FBO Spotlight: Sheltair Aviation

KAI SEYMOUR, SHELTAIR AVIATION

Air Charter Guide recently spoke with Kai Seymour of Sheltair Aviation, a family-owned company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Founded in 1963 by Jerry Holland, Sheltair has grown into the nation’s largest privately-owned aviation network, operating 14 award-winning FBOs and managing over 4.6 million square feet of aviation-related properties. With a focus on customer satisfaction, Sheltair provides a wide range of services for general aviation travelers, flight crews, and aircraft.

How would you describe your facility for customers?

Our Sheltair facilities are warm and welcoming. We strive to make all customers feel like they are part of our Sheltair family. Our facilities offer modern, comfortable terminals designed for general aviation travelers, with amenities such as complimentary refreshments, Wi-Fi, passenger lounges, and pilot facilities. Customers also have access to concierge services, rental car coordination, conference rooms, and efficient aircraft support, all delivered with a focus on personalized service and convenience.

How would you describe your facility for the flight crew?

Sheltair facilities are full-service FBOs that serve as a home base for flight crews while they're on the ground. We provide comfortable crew lounges, flight planning resources, Wi-Fi, refreshments, and concierge support, while our experienced line service teams take care of the aircraft with fueling, parking, hangaring, and other ground services. Our goal is to make every stop efficient, comfortable, and welcoming, so crews can focus on flying while we handle the rest.

What concierge services do you offer?

Our concierge services are designed to make every visit effortless. Whether it's arranging hotels, ground transportation, rental cars, catering, or local recommendations, our team takes care of the details so flight crews and passengers can focus on their journey.

What makes your services different from other FBOs or handling services?

What sets Sheltair apart is our people and our commitment to personalized customer service and safety. Every interaction is built around anticipating our customers' needs and creating a seamless experience, whether they're visiting for the first time or are long-time clients. While many FBOs offer similar amenities, it's the genuine hospitality, attention to detail, and consistency across our network that make the difference. We want every crew and passenger to feel welcomed, valued, and confident that they'll receive exceptional service every time they visit a Sheltair facility.

What unusual handling request could you share with the reader?

At some of our locations, we deal with unusual aircraft handling requests, such as high-profile cargo operations with Antonov aircraft. Antonovs are some of the largest and most capable cargo aircraft ever built, but they require special handling at our facilities. At our Melbourne location, our General Manager Jeremy Phillips has worked with Antonov aircraft three times in the past 25 days. Some of the unique handling challenges Jeremy described include time zone differences when communicating with teams in Germany, language barriers, the use of specialized equipment and ramps to load freight, and coordinating logistics across multiple teams.

What does the future look like for your company?

At the core of Sheltair's business model is our customers. We are always looking to expand our footprint into other areas, but we have invested extensively in supporting our current facilities. That includes ramp expansions at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV), Melbourne Orlando International Airport (KMLB), and Orlando Executive Airport (KORL). This year alone, Sheltair is completing three separate hangar projects at Tampa International Airport (KTPA), Orlando Executive Airport, and St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport (KPIE). These are just our big projects. Our future is focused on continually enhancing the experience of our clients and seeking new opportunities to grow, but we never stop improving.

How did you get into aviation?

Aviation has always been a centerpiece in my life. My grandfather, Jerry Holland, started Sheltair in 1963. Growing up as a child around Sheltair, joining the company full-time, and getting to see our footprint expand over the years has been incredible. Aviation has always held a special place in my life, and it’s a great industry to be a part of.

Fun stories or narrative to share

Fun stories include some of the incredible events we have hosted across our Sheltair locations. We have hosted many charity events, fashion shows, car shows, holiday parties, community concerts, product launches, and more! One of the unique events held at Sheltair was the unveiling of a new EVTOL and its first public test flight at our Tampa location (KTPA). EVTOLs, or electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, are electric-powered aircraft designed to take off and land vertically, similar to helicopters. Their goal is to provide a faster, more efficient, and potentially more sustainable form of transportation for human travel, particularly for short-distance, urban, and regional travel.

Share a key quote about your services with our readers

At Sheltair, I would say our mission statement encompasses this: “Family First. Fuel. Build. Serve.”

Contact Info:

800-700-2210 Toll Free
954-771-2210 Main Phone
954-771-3745 Fax
5302 NW 21st Terrace
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309