Kevin Wargo buys back Fly Alliance's operating certificates, launches Atelier Aviation

Kevin Wargo, the former majority owner and co-founder of Fly Alliance, has acquired the company's Part 135 charter and Part 145 maintenance certificates through his Cove Capital entity, five months after leaving the business. The certificates will operate as Atelier Aviation, according to Private Jet Card Comparisons. The deal closed on Friday, 31 October.

Fly Alliance continues as a charter brokerage and jet card operator under Christopher Tasca, who led a management buyout in July as the minority partner at that time. For Fly Alliance's 355 jet card members, Tasca says it is business as usual. Fly Alliance ended 2025 as the 14th-largest U.S. private jet operator based on charter and fractional hours.

The structure of Wargo's new aviation portfolio

Atelier Aviation will operate large-cabin jets and will be a sister company alongside Sky Travel Solutions, a Part 135 operator Wargo launched earlier this year. Sky Travel Solutions will be the customer-facing brand selling ad hoc charter and jet cards. Across the three units — Atelier, Sky Travel Solutions, and Altitude Parts, a parts business Wargo bought back from Fly Alliance in August and renamed — Wargo says he now has 100 employees.

According to the most recent FAA report, Atelier's charter certificate currently covers 18 aircraft. The fleet includes nine Gulfstreams, a Global Express, three Hawker 800/900s, a pair of Citation XLS aircraft, and two Citation Sovereigns. Most employees supporting the charter and maintenance business are expected to transition to Atelier Aviation.

Tasca says three fractional Gulfstream large-cabin jets will transition to a new operator. The former Fly Alliance managed fleet is expected to end up between Atelier and another operator. Tasca tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, "We expect to make an announcement about a new operating partner (for managed aircraft) in the next several days." Fly Alliance will continue as a brand with around 35 full-time employees.

Wargo says, "I am excited for this new chapter and to grow our aviation portfolio."