What Desert Jet does

Desert Jet is a privately held aviation services company headquartered in Thermal, California, operating since 2007 as Desert Jet Holdings LLC. The company runs two primary business divisions: a Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) arm branded Desert Jet Center at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) and a newer site at Yampa Valley Regional Airport (KHDN) in Hayden, Colorado, and an FAA-certified Part 145 Repair Station branded Desert Jet Maintenance specializing in Cessna Citation aircraft with expanded coverage of Hawker, Falcon, Lear, Gulfstream, and Global Express platforms. The FBO division provides ground handling, jet fuel, premium hangar storage, concierge services, and 24/7 AOG mobile support across Southern California airports including Van Nuys, San Diego, Carlsbad, Santa Ana, Long Beach, Ontario, Hawthorne, and Burbank.

The company serves affluent private travelers, Fortune 500 corporate flight departments, celebrities, and seasonal residents at luxury destinations in the Coachella Valley and Colorado mountain regions. Revenue is generated through transaction-based fees on fuel sales, hangar leasing, ground handling, maintenance labor, parts, and detailing services, supplemented by the DJM Service Plus loyalty program. The company uses ARGUS PRISM for safety management, AirTera for TSA/FAA/DOT compliance, and FlightBridge for online reservations.

Desert Jet's go-to-market is sales-led through dedicated phone lines, direct sales staff, community sponsorships, and earned media in regional business publications. In October 2024, the company divested its charter subsidiary to Advanced Air, LLC, sharpening focus on the higher-margin FBO and maintenance core. Subsequent moves include the 2026 partnership with 4Air for sustainability services, expanded maintenance scope across major business jet families, and record 2026 seasonal performance with announced facility expansion at KTRM. The company is led by CEO Jared Fox (since 2019) with no external institutional investment disclosed.

Name

Desert Jet

Legal name

Desert Jet

Website

https://desertjet.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Desert Jet operates premium Fixed-Base Operator services and FAA Part 145 aircraft maintenance at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (California) and Yampa Valley Regional Airport (Colorado), serving affluent private travelers, Fortune 500 flight departments, and luxury destination clientele.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Aviation Services (FBO and Aircraft Maintenance)

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ground Handling (Ramp, Baggage, Turnaround) (THABAIAC), Aircraft Management & Part 135/135-equivalent Operators (THABAFAD)

Keywords

• Private aviation services
• Aircraft maintenance
• Fixed-base operator
• Executive ground handling
• AOG support

Headquarters

HQ city

Thermal

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. FBO Services: Fixed-Base Operator services including ground handling, jet fuel sales, premium hangar storage, concierge services, and executive terminal access. Revenue generated through fuel sales, hangar leasing, and ground handling fees.
2. Aircraft Maintenance Services: FAA-certified Part 145 Repair Station providing scheduled maintenance, unscheduled maintenance, engine services, avionics, and AOG support. Revenue from labor charges, parts, and service fees.
3. Aircraft Detailing: Full interior and exterior cleaning, detailing, polishing, and cosmetic services for aircraft. Revenue from per-service detailing charges.
4. Rewards Program Membership: DJM Service Plus loyalty program generating customer retention and repeat business through points-based rewards redeemable for experiences, gifts, and discounts on future maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Desert Jet operates a premier Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) in Thermal, CA and Yampa Valley Regional Airport (KHDN) in Hayden, CO, delivering executive ground handling, jet fuel, premium hangar storage, concierge services, and passenger amenities. The company also runs an FAA-certified Part 145 Repair Station providing scheduled and unscheduled aircraft maintenance, AOG (Aircraft on Ground) mobile support, engine and avionics services, and aircraft detailing for business jet operators and aircraft owners.

Product overview

Desert Jet operates as a dual-division aviation services company. The FBO division (Desert Jet Center) provides executive fixed-base operator services at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) in Thermal, CA and Yampa Valley Regional Airport (KHDN) in Colorado, offering ground handling, hangar storage, and passenger amenities. The Maintenance division (Desert Jet Maintenance) is an FAA-certified Part 145 Repair Station specializing in Cessna Citation aircraft while expanding to serve Hawker, Falcon, Lear, Gulfstream, and Global Express jets, supported by a rewards program (DJM Service Plus). These divisions share a unified brand under Desert Jet Holdings LLC and operate from a combined 5-acre facility at KTRM with a 32,500 sq ft executive terminal and hangar complex. A recent expansion added a second FBO location at KHDN with premium heated hangars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Desert Jet Center FBO Services Executive Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) services at Jacqueline Cochran Regional Airport (KTRM) and Yampa Valley Regional Airport (KHDN) providing ground handling, jet fuel, premium hangar storage, concierge services, pilot lounges, and passenger amenities for private aviation operators, corporate flight departments, and affluent private travelers.
• Desert Jet Maintenance FAA-certified Part 145 Repair Station providing scheduled and unscheduled aircraft maintenance, specializing in Cessna Citation models and expanding services to Hawker, Falcon, Lear, Gulfstream, and Global Express jets. Includes phase inspections, AOG support, engine removal/installation, and maintenance management programs for Part 91 corporate flight departments and aircraft owners.
• AOG Support 24/7 Aircraft on Ground (AOG) emergency support with mobile service units and rapid response capabilities across Southern California airports including Van Nuys, San Diego, Carlsbad, Santa Ana, Long Beach, Ontario, Hawthorne, and Burbank, serving business aviation operators needing unscheduled maintenance support.
• Airframe, Engine & Avionics Services Comprehensive airframe capabilities for Citation models, Phenom 100/300, Premier 1/1a; engine maintenance for Pratt & Whitney JT15-D, PW500/600 series, and Williams FJ44 models including boroscope inspections, engine rigging, and non-destructive testing for corporate aircraft operators.
• Aircraft Detailing Full interior and exterior aircraft cleaning services including deep interior detailing, carpet/upholstery extraction, leather reconditioning, machine buff, paint polish, brightwork metal polishing, wet wash, and de-ice boot treatment serving Palm Springs, San Bernardino, Riverside, French Valley, and Ontario areas.
• Concierge & Travel Coordination Concierge services extending to hotel recommendations (Embassy Suites La Quinta, La Quinta Resort, Renaissance Esmeralda), rental car arrangements (Go Rentals, Enterprise, Hertz), and catering partnerships with Above the Best and Bristol Farms for FBO guests and private aviation travelers.

Quantifiable outcome

• No. 1 rated FBO in Palm Springs for five consecutive years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 4AircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Partnership formed between Desert Jet and 4Air to collaborate on sustainability efforts. The partnership focuses on environmental sustainability initiatives within Desert Jet's aviation operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Banyan Air Service: Banyan Air Service operates an FBO at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) alongside a Part 145 repair station, avionics, and aircraft detailing — closely mirroring Desert Jet's integrated FBO + maintenance + detailing offering. CEO Jared Fox previously worked at Banyan, reinforcing its relevance as a comparable operating model.
• ACI Jet: ACI Jet operates an FBO at Santa Maria Public Airport (KSMX) and a Part 145 repair station providing maintenance on Cessna Citation and other business jets — closely matching Desert Jet's Citation-specialized maintenance focus and regional California footprint.
• Meridian (TAC Air): Meridian operates a network of independent FBOs combined with aircraft maintenance and charter services in select U.S. markets, comparable in size and integrated offering to Desert Jet. It competes for similar corporate flight department and HNW customer segments at regional airports.
• Clay Lacy Aviation: Clay Lacy Aviation operates an FBO at Van Nuys Airport (KVNY) combined with FAA Part 145 maintenance, charter, and aircraft management — a portfolio structure very similar to Desert Jet's pre-divestiture model. It is one of the most directly comparable independent FBO+MRO operators on the West Coast.

Broad incumbents

• Jet Aviation: Jet Aviation (a General Dynamics company) operates a global network of FBOs combined with maintenance, aircraft management, and charter services — the fully integrated model Desert Jet operated prior to selling its charter arm. It is the leading example of how FBO + MRO + management can be combined at scale.
• Million Air: Million Air is an international FBO franchise network offering fueling, hangar, ground handling, and concierge services at dozens of locations. It competes with Desert Jet for transient private aviation customers at luxury and resort destinations similar to the Coachella Valley and Steamboat Springs.
• Modern Aviation: Modern Aviation is a growing FBO chain with locations across the U.S. including several in California and the Mountain West, directly overlapping with Desert Jet's KTRM and KHDN geographies. It competes for the same transient corporate and private traffic at premium destinations.
• Signature Flight Support: Signature Flight Support is the world's largest FBO network with 200+ locations globally, offering fueling, hangar, ground handling, and crew amenities. It is the dominant scaled competitor to Desert Jet's FBO business, particularly for Fortune 500 corporate flight departments seeking national single-vendor coverage.
• Atlantic Aviation: Atlantic Aviation operates 100+ FBOs across North America, providing fueling, hangar, ground handling, and concierge services similar to Desert Jet Center. It directly competes for transient corporate traffic and represents the most relevant national-chain comparison for Desert Jet's regional FBO footprint.

Emerging players

• Advanced Air: Advanced Air acquired Desert Jet's charter subsidiary in October 2024 and now operates the charter and aircraft management business that Desert Jet divested. It represents the buyer of Desert Jet's former charter operations and a partial spinoff of its historical business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/palmspringsjet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/desertjet
• Facebookfacebook.com/DesertJetPrivateJetCharters
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/desertjet
• Instagraminstagram.com/desertjet

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Desert Jet