CLEARWATER, Fla., May 10, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avantair, Inc. (OTCBB:AAIR), the industry leader for fractional aircraft ownership and flight hour time cards in the light jet cabin category and the only publicly traded stand-alone private aircraft operator, announced that John Blatchley has joined the company as Northeast Regional Sales Director.
In his new role, Blatchley will grow Avantair sales in the Northeast and Eastern Canada as well as develop relationships with existing Avantair customers. Blatchley, who will report to Executive Vice President John Colucci, joins Avantair from Columbia Aircraft Sales where he was responsible for Piper Aircraft Sales in the Northeast. While at Columbia, Blatchley forged relationships with new customers while strengthening Columbia's association with Piper Aircraft and their existing customers. Even in tough economic times Blatchley kept Columbia's Piper Program profitable by maintaining a high sales volume and keeping a close watch on inventory and expenses.
"John is a highly-driven sales professional with a proven track record in the aircraft industry who will provide critical leadership to our Northeast region sales team," said Colucci. "We believe his sales and management experience will help build on our successful model to grow our business in the region and enhance Avantair's position as the leader in fractional aircraft ownership. We are incredibly excited to have John as part of the Avantair team."
Blatchley has 13 years of experience in the aircraft industry, including restructuring aircraft sales organizations and revitalizing neglected sales territories. In addition to his previous role with Columbia Aircraft Sales, Inc., he held sales management positions within Cutter Aviation, Inc., and successfully established and operated his own company in the food service industry.
Adding to his credentials in the industry, Blatchley is also a certified Commercial pilot with 2,100 total flight hours. He has multi-engine and instrument instructor ratings, and is also a certified Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic. Blatchley received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation from LeTourneau University (Longview, Texas) and resides in Connecticut with his family.
About Avantair
Avantair, the sole North American provider of fractional shares, flight time cards and Axis Lease in the Piaggio Avanti aircraft, and the only publicly traded, stand-alone private aircraft operator, is headquartered in Clearwater, Fla., with approximately 450 employees. The Company offers private travel solutions for individuals and businesses traveling within its service area, which includes the continental United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico, at a fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership. The Company currently manages a fleet of 56 aircraft, with another 51 Piaggio Avanti aircraft on order through 2013. For more information about Avantair, please visit: www.avantair.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to Avantair's future financial or business performance, strategies and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "trend," "potential," "opportunity," "pipeline," "believe," "comfortable," "expect," "anticipate," "current," "intention," "estimate," "position," "assume," "outlook," "continue," "remain," "maintain," "sustain," "seek," "achieve," and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "would," "should," "could," "may" and similar expressions. Avantair cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Avantair assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance.
In addition to factors previously disclosed in Avantair's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and those as may be identified elsewhere in this press release, the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: general economic and business conditions in the U.S. and abroad, changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles, changes in market acceptance of the company's products, inquiries and investigations and related litigation, fluctuations in customer demand, management of rapid growth, intensity of competition. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Avantair does not assume any obligation to update the information contained in this press release.
Avantair's filings with the SEC, accessible on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov, discuss these factors in more detail and identify additional factors that can affect forward-looking statements.