Category: Charter Sales

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Charter Operations Charter Sales General

Meridian Celebrates 30 Years of Jet Charter

The flight operations team of Meridian Air Charter poses with the original air carrier certificate to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Meridian is proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its jet charter business. General Aviation Flying Service, as the charter company was originally known, was formed in 1983. In September 1989, it added its first jet, a Citation SII, to its fleet of piston aircraft. In 1986, General Aviation Flying Service became Million Air Charter Teterboro when its FBO joined the aviation franchise. In 2004, the company evolved into Meridian Air Charter, as it is known today.

“We officially entered the jet age in 1989 when the owner of one of the piston aircraft we managed acquired a jet,” said Ken Forester, Meridian’s CEO. “From there we continued to grow and add additional aircraft, as well as open our FAA-approved repair station.”

In 1997, the company began operating a Gulfstream II, marking its entry into the large-cabin charter business. Today, Meridian Air Charter has a diverse fleet of aircraft, ranging from ultra-long-range to midsize and light jets. “We’ve seen a lot of growth over the last 30 years, both with our charter division and with the rest of the company,” added Forester. “I’m proud of what we have accomplished and look forward to serving our customers for many years to come.”

Meridian currently manages a wide range of aircraft types that are available for private charter. Our extensive fleet includes the Global 5000, Gulfstream G550, Falcon 7X, Gulfstream GIV-SP, Falcon 900EX EASy, Challenger 650, Challenger 605, Challenger 604, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Gulfstream G200, and Hawker 900XP. In addition, other aircraft types are available through Meridian’s extensive network of qualified operators. 

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Aircraft Management Charter Operations Charter Sales General Hayward

Meridian Names Emil Iannone Chief Operating Officer

Meridian is pleased to announce that Emil Iannone has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Meridian Air Charter. He will be responsible for managing and streamlining the charter business, including charter operations, charter sales, aircraft management and marketing. Mr. Iannone has served as Director of Operations since 2013, when he returned to Meridian after 13 years in the financial industry. Mr. Iannone is based at the company’s headquarters at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, NJ.
The organizational restructuring comes as part of the company’s overall growth strategy, and is designed to allow Dennis O’Connell, President of Meridian Air Charter, more time to focus on other critical aspects of the charter business. These include owner relations, aircraft maintenance, and accounting. Together, Mr. O’Connell and Mr. Iannone will be responsible for the strategic direction of the charter organization.
“I am very excited for this opportunity,” says Iannone. “I’m honored to be working side-by-side with Dennis to help ensure our charter operations meet the needs of a rapidly changing marketplace and continuing to grow our charter and aircraft management operations. I look forward to contributing to Meridian’s ongoing success.”
Mr. Iannone started flying in the mid-1980s at Teterboro Airport before attending American Flyers Academy. After graduating and earning his CFI, he returned to Meridian as an instructor pilot, moving up the ranks to Chief Pilot. In 1994, he was promoted to Director of Operations, overseeing the daily operations of Million Air Charter, when the company was part of the franchise. Iannone also spent some time during his early career flying for a private flight department. He is type rated in Gulfstream, Learjet and Cessna Citation aircraft.
In 2000, Mr. Iannone was offered the opportunity to take his talents and expertise to a New York City investment banking firm. As Senior Vice President, he oversaw the daily operations of several key areas of the company, including security, purchasing, and ground transportation. His managerial skills translated well from aviation to this environment and he spent a successful tenure there. In 2013, the allure of aviation brought him back to Meridian, when he rejoined the company as Director of Operations.
“We are very pleased to have Emil managing the day-to-day operations of Meridian Air Charter,” adds Ken Forester, CEO. “He has the operational experience and people skills to help navigate the challenges of the ever-changing charter landscape. Having operations, sales and marketing under his leadership will help us to compete more effectively in today’s marketplace. Emil’s new position will also allow Dennis greater bandwidth to focus on the other key areas of the operation. Together, they will be a powerful team in moving the business forward.”

Emil Iannone has been named COO of Meridian Air Charter

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Charter Sales

Jeremy Ojerholm Joins Meridian Air Charter

Jeremy Ojerholm Joins Meridian Air Charter

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that Jeremy Ojerholm has joined its charter sales team as a Charter Sales Executive. Mr. Ojerholm will be based at the company’s newly opened sales office at Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami, FL. He will be responsible for growing the overall retail charter business as well as focus on business development in the South Florida market.
“We currently have charter sales offices in key areas of the country, including the West Coast and the Northeast Corridor, and the addition of a sales office in Florida is part of our growth strategy,” said Chris Battaglia, Meridian’s Director of Charter Sales. “Our enhanced presence in this major market area gives us more opportunities to reach new customers as well as serve our existing clients. Jeremy’s background and experience will be a great asset in our continued growth, and I am pleased to welcome him to our team.”
Mr. Ojerholm has worked in business aviation for over 17 years, and comes to Meridian with an extensive background in charter sales/operations, jet card membership programs, aircraft sourcing and scheduling, direct client and aircraft owner relations, and FBO services. He has prior experience with many well-known business aviation companies, including Bohlke International Airways, Alerion Aviation, M&N Aviation, Signature Flight Support, and Sentient Flight Group.
Prior to his tenure in aviation, Mr. Ojerholm worked at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts where he won many awards for Guest Services, including the coveted “Employee of the Year” award and Where magazine’s “Guest Ambassador of the Year” award for the City of Boston. Jeremy, who is originally from Boston, is an Honors Graduate of Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. He currently resides in Miami and will work from Meridian’s new charter sales office located in Fontainebleau Aviation at Opa-Locka Executive Airport.