Sky Lease Cargo
Sky Lease Cargo is a Miami-based, family-run air cargo provider operating two Boeing 747-400 ERFs from Miami International Airport. It offers ACMI leasing, CMI contracts, commercial charters, and a 120,000 sq. ft. cooler facility to freight forwarders, government agencies, and humanitarian organizations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersMiami, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sky Lease Cargo does
Sky Lease Cargo is a Miami-headquartered, family-run air cargo operator that provides customized air transportation for international cargo carriers, freight forwarders, the U.S. military, and humanitarian organizations. The company operates an elite fleet of two Boeing 747-400 ERF (Extended Range Freighter) aircraft from Miami International Airport, running routes that span four continents and more than ten countries with a focus on transpacific and U.S.–Latin American corridors. Its service portfolio is built around four primary offerings: ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) wet-lease contracts; CMI (Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) contracts for customer-supplied aircraft; on-demand commercial cargo charters with full-service support (permits, fuel planning, ground operations, dangerous goods handling, ULD provision, and 24/7 temperature monitoring); and logistics and cooler services anchored by a 120,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art cooler facility at MIA — the largest in any North American airport — featuring dock doors, pallet racking, flash cooling, repackaging capabilities, and two 747 parking positions for seamless onload/offload.
The company's business model is sales-led B2B, with revenue generated primarily through long-term recurring ACMI and CMI contracts supplemented by transactional charter revenue, managed-services fees from cooler/logistics work, and government contracts (USPS for International Mail, DoD through Patriot Team membership for military charters). The flagship commercial relationship is a multi-year ACMI contract with a mid-size Chinese freight forwarder running 52 weeks per year, complemented by humanitarian mission work (Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico, COVID-19 medical supply transport) and interline/codeshare agreements with multiple international airlines. Pricing is custom-quoted per contract, with ACMI and CMI engagements structured around minimum block-hour commitments and charters on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Sky Lease is a private, founder/family-controlled business — the Rey family holds key leadership positions including Alfonso Rey as Chairman and Jonathan Rey as Director of Business Development — with a stated headcount of 280+ employees and 30+ years of operating experience (founded 1969). Safety and operational discipline are emphasized through voluntary SMS and ASAP programs, and the company markets a hands-on, personalized service approach as a differentiator relative to larger ACMI competitors. There is no disclosed institutional ownership, external funding, M&A activity, or capital-markets event in the source data.
Sky Lease Cargo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sky Lease Cargo
- Legal name
- Sky Lease Cargo
- Website
- https://skyleasecargo.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Sky Lease Cargo is a Miami-based, family-run air cargo provider operating two Boeing 747-400 ERFs from Miami International Airport. It offers ACMI leasing, CMI contracts, commercial charters, and a 120,000 sq. ft. cooler facility to freight forwarders, government agencies, and humanitarian organizations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sky Lease Cargo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Cargo Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- ACMI / Wet-Lease Cargo Operators (THABAEAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage) (TLACAAAC), General Cargo Air Freight Carriers (Scheduled & Charter) (TLADAAAA), Group & ACMI Charter Airlines (Ad-hoc/Wet Lease) (TLAFABAC)
Keywords
Where Sky Lease Cargo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Miami
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Sky Lease Cargo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- ACMI Contracts (Wet Lease): Aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance contracts where customers lease fully-crewed aircraft for minimum block hours. Provides cost efficiency, flexibility, global access as US carrier, and operational expertise. Currently operating 52 weeks per year on ACMI contract with mid-size freight-forwarder in China.
- CMI Contracts: Crew, maintenance, and insurance contracts allowing customers to ramp up operations quickly while maintaining control of the asset, eliminating tasks associated with hiring/training crew and managing maintenance.
- Commercial Cargo Charters: Point-to-point dedicated flights customized to customer requirements including landing/ traffic permits, fuel planning, ground operations, air waybill provision, aircraft handling, special loads expertise, dangerous goods handling, ULD provision, and temperature control monitoring.
- Logistics and Cooler Services: Storage and handling of perishable goods using 120,000 sq. ft. cooler facility at Miami International Airport. Value-added services include product repackaging and flash cooling capabilities.
- Government Contracts: Contract with USPS for transportation of International Mail; relationships with Department of Defense through Patriot Team membership for military charters.
- Humanitarian Missions: Aid flights during humanitarian crises such as Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and COVID-19 pandemic transporting medical supplies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | ACMI Contract - Full-service aircraft leasing with crew |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | CMI Contract - Customer provides aircraft |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Commercial Charter - On-demand point-to-point flights |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Sky Lease Cargo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sky Lease Cargo provides customized air cargo transportation using a fleet of two Boeing 747-400 ERF aircraft based at Miami International Airport. Its core offerings include ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) and CMI wet/dry lease contracts, on-demand commercial cargo charters, military and humanitarian charter services, and integrated logistics supported by a 120,000 sq. ft. on-airport cooler facility for perishable goods.
Product overview
Sky Lease Cargo operates as an air cargo service provider with a fleet of two Boeing 747-400 ERF aircraft. The company offers a multi-service portfolio centered around cargo transportation: ACMI and CMI contract services for dedicated aircraft operations, commercial cargo charters for on-demand freight, and logistics support including a 120,000 sq. ft. cooler facility at Miami International Airport. Additional services include military charters (Patriot Team), humanitarian missions, USPS government contracts, and interline airline partnerships. Services span transpacific and U.S.-Latin American routes across 4 continents and over 10 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ACMI Contracts Wet-lease contracts under which Sky Lease Cargo provides aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance so customers can operate dedicated cargo capacity without owning or staffing aircraft. Designed for freight forwarders and other carriers that need guaranteed lift for transpacific and U.S.–Latin American lanes, with multi-year terms and minimum block-hour commitments.
- CMI Contracts Dry-lease support contracts where the customer supplies the aircraft and Sky Lease provides crew, maintenance, and insurance, enabling rapid operational scaling without the burden of hiring crew or managing maintenance.
- Commercial Cargo Charters On-demand point-to-point cargo charter flights with full-service support including landing and traffic permits, fuel planning, ground operations, air waybill provision, aircraft handling, special loads expertise, dangerous goods handling, ULD provision, and 24/7 temperature monitoring.
- Logistics and Cooler Services Storage, handling, and value-added services for perishable goods at Miami International Airport, including a 120,000 sq. ft. cooler, dock doors, pallet racking, two Boeing 747 parking positions for seamless cargo on/offloading, product repackaging, and flash cooling.
- Military Charters Charter services for the Department of Defense provided under Sky Lease's Patriot Team membership, supporting military cargo and personnel transport using its 747-400 ERF fleet.
- Government Mail Contracts Contract with the United States Postal Service for the transportation of International Mail on Sky Lease's global network.
Quantifiable outcome
- 120,000 sq. ft. cooler - largest in any North American airport
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sky Lease Cargo
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Sky Lease Cargo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Sky Lease Cargo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.
- Multiple Airlines (Interline Agreements)supportingSky Lease works closely with many airlines across the world through interline agreements and codeshare partnerships, enabling seamless cargo handling and expanded route network coverage for customers.
- Department of Defense (Patriot Team)coreExisting relationships with the Department of Defense through Patriot Team membership, enabling Sky Lease to provide military charter services.
- United States Postal Service (USPS)coreGovernment contract with USPS for the transportation of International Mail, providing recurring revenue from domestic government partnership.
- Mid-size Freight-Forwarder in ChinacoreACMI contract with a mid-size freight-forwarder in China operating all 52 weeks of the year, representing a flagship long-term customer relationship for transpacific cargo operations.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Sky Lease Cargo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cargolux: Luxembourg-based 747 freighter operator providing scheduled and charter cargo services globally, with strong perishables capability. Comparable on wide-body ACMI/charter positioning and transatlantic/perishables flows.
- ASL Airlines Belgium: European ACMI and cargo operator with 747 freighters serving integrators and forwarders. Comparable on ACMI model, wet-lease to freight forwarders, and charter/perishables work.
- Polar Air Cargo: US 747 freighter operator (backed by Atlas Air/DSV) providing scheduled and charter transpacific cargo services. Overlaps with Sky Lease on transpacific, freight-forwarder customers, and US carrier positioning.
- Atlas Air Worldwide: World's largest operator of 747 freighters and a leading provider of ACMI/wet-lease and charter cargo services to freight forwarders, airlines, and the US military. Direct comp on fleet type, ACMI model, and DoD/government exposure.
- National Airlines (National Air Cargo): US 747-freighter operator providing ACMI, charter, and government/military air cargo services out of similar hubs. Closely overlaps Sky Lease on government charter and wet-lease offerings.
- Kalitta Air: US-based cargo ACMI and charter operator with a large 747 freighter fleet serving freight forwarders, DHL, and the US military. Directly comparable on fleet type, ACMI model, and government work.
- Western Global Airlines: US-based ACMI and charter cargo operator flying 747 and MD-11 freighters worldwide. Highly comparable on wet-lease model, US carrier rights, and freight-forwarder customer base.
- 21 Air: US ACMI/charter cargo carrier operating 767 freighters primarily on transpacific and US-Latin America lanes, serving freight forwarders. Closely comparable on geographic focus and ACMI/forwader business model.
- AirBridgeCargo (Volga-Dnepr Group): Russian 747 freighter operator historically serving transpacific and charter markets for freight forwarders. Comparable on 747 ACMI/charter model, though currently constrained by geopolitical issues.
Broad incumbents
- FedEx (FedEx Express): Global integrator with massive wide-body freighter fleet, operating own ACMI and charter capacity. Overlaps as a much larger incumbent competing for the same ACMI, perishables, and government customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Sky Lease Cargo social profiles
Digital presenceSky Lease Cargo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sky Lease Cargo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Sky Lease Cargo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sky Lease Cargo 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 Sky Lease Cargo
What does Sky Lease Cargo do?
Sky Lease Cargo provides customized air cargo transportation using a fleet of two Boeing 747-400 ERF aircraft based at Miami International Airport. Its core offerings include ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) and CMI wet/dry lease contracts, on-demand commercial cargo charters, military and humanitarian charter services, and integrated logistics supported by a 120,000 sq. ft. on-airport cooler facility for perishable goods.
Is Sky Lease Cargo a public or private company?
Sky Lease Cargo is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Sky Lease Cargo founded?
Sky Lease Cargo was founded in 1969.
Where is Sky Lease Cargo based?
Sky Lease Cargo is headquartered in Miami, United States, in the North America region.
How does Sky Lease Cargo make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. ACMI Contracts (Wet Lease) is the primary driver. The others are CMI Contracts, commercial Cargo Charters, logistics and Cooler Services, government Contracts and humanitarian Missions.
Who are Sky Lease Cargo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cargolux, ASL Airlines Belgium, Polar Air Cargo, Atlas Air Worldwide, National Airlines (National Air Cargo), Kalitta Air, Western Global Airlines, 21 Air and AirBridgeCargo (Volga-Dnepr Group). FedEx (FedEx Express) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Sky Lease Cargo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sky Lease Cargo.
What industry is Sky Lease Cargo in?
Sky Lease Cargo's product category is Air Cargo Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAEAC, ACMI / Wet-Lease Cargo Operators, with a secondary code of TLACAAAC, Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage). Its NAICS code is 481212 and its SIC code is 4522.