Onex Partners to Acquire AirSprint in First Institutional Deal

Private equity firm Onex Partners, alongside TriWest Capital Partners and other co-investors, has agreed to acquire AirSprint Inc., marking the first institutional investment in the 26-year history of the Canadian fractional jet operator.

In a press release issued on June 25, 2026, the companies confirmed the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. The acquisition will provide capital to fund fleet expansion, technology investments, and strategic growth initiatives for the Calgary, Alberta-headquartered aviation company.

Leadership transitions and continuity

Following the close of the acquisition, AirSprint founder and chairman Judson Macor will transition to the role of chairman emeritus. President and chief executive officer James Elian will continue in his current executive capacity and retain his seat on the board of directors. Both Macor and Elian, along with certain current shareholders, will remain investors in the company.

Macor stated in the press release that the investment serves as a strong endorsement of the business model and future opportunities for the fractional operator.

“What makes AirSprint special is our people. As we enter this next chapter, I am excited to work with Onex, whose commitment to supporting our team, serving our fractional owners and advancing AirSprint’s long-term vision gives me great confidence,” Elian said, according to reporting by Corporate Jet Investor.

Fleet composition and operational scale

AirSprint currently operates a fleet of 44 Private-Jets. According to fleet data reported by ch-aviation, the operator’s inventory includes six Cessna Citation CJ2+ and 21 Cessna Citation CJ3+ light jets. The midsize and super-midsize fleet comprises five Embraer Legacy 450s, three Embraer Legacy 500s, eight Embraer Praetor 500s, and one Embraer Praetor 600.

The company inducted its first Embraer Praetor 600 in early 2025 and is currently evaluating larger aircraft types to integrate into its fractional ownership program.

The operator currently serves more than 600 fractional owners and employs over 400 aviation professionals across its facilities in Calgary, Toronto, and Montréal.

Onex Partners expands aviation footprint

The Acquisitions of AirSprint deepens Onex Partners’ existing involvement in the Canadian aviation sector. The private equity firm currently holds a 75 percent stake in WestJet Group, the parent company of commercial carrier WestJet.

Faiz Hemani, managing director at Onex Partners, noted the firm’s intent to support AirSprint’s core business growth and expand its service offerings.

“Judson Macor founded and grew the company from a single aircraft into a national private aviation platform defined by an uncompromising dedication to its Fractional Owners, and we’re proud to help carry that legacy forward,” Hemani stated in the June 25 announcement.

AirPro News analysis

We view the acquisition of AirSprint by Onex Partners as a logical consolidation of Canadian aviation assets by a major institutional player. By adding Canada’s largest fractional jet operator to a portfolio that already includes a controlling stake in WestJet, Onex is diversifying its exposure across both commercial airline operations and high-net-worth private aviation. The injection of institutional capital will likely accelerate AirSprint’s fleet modernization, particularly as the operator evaluates larger cabin classes to compete with cross-border fractional programs operating in North-America.

Sources: Onex Partners