Ocean Aviation Expands South Florida Luxury Private Jet Infrastructure With National Jets Acquisition

South Florida continues to strengthen its position as one of the key destinations within global private aviation. The acquisition of National Jets by Ocean Aviation brings fresh investment to Fort Lauderdale and creates another significant piece of infrastructure serving the growing community of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals travelling through Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the wider region.

Backed by Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, Ocean Aviation has acquired the established fixed base operator at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. The transaction gives the company two strategic aviation locations across South Florida, complementing its major development at Miami Executive Airport and supporting an expanding luxury private jet ecosystem across the region.
For The 1%, this investment reflects the increasing importance of the experience surrounding the aircraft. Private terminals, hangars, lounges, ground services and personalised aviation environments are becoming integral elements of luxury mobility.

Ocean Aviation Builds Its South Florida Presence

National Jets has been part of American aviation since 1947, initially launching in Durham, North Carolina before establishing its Florida operations at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport in 1960. More than six decades of operations in Fort Lauderdale have created an established aviation business with long-standing customer relationships and an important position within the local private aviation community.
Ocean Aviation plans to preserve the National Jets identity while investing significantly in the location. The strategy combines the heritage and existing operations of National Jets with a substantial programme of redevelopment designed to enhance the experience for private aircraft owners, operators and passengers.
The acquisition represents Ocean Aviation’s second major commitment in South Florida following its development at Miami Executive Airport. Together, the two locations create a strategic presence within one of America’s most internationally connected luxury markets.

A Major Expansion for Fort Lauderdale Private Aviation

The National Jets site encompasses approximately 20 acres at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. Ocean Aviation plans a phased transformation of the facility, incorporating new aviation infrastructure and premium passenger environments.
The first stage is expected to include a large communal hangar, two private hangars, a new FBO terminal with executive offices and a new fuel farm. Once the development is completed, the site is projected to provide over 150,000 square feet of hangar capacity, representing a substantial expansion of its existing footprint.
For luxury private jet owners and operators, hangar availability plays an important role in aircraft management, particularly in a region where demand for premium aviation infrastructure is supported by substantial private wealth, international business activity and year-round leisure travel.
The investment also gives Ocean Aviation an operational platform in Fort Lauderdale while its wider South Florida strategy continues to develop.

Miami Executive Airport Adds Another Luxury Private Jet Gateway

Ocean Aviation’s ambitions extend significantly into Miami. The company was established in 2024 alongside the execution of a 40-year ground lease covering approximately 40 acres at Miami Executive Airport.
Plans for the site include a premium FBO terminal, a dedicated fuel farm and as much as 400,000 square feet of hangar space. The scale of the development demonstrates the level of investment flowing into infrastructure designed around private aircraft and their passengers.
Miami Executive Airport occupies a valuable position within the South Florida aviation landscape. Its proximity to Miami’s residential, commercial and leisure destinations makes it particularly relevant to private flyers whose journeys connect aviation with residences, hotels, yachts, business interests and international events.
Together, Miami Executive Airport and National Jets give Ocean Aviation a platform spanning two important points within the region’s luxury private jet network.

South Florida Has Become a Natural Destination for The 1%

The investment arrives as the global population of Ultra High Net Worth Individuals continues to expand. By mid-2025, the worldwide UHNW population had surpassed 510,000 individuals, with their collective wealth approaching $60 trillion.
Current projections indicate that the global Ultra High Net Worth population could expand by over one-third by 2030. This growing community influences demand across luxury real estate, hospitality, yachting, wealth management and private aviation.
South Florida sits naturally within this ecosystem. Miami, Miami Beach, Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale attract entrepreneurs, investors, family offices and internationally mobile families from North America, Latin America, Europe and other global markets.
For The 1%, the region provides a rare combination of business opportunity, waterfront living, luxury hospitality, cultural experience and access to the Caribbean. Luxury private jet infrastructure connects these different elements within a highly personalised travel environment.

Private Jet Activity Supports Investment in Aviation Infrastructure

The scale of international private aviation provides further context for Ocean Aviation’s expansion. Approximately 3.88 million private jet flights were recorded worldwide during 2025, representing annual growth of around 4.6 percent. The global business jet fleet encompasses approximately 22,000 to 23,000 aircraft, creating substantial demand for terminals, hangars, maintenance facilities, fuel services and premium ground handling. Private charter also represents a significant component of the aviation economy. Industry forecasts place the sector at approximately $17.4 billion in 2025, with projections reaching around $33.38 billion by 2030. As private aircraft activity grows, investment naturally extends into the infrastructure supporting every flight. The FBO becomes an essential part of this ecosystem, serving passengers while providing the operational environment required by aircraft owners, charter companies and flight departments.

The FBO Is Becoming Part of the Luxury Experience

For Ultra High Net Worth travellers, the luxury private jet experience begins on the ground. Arrival at the terminal, luggage handling, vehicle access, privacy, lounge environments and the transition from car to aircraft all contribute to the perception of the journey. This creates an opportunity for a new generation of premium FBO facilities designed with principles traditionally associated with luxury hospitality. Executive offices can support travellers conducting business around their flight schedule. Private lounges can offer personalised spaces for families and guests. Direct vehicle access can create fluid transitions between ground transportation and aircraft. Architecture and interior design can communicate a distinct sense of place. For The 1%, these details transform aviation infrastructure into an experience aligned with the standards found across private clubs, luxury hotels, branded residences and superyachts. Ocean Aviation’s plans for premium terminals across its South Florida locations reflect this broader evolution.

Miami, Fort Lauderdale and the Global UHNW Network

South Florida’s geographical position gives its private aviation infrastructure an international dimension. The region functions as a connection point between the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, while maintaining extensive links with Europe and major American financial centres.
A UHNW traveller can move between New York and Miami for business, continue towards a residence in the Caribbean, spend time aboard a yacht in The Bahamas and connect with European destinations through the international private aviation network.
Fort Lauderdale also plays an important role within the global yachting community. This relationship creates natural synergies between superyacht ownership and luxury private jet travel, with private aviation providing rapid connections between an owner’s principal residence and the location of a vessel.
For The 1%, aviation, yachting, real estate and hospitality increasingly operate as elements of one interconnected luxury lifestyle.

Private Aviation Infrastructure Becomes a Luxury Asset

Ocean Aviation’s acquisition of National Jets highlights the strategic value being placed on premium aviation infrastructure.
The Fort Lauderdale site brings approximately 20 acres of established operations and significant redevelopment potential. Its planned expansion beyond 150,000 square feet of hangar capacity creates a substantial private aviation asset within the region.
At Miami Executive Airport, the planned 400,000 square feet of hangar space adds another significant component to Ocean Aviation’s South Florida strategy.
These investments create infrastructure capable of supporting aircraft while simultaneously serving the expectations of the people who own and use them.
For The 1%, this convergence between operational capability and premium experience defines an important direction for the luxury private jet industry.

South Florida Strengthens Its Luxury Private Jet Ecosystem

Ocean Aviation’s expansion represents a significant investment in the future of South Florida private aviation. National Jets brings decades of aviation heritage and an established presence at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, while the Miami Executive Airport development introduces a substantial new aviation facility to the region.
The combination creates a platform designed around aircraft storage, passenger services, fuel infrastructure and premium terminal experiences across two strategic South Florida locations.
With more than 510,000 Ultra High Net Worth Individuals worldwide, close to $60 trillion in UHNW wealth and millions of private jet flights taking place every year, the relationship between private wealth and aviation infrastructure continues to deepen.
For The 1%, the evolution of luxury private jet travel increasingly encompasses the complete journey. The aircraft, private terminal, ground transportation, residence, yacht and destination form part of a connected mobility ecosystem designed around time, privacy and personalised service.
Ocean Aviation’s investment in Fort Lauderdale and Miami illustrates how South Florida is shaping the infrastructure to serve this next chapter of global private aviation.

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