PS

What PS does

PS is a private luxury airport terminal operator founded in 2017 in the United States. The company operates premium, private terminal services at multiple US airports, providing affluent travelers with an exclusive alternative to standard commercial airport experiences that includes private check-in, security, dining, and lounges. PS's business model is anchored in multi-airport concession agreements that grant access to terminal infrastructure, with revenue generated through premium per-passenger pricing and ancillary hospitality services targeted at high-net-worth individuals and premium business travelers.

The company has been backed by private equity firm TPG since its founding, with TPG providing the capital base that supported PS's multi-year expansion across multiple US airports. The growth trajectory since 2017 — explicitly cited as the rationale for the 2024 transaction — transformed PS from a single-airport operator into a national luxury terminal brand. In August 2024, TPG entered into an agreement to sell PS to Groupe ADP, a major global airport operator, with the transaction subject to regulatory approval. This acquisition positions PS within a global airport infrastructure platform and provides a path to potential international expansion beyond the US market.

PS's competitive position rests on its luxury brand positioning, multi-airport footprint, and the regulatory and contractual barriers inherent in airport concession agreements. The company's services are differentiated primarily through intangible brand equity and exclusive service standards rather than technology or AI capabilities, with no disclosed technology platforms, digital products, or AI-driven features referenced in available data.

Name

PS

Legal name

PS

Website

https://perner-und-schmidt.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PS is a US-based private luxury airport terminal operator founded in 2017. It provides premium terminal services at multiple US airports for high-net-worth travelers. The company was TPG-backed and agreed to be acquired by Groupe ADP in August 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Airport Terminal Services

NAICS

Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHABALAA

Airport Lounges & Premium Passenger Facilities

Travel & Hospitality/Airlines & Air Travel/Airport Services & Passenger Experience (Lounges, Ancillaries)

SECONDARYTHABAFAH

Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services

Travel & Hospitality/Airlines & Air Travel/Private Aviation (Business Jets & Air Taxi)

SECONDARYHSACAMAB

VIP Event & Venue Access (Clubs, Lounges, Private Suites)

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/VIP, Red Carpet & Special Access Services

Keywords

• Luxury airport terminals
• Airport concierge services
• Premium travel hospitality
• Private terminal operations
• Luxury aviation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Magdeburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Core offering

PS operates private luxury airport terminals at multiple US airports, offering premium hospitality, concierge services, and exclusive amenities for travelers. The business has grown since 2017 and is being acquired by Groupe ADP from TPG, subject to regulatory approval.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Luxury Airport Terminals Private luxury airport terminals operating at multiple US airports, providing premium hospitality, concierge services, and exclusive pre-flight amenities to individual travelers.

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Priority Pass: Priority Pass is the largest independent airport-lounge access program globally. It overlaps with PS in monetizing premium lounge/terminal access for frequent travelers, but operates as a membership aggregator rather than as a proprietary luxury-terminal operator.
• American Express Centurion Lounges: Amex Centurion Lounges are premium airport lounges operated in partnership with a major card network. They overlap with PS as a premium ground experience for travelers, but they are part of a broader financial-services ecosystem rather than a standalone luxury-terminal business.

Others

• Blacklane: Blacklane provides premium chauffeur and airport-transfer services globally. It is adjacent to PS as a premium end-to-end travel-experience provider, but operates in ground transportation rather than in-airport terminal hospitality.

Direct peers

• Plaza Premium Group: Plaza Premium operates a global network of independent airport lounges and terminal hospitality services. It is the closest direct peer to PS as both companies monetize premium passenger experiences outside of airline-owned lounges and are pursuing international expansion of premium airport hospitality.
• No1 Lounes: No1 Lounges runs a network of premium airport lounges across UK and European airports. It is comparable to PS as a third-party, non-airline operator of premium passenger facilities targeting a similar business- and first-class traveler base.

Regional players

• Marhaba (Dubai International VIP services): Marhaba operates premium meet-and-greet, lounge, and terminal services primarily at Dubai International Airport. It is comparable to PS as an airport VIP-services operator targeting premium travelers, but is geographically concentrated in the Middle East.
• Maggiore (airport VIP services): Maggiore provides VIP meet-and-assist and premium passenger handling services at airports, primarily in Italy and select European markets. It is comparable to PS in delivering premium airport experiences, but is geographically focused on Southern Europe.

Emerging players

• Jet Aviation: Jet Aviation operates FBOs and premium terminal facilities for business and private aviation. It is comparable to PS in the sense of providing high-end airport terminal experiences, but its core business serves private-aviation passengers rather than scheduled-airline premium travelers.
• Signature Flight Support: Signature Flight Support is a major FBO (Fixed-Base Operator) network providing private-aviation terminal and ground services. It is adjacent to PS as a premium terminal operator, though its focus is on private/business aviation rather than commercial-airport luxury terminals.
• Bluedot: Bluedot provides premium airport concierge and VIP services for travelers at airports globally. It overlaps with PS in the luxury airport-services niche, although it is positioned as a digital/booking platform for premium services rather than a physical terminal operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/100077368179313

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 PS