Catheter Precision Expands Flyte Hops Regional Jet Platform

This article is based on an official press release from Catheter Precision, Inc. and Fly Flyte, Inc.

On March 25, 2026, Catheter Precision, Inc. (NYSE American: VTAK) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Fly Flyte, Inc. (“Flyte”), announced the expansion of its “Flyte Hops” platform. According to the company’s press release, the service is designed as a scalable, short-haul regional travel solution powered entirely by a fleet of Cirrus Vision Jets. By targeting flight routes under 500 miles, Flyte aims to bridge the gap between the inefficiencies of commercial airlines and the historically prohibitive costs of traditional Private-Jets charters.

The announcement follows a dramatic corporate restructuring. Catheter Precision, traditionally known as a medical device company focused on cardiac arrhythmia treatments, has fully acquired Flyte and secured significant institutional financing to pivot its business model into the regional air mobility sector. This transition marks a highly unusual but aggressive move into the private aviation market.

We have reviewed the official statements and accompanying industry research to break down the operational model, the financial mechanics of the acquisition, and the broader implications for regional air travel.

The “Flyte Hops” Platform and Fleet Strategy

The core of the Flyte Hops model is transforming private aviation from a discretionary luxury into a practical, high-frequency transportation solution. According to the release, the platform is purpose-built for short-haul flights under approximately 500 miles. Flights are operated by Flyte’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Ponderosa Air, LLC, which holds an FAA Part 135 air carrier certification.

To optimize fleet utilization, the company states that the platform relies on AI-driven scheduling and pricing. Passengers utilizing the service gain access to private fixed-base operators (FBOs), allowing them to bypass traditional TSA security delays and significantly reduce overall travel time.

Right-Sizing Regional Travel

Industry research highlights that the United States is home to over 5,000 public-use Airports, the vast majority of which are unserved or underserved by major commercial airlines. Flyte’s model capitalizes on this underutilized infrastructure, offering point-to-point travel that avoids congested major hubs.

Traditional legacy charter operators often rely on larger aircraft that are highly inefficient and cost-prohibitive for 300-to-500-mile trips. By matching the aircraft capability to the actual mission demand, Flyte aims to achieve a lower cost per flight hour and higher asset utilization.

Fleet Expansion and Organic Demand

Flyte is actively expanding its footprint to capture market share in these regional corridors. According to the provided research, Flyte currently operates three aircraft. Two additional Vision Jets are currently under accepted bids and are expected to be fully operational by Memorial Day 2026, which will bring the near-term fleet to five aircraft.

The company officially launched “Flyte Hops Florida” on March 16, 2026, connecting the U.S. East Coast from Maine to Florida. During a soft rollout in Florida, industry data indicates that a single aircraft generated over $160,000 in inbound flight bookings without any marketing spend, demonstrating strong organic demand. Following the East Coast rollout, Flyte plans to expand operations into California and Texas later in 2026.

Corporate Restructuring: From Medical Devices to Aviation

To understand Flyte’s current trajectory, it is necessary to examine its recent corporate history. Flyte was previously majority-owned by Creatd, Inc. (CRTD), which acquired the company in early 2025 and implemented a turnaround strategy focused on operational optimization and AI integration.

On March 10, 2026, Catheter Precision completed the Acquisitions of the remaining 80% equity stake in Flyte and 100% of Ponderosa Air, LLC from Creatd. According to financial reports, the deal was valued at approximately $11.55 to $12 million, structured as $6 million in cash and $6 million in VTAK convertible preferred stock.

To support this aviation venture, VTAK actively restructured its balance sheet. In February 2026, the company sold off non-core medical assets, specifically its atherectomy catheter technologies. Concurrently with the Flyte acquisition, VTAK announced it had secured up to $88 million in strategic institutional financing commitments to fund fleet expansion and scale the aviation platform.

The Verijet Connection

Flyte’s growth strategy also involves capitalizing on recent industry consolidation. In late 2025, Flyte actively pursued the acquisition of grounded Cirrus Vision Jets and infrastructure from Verijet, a former top-15 U.S. private jet operator that filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This move allows Flyte to absorb existing assets and meet market demand while attempting to avoid the operational pitfalls that hindered its predecessors.

Safety and Consumer Appeal

A major selling point for consumers wary of small aircraft is the specific safety profile of the Cirrus Vision Jet. The aircraft is a single-engine very light jet known for its low operating costs, but it also features proprietary safety technologies.

“The Cirrus Vision Jet features the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), the only full-aircraft parachute system in private aviation, and a ‘Safe Return’ Emergency Auto-land system that allows autonomous navigation and landing at the push of a button.”

According to industry analysts, these features are critical differentiators that help build passenger confidence in single-engine regional air mobility.

AirPro News analysis

The transition of Catheter Precision from a medical device manufacturer to a regional air mobility operator is one of the most unique corporate pivots we have observed this year. Following the completion of the Flyte acquisition in early March 2026, retail sentiment for VTAK surged, with the stock price experiencing a notable 50% increase as investors reacted positively to the company’s entry into the private aviation sector.

However, financial analysts note that this pivot remains highly speculative. Prior to securing the recent $88 million in financing commitments, VTAK exhibited signs of financial distress, including a low Altman Z-Score and Piotroski F-Score. The ultimate success of this venture will rely heavily on the executive team’s ability to successfully integrate the aviation business, scale the fleet efficiently, and maintain strict unit economics in a notoriously capital-intensive industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Flyte Hops platform?
Flyte Hops is a regional private aviation service focused on short-haul flights under 500 miles, utilizing a fleet of Cirrus Vision Jets to provide cost-effective, point-to-point travel bypassing major commercial airport hubs.

Who owns Flyte?
Flyte (Fly Flyte, Inc.) and its operating subsidiary, Ponderosa Air, LLC, are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Catheter Precision, Inc. (NYSE American: VTAK), which acquired the remaining 80% stake from Creatd, Inc. in March 2026.

How is Catheter Precision funding this aviation expansion?
The company sold off non-core medical assets in February 2026 and secured up to $88 million in strategic institutional financing commitments to fund the acquisition and subsequent fleet expansion.

Sources

• Catheter Precision / Flyte Press Release (GlobeNewswire)
• Industry Research Report (Provided via Web Search)