Draft:Stratos Jets
Submission declined on 5 June 2026 by Nighfidelity (talk).
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Submission declined on 22 February 2026 by Pythoncoder (talk). This draft appears to contain text generated by a large language model (such as ChatGPT). You cannot use LLMs to generate article content.
Declined by Pythoncoder 6 months ago.LLM-generated pages with certain obvious signs of being machine generated may be deleted without notice. Instead, only summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject. See the advice page on large language models for more information. | |
Comment: In accordance with the Wikimedia Foundation's Terms of Use, I disclose that I have been paid by my employer for my contributions to this article. Jcaspers37 (talk) 18:19, 17 February 2026 (UTC)
| Formerly | Stratos Jet Charters |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Industry | Private aviation |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Joel Thomas |
| Headquarters | Orlando, Florida |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Joel Thomas, Darren Engle, David Borgerding |
| Services | Private jet charter brokerage franchisor |
| Website | https://www.stratosjets.com/ |
Stratos Jets is a private aviation company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, that operates as the franchisor of a private jet charter brokerage program. Founded in 2007, the company licenses its brand and proprietary flight-management system (FMS), Stratos FMS, to a network of independently owned and operated franchised brokerages. Agents within that network serve as private aviation advisors, booking charter flights for clients through licensed third-party air carriers.
History
[edit]Joel Thomas incorporated the company in 2007 under the name Stratos Jet Charters.[1][2]
In 2007, the company launched an "Offset Your Jet" initiative in partnership with TerraPass, a carbon offset validation organization. Customers could make donations that were matched toward carbon credits. In September 2021, Stratos was still partnered with TerraPass and had expanded the offering into an "Eco-Jet Charter" report included with all charter quotes, detailing estimated carbon emissions for each trip alongside the cost and option to purchase offsets.[3]
In the weeks following the January 2010 Haiti earthquake, Stratos Jet Charters arranged relief and media flights from its base at Orlando Executive Airport. When the earthquake struck on January 12, Thomson Reuters contacted the company to transport a four-person news crew and satellite equipment to the Dominican Republic, where the team waited for the Port-au-Prince airport to reopen. A second flight for an additional news agency followed within a day and a half. NBC was among the outlets the company assisted. Stratos Jet Charters also arranged transport for a Lutheran church organization that delivered eight 40-foot containers of medical equipment, tents, and bottled water to the region.[4]
In March 2024, Stratos Jets introduced its private jet charter franchising program to agents, brokers, and brokerages.[5]
In February 2025, the company offered five “turn-key” charter brokerages to qualified agents.[6]
In September 2025, Stratos Jets had added its 12th franchise and received more than 200 inquiries since launching its franchise model in 2024.[7]
Private jet charter brokerage program
[edit]Stratos Jets franchises its private jet charter brokerage program, including its brand, systems, personnel, and safety framework, to independently owned and operated franchised agencies. Agents operating within the Stratos Jets network advise clients and arrange charter flights via licensed third-party air carriers.[1]
The Stratos Jets franchise fee was $200,000 in August 2025.[8] Pricing includes a one-year franchise fee and a pay-per-use model as agencies build their client base.[9]
Program operations
[edit]Franchised agencies have access to a shared-services model providing backend coordination. This includes flight coordinators and followers, and accounting staff who handle payments between customers and carriers and other related administrative tasks.[7]
Agencies also use Stratos FMS, a Salesforce-based platform for aircraft sourcing and quoting, as well as trip management. The system includes a secure client portal so customers can access their current and past travel data.[5] Stratos FMS is designed to help agencies meet the safety standards tied to the company's Aviation Research Group U.S. (ARGUS) Certified Broker status. Franchised agencies also have access to a “SkyGuide AI” knowledge base.[7]
The company has an “Approved Vendor Program” for vetting aircraft and crews, a $50 million non-owned liability policy that supplements individual carrier insurance, and a “FlightGuard” plan that includes aircraft-on-ground (AOG) mechanical recovery coverage. Stratos Jets is an ARGUS Certified Charter Broker and Wyvern Approved Broker, and participates in organizations including the Air Charter Safety Foundation.[1]
Alongside standard jet charters, Stratos Jets agencies also handle jet-to-helicopter itinerary requests on a case-by-case basis. Aircraft used in multi-leg trips are limited to turbine-powered operators holding U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Part 135 certification. Trips are subject to safety audits and service-history reviews. Stratos Jets uses different types of aircraft for multi-leg trips, including Citation XLS or Challenger 350 jets, paired with helicopters like the AW109, Bell 429, or Airbus H145.[10]
The company has accepted cryptocurrency payments for jet charters since 2022, initially through a partnership with FTX Pay and subsequently through BitPay beginning in December 2024.[11][12][13]
AOG mechanical recovery coverage (FlightGuard)
[edit]Charter quotes booked through Stratos Jets franchised agencies include AOG mechanical recovery coverage marketed as "FlightGuard."[14] Coverage is included by default, but clients can decline it at the time of booking.[15] When a chartered aircraft becomes mechanically unavailable before departure, FlightGuard covers the price difference between the original contract and the market rate for a comparable replacement aircraft.[14]
Stratos Jets FlightGuard coverage is backed by Falcon MGA Services and Lloyd's of London’s JetSure policy.[14]
FlightGuard does not cover delays caused by an aircraft remaining in scheduled maintenance beyond its expected completion time.[16]
Leadership
[edit]Joel Thomas is the founder and CEO of Stratos Jets.[7] Darren Engle is the company's chief operating officer, and David Borgerding is chief financial officer.[17]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Exploring Life & Business with Joel Thomas of Stratos Jets". OrlandoVoyager. 2025-11-11. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Division of Corporations". Florida Department of State. 2007-03-12. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Wynbrandt, James (2021-09-09). "Carbon Offset Options Expand". Business Jet Traveler. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Aboraya, Abraham (2010-02-25). "Chartered relief". West Orange Times & Observer. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 "Stratos Jets launches air charter franchising programme". Business Air News. 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Stratos Jets To Offer Five Charter Brokerages To 'Ambitious Producers'". Aviation Week. 2025-02-20. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 3 4 "Stratos Jet branches out with franchise number twelve". Business Air News. 2025-09-05. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Marquand, Yvesle (2025-08-12). "Stratos Jets says franchising offers operators independence versus private equity". Corporate Jet Investor. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Hohnholz, Linda (2024-03-14). "Franchising From McDonald's to Private Jets". eTurboNews. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Reisch, Felipe (2025-08-19). "How helicopters bridge the last mile gap". Business Airport International. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Siebenmark, Jerry (2022-01-04). "Stratos Jet Enters Partnership for Crypto Payments | AIN". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Stratos Jets Partnering With Bitpay To Accept Cryptocurrency Payments". Aviation Week. 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Toti, Benson (2024-12-03). "Stratos Jets adds crypto payments via BitPay". crypto.news. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 3 Wilder, Amy (2025-11-25). "Stratos Adds Built-in FlightGuard AOG Coverage to Its Charter". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Stratos Jets Raises Reliability Standard with Built-In AOG Mechanical Recovery Coverage on Every Charter". Air Charter Journal. 2025-11-07. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Gorski, Emily (2025-12-08). "Founder Joel Thomas on How Stratos Jets Enhances Charter Flight with AOG Insurance". Aviation Pros. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Stratos Jets Adds Two Visionary Executives to its Leadership Team". Air Charter Journal. 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2026-02-17.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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