Searca
Searca S.A. is a Colombian private charter aviation company operating a 30-aircraft fleet of turboprops and jets for corporate, oil-and-gas, government, and tourism clients across Colombia and 50 countries, supplemented by a Jet Card membership program and an internationally accredited aircraft maintenance center.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBogotá, Colombia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Searca does
Searca S.A. is a Colombian private charter aviation company founded in 1993 as Servicio Aéreo de Capurganá. Headquartered at El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá with three additional operational bases in Medellín, Barranquilla, and San Andrés, the company operates a 30-aircraft fleet comprising pressurized turboprops (Beechcraft 1900D Airliner, Let 410 UVP-E) and jets (Gulfstream G-200, Hawker Beechjet 400A). Searca has accumulated over 270,000 accident-free flight hours and is self-described as the largest charter operator in Colombia and South America, with connectivity to 50 countries and the ability to reach 98% of Colombian territory.
The company's revenue model combines three streams: usage-based on-demand charter flights priced at US$2,000–US$5,000 per flight hour, the Jet Card subscription program offering 50 or 100 annual flight hours at approximately US$500,000 per 100-hour card, and professional services revenue from an internationally accredited maintenance center where Searca is the exclusive Colombian representative for Garmin, L3 Communications, Sandel, Blackhawk, and Raisebeck Engineering. Distribution relies on a dedicated Corporate Sales Director (Eduardo Salazar), an online quote request form, and channel partners such as Grupo Nautilos for Pacific coast routes. Customer segments are led by oil and gas companies historically representing 70% of services (Ecopetrol, Hocol, Occidental Petroleum, Frontera Energy), supplemented by corporate clients (Bavaria, Decameron), government and military, sports teams, and tourism operators.
Searca survived a severe 2015 oil-price-crisis contraction that cut its fleet from 30 to 8 aircraft and pilots from 85 to 60, prompting a strategic pivot into medical evacuation aircraft, luxury jet services, maintenance operations, and post-FARC tourism routes. Reported 2018 revenue of approximately COP $80,000 million represented ~80% of pre-crisis levels, signaling an incomplete but ongoing recovery built on revenue diversification and the launch of the Jet Card recurring product.
Searca firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Searca
- Legal name
- SEARCA S.A.
- Website
- https://searca.com.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Searca S.A. is a Colombian private charter aviation company operating a 30-aircraft fleet of turboprops and jets for corporate, oil-and-gas, government, and tourism clients across Colombia and 50 countries, supplemented by a Jet Card membership program and an internationally accredited aircraft maintenance center.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Searca industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Charter Aviation Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Jet Charter (On-Demand) (THABAFAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Crew & Offshore / Oil & Gas Personnel Charter Operators (THABADAI), Corporate & VIP Group Charter Operators (THABADAD), Emergency, Evacuation & Repatriation Charter Operators (THABADAH), Air Freight Charter Operators (THABAEAD)
Keywords
Where Searca is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bogotá
- HQ country
- Colombia
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Searca business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- On-Demand Charter Flights: Hourly charter flight pricing ranging from approximately US$2,000 to US$5,000 per flight hour. Customers pay per flight based on aircraft type, route, and duration. A 10-person jet route (Bogotá–Miami–Bogotá) can cost approximately US$32,000.
- Jet Card Membership: Prepaid membership card offering 50 or 100 flight hours per year. Single upfront payment covers all flight costs except certain taxes and FBOs. Cardholders access Hawker Beech 400A (8 seats) or Gulfstream G-200 (10 seats). Annual subscription at approximately US$500,000 for 100 hours.
- Aircraft Maintenance Services: Company operates one of the most modern maintenance workshops in Colombia, providing maintenance services for its own fleet and serving as exclusive representative in Colombia for Garmin, L3 Communications, Sandel (avionics), Blackhawk (engines), and Raisebeck Engineering (aircraft structural modifications).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly charter flight (light turboprop) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Hourly charter flight (jet, 10-person route) |
| Subscription | Annual | Jet Card 50 hours annual |
| Subscription | Annual | Jet Card 100 hours annual |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Searca product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Searca operates private on-demand charter flight services across Colombia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific coast using a fleet of 30 aircraft (Gulfstream G-200 and Hawker Beechjet 400A jets; Beechcraft 1900D Airliner and Let 410 UVP-E turboprops). The company also sells a Jet Card prepaid membership program offering 50 or 100 annual flight hours with guaranteed aircraft availability, and operates an internationally accredited aircraft maintenance service center that serves as the exclusive Colombian representative for Garmin, L3 Communications, Sandel, Blackhawk, and Raisebeck Engineering.
Product overview
Searca is a Colombian private charter flight company offering on-demand air travel services. The company operates a unified platform providing charter flights with a fleet of 30 aircraft including jets (Gulfstream G-200, Hawker Beechjet 400A) and turbo props (Beechcraft 1900D Airliner, Let 410 UVP-E). The product portfolio centers on Charter Flight Services as the core offering, supplemented by the Jet Card prepaid membership program for guaranteed flight availability, and a Service Center providing aircraft maintenance. The company serves destinations across Colombia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific coast.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Jet Card: Prepaid membership card for private jet flights, offering 50 or 100 flight hours annually for corporate and individual clients seeking flexible private aviation access.
Products and services
- Charter Flight Services On-demand private charter flight services offering customizable itineraries (departure time, destination, passenger count) across Colombia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific coast using a fleet of 30 aircraft including turboprops (Beechcraft 1900D Airliner for 19 passengers; Let 410 UVP-E for small airports and unpaved runways) and jets (Hawker Beechjet 400A for 8 passengers; Gulfstream G-200 for 10-11 passengers with intercontinental range). Customers are corporate executives, oil and gas companies, government, and tourism operators requiring time savings of up to 50% versus commercial airlines and access to remote destinations.
- Jet Card Membership Prepaid membership card program offering 50 or 100 hours of annual flight time on private jets (Hawker Beechjet 400A for 8 seats or Gulfstream G-200 for 10 seats). Single upfront payment covers all flight costs except certain taxes and FBOs, with guaranteed aircraft availability. Annual subscription priced at approximately US$500,000 for 100 hours. Targeted at businesspeople and executives who need to fulfill multi-city commitments in a single day across Colombia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific coast.
- Aircraft Maintenance Service Center Internationally recognized aircraft maintenance workshop providing avionics installation and support (Garmin, L3 Communications, Sandel), engine modifications (Blackhawk), and structural upgrades (Raisebeck Engineering) for Searca's own fleet and third-party aircraft operators in Colombia. Holds BARS Basic Aviation Gold accreditation and IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations compliance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 270,000 flight hours without any accident over 27+ years of operations
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Searca
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Searca technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Searca partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- GarmincoreExclusive representative in Colombia for Garmin avionics products and services. As part of the maintenance center operations, Searca provides installation and support for Garmin avionics across aircraft operated in Colombia.
- L3 CommunicationscoreExclusive representative in Colombia for L3 Communications avionics products. Supports the maintenance workshop with internationally recognized avionics technology.
- SandelcoreExclusive representative in Colombia for Sandel avionics products. Contributes to the company's international-standard maintenance capabilities.
- BlackhawkcoreExclusive representative in Colombia for Blackhawk engine products and modifications. Supports engine maintenance and upgrade services for the fleet.
- Raisebeck EngineeringcoreExclusive representative in Colombia for Raisebeck Engineering aircraft structural modifications. Provides specialized structural upgrade capabilities for the fleet.
- Grupo NautiloscoreExclusive authorized commercial partner for Capurganá routes for over 20 years. Sells full holiday packages and airplane tickets for routes operated by Searca aircraft. Also sells tickets for Nuquí and Bahía Solano routes.
- Grupo San Germán ExpressminorCommercial ticket seller for Nuquí and Bahía Solano routes operated by Searca aircraft. Partner for routes where Searca provides the aircraft and San Germán sells commercial tickets.
- San GermánminorOperational ally for cargo flights with Ecopetrol and passenger flights to remote regions. Partnership for humanitarian flights during COVID-19 including food aid transport to Pacific regions (Pizarro, Bahía Solano, Nuquí) alongside BRAC.
- BRAC (Búsqueda y Rescate Aeronáutico de Colombia)minorHumanitarian alliance during COVID-19 for delivering food aid to remote Pacific regions (Pizarro, Bahía Solano, Nuquí). BRAC provided search and rescue aviation support in partnership with San Germán.
- Jairo PinzónminorEntrepreneur agreement for leasing 3 aircraft. Pinzón is in the process of creating airline 'Santa' to serve routes to Neiva, Florencia, and Puerto Asís.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Searca competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- JSX (formerly JetSuite): US-based semi-private charter airline offering scheduled and on-demand flights on light jets, with a comparable emphasis on short booking windows and executive convenience. Comparable positioning in the affordable-charter segment.
- Wheels Up: US-based membership-driven private aviation company offering hourly access to a managed fleet. Its business model and target executive customer base directly overlap with Searca's Jet Card offering, though Wheels Up operates at significantly larger scale.
- Flexjet: Provider of fractional jet ownership and jet card programs operating a fleet of business jets. Competes in the same private aviation membership/charter category as Searca, primarily in North America but increasingly international.
- VistaJet: Global business jet operator offering pay-by-the-hour and Program membership models similar to Searca's Jet Card. Operates a fleet of large-cabin jets across 200+ countries with a comparable value proposition around guaranteed availability and flexible itineraries.
- NetJets: Berkshire Hathaway-owned global leader in fractional jet ownership and private aviation, operating a similar on-demand private jet model with membership/fleet programs. Comparable to Searca's Jet Card charter concept, but at vastly larger global scale.
Broad incumbents
- Avianca: Colombia's flag carrier and largest airline, offering scheduled passenger service across the region. Competes indirectly with Searca on Bogotá–Miami, Bogotá–Lima, and other international routes where Searca markets charter alternatives.
- LATAM Airlines Group: Largest South American airline group operating scheduled passenger and cargo services across the continent. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Searca on the corporate/executive travel segment where charter vs. scheduled economics are compared.
Regional players
- SATENA: Colombian state-owned airline focused on connecting remote and peripheral regions. Overlaps with Searca's turboprop operations into remote destinations and shares government/military client relationships.
- Helicol: Colombian helicopter and charter operator historically serving oil & gas clients with personnel transport to remote fields. Direct overlap with Searca's oil & gas personnel charter segment.
- EasyFly: Colombian regional airline connecting underserved and remote destinations across Colombia with a comparable emphasis on cities not served by major carriers. Competes with Searca on domestic routes to remote destinations such as those operated by Searca's turboprop fleet.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Searca social profiles
Digital presenceSearca financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Searca leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Searca funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Searca 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 Searca
What does Searca do?
Searca operates private on-demand charter flight services across Colombia, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific coast using a fleet of 30 aircraft (Gulfstream G-200 and Hawker Beechjet 400A jets; Beechcraft 1900D Airliner and Let 410 UVP-E turboprops). The company also sells a Jet Card prepaid membership program offering 50 or 100 annual flight hours with guaranteed aircraft availability, and operates an internationally accredited aircraft maintenance service center that serves as the exclusive Colombian representative for Garmin, L3 Communications, Sandel, Blackhawk, and Raisebeck Engineering.
Is Searca a public or private company?
Searca is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Searca founded?
Searca was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Searca based?
Searca is headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, in the Latin America region.
How does Searca make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. On-Demand Charter Flights are the primary driver. The others are jet Card Membership and aircraft Maintenance Services.
Who are Searca's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are JSX (formerly JetSuite), Wheels Up, Flexjet, VistaJet and NetJets. Broad incumbents are Avianca and LATAM Airlines Group. Regional players are SATENA, Helicol and EasyFly.
Does Searca have an API?
No public API is recorded for Searca.
What industry is Searca in?
Searca's product category is Private Charter Aviation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAFAA, Business Jet Charter (On-Demand), with a secondary code of THABADAI, Crew & Offshore / Oil & Gas Personnel Charter Operators. Its NAICS code is 481211 and its SIC code is 4522.