Mountain Air Cargo
Mountain Air Cargo is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. that operates as a dedicated FedEx express cargo feeder with 75+ aircraft on 150+ daily flights across the eastern U.S. and Caribbean, and provides Part 145 MRO services from its 64,000 sqft Kinston, NC facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mountain Air Cargo does
Mountain Air Cargo, Inc. (MAC) is an express cargo feeder airline and Part 145 MRO provider headquartered in Denver, North Carolina, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. (NASDAQ: AIRT). Founded in 1982, MAC has operated as a dedicated FedEx feeder for over 40 years, flying a fleet of more than 75 aircraft — ATR 42s, ATR 72s, Cessna 208 Caravan, and Cessna 408 SkyCouriers — on over 150 daily flights to nearly 55 destinations across the eastern United States and the Caribbean. Aircraft are painted in FedEx livery and the operation is structurally embedded in FedEx's express cargo network; the FedEx Purple Runway program provides a structured pilot pathway from MAC to FedEx cockpits.
MAC's second business line is a full-service FAA Part 145 MRO operation centered on a 64,000 sqft facility in Kinston, North Carolina, supporting both internal and third-party maintenance for ATR 42/72, Cessna 208/408, Embraer ERJ-135/140/145, Boeing 737 Classics, and SAAB 340 airframes. Recent acquisitions — Worldwide Aircraft Services (2023) and Royal Aircraft Services (Hagerstown, MD, May 2025) — have extended MRO capabilities into aircraft painting and conformity services. Primary crew and maintenance bases are located in Indianapolis, Memphis, San Juan, and Aguadilla.
The business model is B2B contract services: revenue is generated through contracted cargo operations with FedEx (managed services) and through third-party MRO work (professional services). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The company is governed under FAA Parts 121, 135, and 145, and participates in CASS, SMS, IEP, FOQA, and ASAP safety programs. Mike Bandalan has served as President/CEO since 2019, leading MAC, CSA Air, WASI, and Royal Aircraft Services.
Mountain Air Cargo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mountain Air Cargo
- Legal name
- Mountain Air Cargo, Inc.
- Website
- https://mtaircargo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Mountain Air Cargo is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air T, Inc. that operates as a dedicated FedEx express cargo feeder with 75+ aircraft on 150+ daily flights across the eastern U.S. and Caribbean, and provides Part 145 MRO services from its 64,000 sqft Kinston, NC facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Mountain Air Cargo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices8 records
Markets served
Mountain Air Cargo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- FedEx Cargo Operations: Mountain Air Cargo operates as a FedEx feeder airline providing express cargo transportation services. Revenue is generated through contracted cargo operations for FedEx across the eastern U.S. and Caribbean.
- MRO Services: Full-service Part 145 MRO facility providing both line and heavy maintenance services for ATR 42/72, Cessna 208/408, ERJ-135/140/145, Boeing 737 Classics, and SAAB 340 aircraft.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
Mountain Air Cargo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mountain Air Cargo operates as a dedicated FedEx feeder airline, flying over 150 daily express cargo flights across nearly 55 destinations in the eastern U.S. and Caribbean with a fleet of more than 75 ATR 42/72 and Cessna 208/408 aircraft. The company also runs a 64,000 sqft FAA Part 145 MRO repair station in Kinston, NC providing line and heavy maintenance for ATR, Cessna, ERJ, Boeing 737 Classic, and SAAB 340 airframes. A structured pilot pathway program (Purple Runway) ties directly into FedEx's career pipeline.
Product overview
Mountain Air Cargo (MAC) is an express cargo airline and integrated aviation services company operating primarily as a FedEx feeder carrier. The company offers two core product lines: air cargo flight operations (using ATR and Cessna aircraft fleets across the U.S. and Caribbean) and Part 145 MRO services (a 64,000 sqft repair station in Kinston, NC supporting ATR and Cessna fleets plus third-party customers including ERJ, Boeing 737, and SAAB 340 aircraft). The product portfolio includes the FedEx Purple Runway pilot pathway program, pilot and maintenance technician recruitment services, and acquired MRO capabilities from Royal Aircraft Services (Hagerstown, MD). The Cessna C408 SkyCourier fleet represents the company's fleet modernization direction, with 14 aircraft delivered by 2025. The Purple Runway Program is the company's primary pipeline for developing and retaining pilot talent by offering a structured pathway to FedEx employment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Purple Runway Program: A pilot pathway program developed in collaboration with FedEx that offers eligible pilots a guaranteed flow to FedEx after completing the program requirements. The program includes college tuition assistance, PIC time building, mentoring, and advanced training.
Products and services
- Air Cargo Feeder Operations (FedEx Express) Dedicated contract feeder airline service for FedEx Express, operating over 150 daily cargo flights with more than 75 ATR 42/72 and Cessna 208/408 aircraft to nearly 55 destinations across the eastern U.S., Caribbean, and South America. Aircraft operate in FedEx livery as part of FedEx's express cargo network.
- Part 145 MRO Services Full-service Part 145 maintenance, repair, and overhaul capability delivered from a 64,000 sqft repair station in Kinston, NC. Provides FAA-compliant line and heavy maintenance for ATR 42/72, Cessna C208/C408, ERJ-135/140/145, Boeing 737 Classics, and SAAB 340 aircraft, with full parts room, avionics department, and conformity check capability at Worldwide Aircraft Services in Springfield, MO.
- FedEx Purple Runway Pilot Pathway Program Structured pilot career advancement program developed jointly with FedEx, offering eligible MAC pilots a guaranteed flow to FedEx after 36 months of active service, 500+ hours PIC on multi-engine turboprop, jet transition course, and ATP certificate. Includes mentoring, college tuition assistance, and PIC time building.
- Royal Aircraft Services MRO Aircraft MRO services and FAA-certified aircraft painting facility in Hagerstown, MD, acquired by Mountain Air Cargo in May 2025. Provides aircraft painting, refinishing, and additional MRO capacity expanding MAC's third-party maintenance offering.
- Third-Party Heavy Maintenance Services (CommuteAir ERJ145) Contracted Part 145 heavy-check maintenance for third-party regional carriers; documented engagement covers 30-month airframe checks on CommuteAir's Embraer ERJ145 fleet under a multi-aircraft, six-month agreement, expanding MAC's third-party regional jet maintenance capability beyond its own ATR and Cessna fleet.
Companies that use Mountain Air Cargo
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Mountain Air Cargo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Mountain Air Cargo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.
- BuiquiminorMAC joined forces with Buiqui, which is renowned at both national and international levels for their professional pilot program.
- Regional Express Holdings Pty Ltd (Rex)flagshipParent company Air T acquired Regional Express Holdings (Rex), Australia's largest independent regional airline with the world's largest Saab 340 fleet.
- Royal Aircraft ServicescoreMAC acquired Royal Aircraft Services in Hagerstown, MD, strengthening MAC's MRO capabilities. Royal Aircraft Services continues to operate under its existing name and provides FAA-certified aircraft painting services.
- Vortex AviationminorMAC finalized a lease agreement with Vortex Aviation at Rafael Hernandez International Airport (BQN) for additional hangar space and support shops to accommodate fleet growth.
- CommuteAirminorMAC has a maintenance agreement with CommuteAir to perform 30-month airframe checks on their Embraer ERJ145 aircraft fleet.
- Castle AviationminorMAC partners with Castle Aviation on an aircraft storage program.
- FedExflagshipMountain Air Cargo formed a business relationship with FedEx in 1982 and has been operating as a FedEx feeder airline ever since. The partnership includes the Purple Runway program, a pilot pathway program to FedEx. MAC operates aircraft in FedEx livery and provides express cargo services exclusively for FedEx's network.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mountain Air Cargo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Martinaire Aviation: Martinaire Aviation operates a scheduled feeder cargo network for UPS, providing regional air freight services using Cessna Caravan aircraft. Closely analogous to MAC's role in the FedEx network, but on the UPS side.
- Empire Airlines: Empire Airlines operates scheduled feeder cargo services primarily for FedEx across the western US using Cessna 208 and ATR aircraft. Closely analogous to MAC's feeder model with overlapping customer and fleet choices.
- Baron Aviation Services: Baron Aviation provides scheduled cargo feeder services for FedEx Express across the southeastern US using Cessna Caravan aircraft. Directly comparable as a regional FedEx feeder competitor.
- Ameriflight: Ameriflight is the largest US scheduled cargo carrier, operating a regional cargo network for major integrators including FedEx and UPS with similar turboprop fleet and feeder model. Directly comparable on route structure, customer profile, and aircraft type.
- CSA Air: CSA Air is a wholly-owned sibling subsidiary of MAC within Air T, Inc., operating as a FedEx Feeder in the Great Lakes region using Cessna Caravan aircraft. Operates the same business model and parent company.
Broad incumbents
- AAR Corp: AAR Corp is a major independent MRO provider serving commercial, defense, and government aviation customers. Comparable to MAC's Part 145 MRO business, but at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Atlas Air Worldwide: Atlas Air operates scheduled and charter cargo flights globally, providing aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) services to major customers. Broad incumbent in air freight, with much larger fleet scale than MAC.
- Kalitta Air: Kalitta Air is a US-based cargo carrier operating a fleet of Boeing 747 and 777 freighters, providing scheduled and charter services to integrators and freight forwarders. Larger-scale incumbent in the same cargo category.
- ABX Air: ABX Air provides air cargo services, primarily for DHL, operating a fleet of Boeing 767 freighters and ground services. Larger, integrator-focused competitor with scheduled cargo operations and MRO/parts services.
Regional players
- Silver Airways: Silver Airways operates a regional passenger network in Florida and the Caribbean with similar ATR fleet familiarity. Several former MAC executives came from Silver Airways, indicating industry overlap and comparable turboprop operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Mountain Air Cargo social profiles
Digital presenceMountain Air Cargo compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Mountain Air Cargo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mountain Air Cargo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Mountain Air Cargo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Mountain Air Cargo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mountain Air Cargo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mountain Air Cargo
What does Mountain Air Cargo do?
Mountain Air Cargo operates as a dedicated FedEx feeder airline, flying over 150 daily express cargo flights across nearly 55 destinations in the eastern U.S. and Caribbean with a fleet of more than 75 ATR 42/72 and Cessna 208/408 aircraft. The company also runs a 64,000 sqft FAA Part 145 MRO repair station in Kinston, NC providing line and heavy maintenance for ATR, Cessna, ERJ, Boeing 737 Classic, and SAAB 340 airframes. A structured pilot pathway program (Purple Runway) ties directly into FedEx's career pipeline.
Is Mountain Air Cargo a public or private company?
Mountain Air Cargo is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Mountain Air Cargo founded?
Mountain Air Cargo was founded in 1982. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Mountain Air Cargo based?
Mountain Air Cargo is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mountain Air Cargo make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. FedEx Cargo Operations are the primary driver. The others are MRO Services.
Who are Mountain Air Cargo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Martinaire Aviation, Empire Airlines, Baron Aviation Services, Ameriflight and CSA Air. Broad incumbents are AAR Corp, Atlas Air Worldwide, Kalitta Air and ABX Air. Silver Airways is listed as a regional player.
Does Mountain Air Cargo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mountain Air Cargo.