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Nicholas Air is a Part 135 charter and aircraft management company headquartered in Oxford, Mississippi, at the University-Oxford Airport (KUOX). The company operates an estimated 40-50+ aircraft across seven types — from single-engine turboprop (Pilatus PC-12) to ultra-long-range (Gulfstream G600) — all company-owned rather than fractionally sold to outside owners. Nicholas Air employs 200+ total staff (pilots are the majority), with pilots home-based across the entire United States. The company is non-union with an explicitly stated open-door policy. Nicholas Correnti is the Founder and CEO, having started the company in 1997 with a single Cessna 340 in Columbus, Mississippi. Nicholas Air serves approximately 650 jet card members and is ranked as the 10th-largest U.S. charter/fractional operator.
For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame Nicholas Air is this: it is the largest solely owned private air travel company in the United States — meaning every aircraft is company-owned, not sold as fractional shares to outside owners. The compensation structure is among the most aggressive in Part 135, with Captain pay ranging from $150,000 to $340,000 and FO pay from $100,000 to $290,000, plus substantial flight hour bonuses ($10K at 1,000 hrs, $20K at 2,000 hrs, $30K at 3,000 hrs). The fleet averages under 5 years old, and the January 2024 addition of the Gulfstream G600 with the Steel Jet program brought ultra-long-range capability. Captain upgrade potential within 12 months is a significant draw. Nicholas Air does NOT have an APC (AirlinePilotCentral) listing.
Sources listed at the end of each profile. Data compiled from public filings, airline newsrooms, AirlinePilotCentral, Glassdoor, FAA records, and industry publications.