLY make money?
Ten revenue lines are on record. Individual Flight Experiences are the primary driver. The others are birthday Party Packages, corporate Events, group/Social Events, STEM/PE Field Trips, scouting Programs, gift Cards and Vouchers, military Training Programs, tourism/Travel Agency and flight Coaching and Training.
Who are iFLY's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Main Event Entertainment and Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Emerging players are Urban Air Adventure Park and Defy Trampoline Parks. Direct peers are FlyStation, Paraclete XP and SkyVenture. Regional players are Windoor Realfly, Airkix Indoor Skydiving and Airborne (iFLY Brisbane / Bodyflight).
Does iFLY have an API?
No public API is recorded for iFLY.
What industry is iFLY in?
iFLY's product category is Indoor Skydiving. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAKAB, Skydiving Centers & Drop Zones (Tandem, AFF Training), with a secondary code of THAAAMAJ, Extreme Sports Training, Certification & Coaching (Skydiving/Bungee Safety Courses). Its NAICS code is 7131 and its SIC code is 7990.