Since Sentient Jet was purchased by Macquarie Global Opportunities Partners last September, the company has returned to its roots, according to CEO Steven Hankin. Business is down, he concedes, but the slumping economy has forced business travelers to avoid owning capital assets–and therefore moved them toward purchasing jet cards. Sentient sells jet card memberships, brokers charters and operates a contract fuel business that helps operators that do business with Sentient save money on fuel costs. “We’re the only national non-fractional jet card business,” said Hankin.
Sentient was part of JetDirect Aviation until it was sold to Macquarie last year after JetDirect began having financial problems. Sentient was a standalone business until it merged with JetDirect in April 2007. Earlier this year, Sentient merged its fuel program with Everest Aviation Resources to create Everest Fuel Management. Year-over-year, all three of Sentient’s business segments have grown, Hankin said, and the company has added to its sales force during the past year to handle its growing business.
