Surf Air Mobility
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | February 2020 |
| Headquarters | Addison, Texas , United States |
Area served | Regional air transportation |
| Products | Electric and hybrid propulsion systems, SurfOS operating platform |
Surf Air Mobility Inc. is a U.S.-based aviation firm concentrating on regional air transportation. The company is dedicated to advancing electric and hybrid propulsion systems to upgrade current aircraft and is developing SurfOS, an AI-driven operating platform tailored for regional air mobility. Its portfolio includes ownership of Surf Air, Surf On Demand, as well as Mokulele Airlines and Southern Airways Express.
History
Surf Air Mobility was established in February 2020 following its acquisition of BlackBird Air. It manages Surf Air, a private aviation service offering short-distance regional flights ranging from 50 to 500 miles.
In September 2020, the firm raised $200 million in capital from Global Emerging Markets Group (GEM) in preparation for its initial public offering.
The company planned to acquire Ampaire, a hybrid-electric powertrain innovator responsible for aircraft such as the Ampaire Electric EEL and Cessna Grand Caravan, in February 2021; however, this agreement was subsequently terminated.
By July 2021, Surf Air Mobility had entered into an exclusive collaboration with Textron Aviation to create a hybrid electric version of the Cessna Grand Caravan. This partnership included a commitment to purchase as many as 150 Cessna Grand Caravan EX turboprops, starting with an initial order of 100 units and options for an additional 50.
In July 2023, Surf Air Mobility became publicly traded through a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange—a move that financial experts considered highly speculative. The following month, August 2023, the company finalized its acquisition of Southern Airways Express.
March 2024 saw Surf Air Mobility sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Auric Air to electrify up to twelve Cessna Grand Caravans utilizing its proprietary powertrain technology once it receives certification.
Scheduled commuter flights were inaugurated in May 2024, linking Purdue University Airport (West Lafayette, IN) with Chicago O’Hare International Airport, as well as establishing Williamsport, PA’s sole scheduled commuter route connecting Williamsport Regional Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.
In June 2024, Surf Air Mobility entered into an MOU with Brazilian carrier ASTA to electrify up to four Cessna Grand Caravans pending certification approval.
August 2024 marked the launch of Surf Air Technologies alongside a strategic alliance with Palantir Technologies aimed at developing an AI-powered operating system for regional air mobility services.
In November 2024, the company introduced a comprehensive four-phase transformation strategy emphasizing enhancements in operational dependability and software capabilities to improve overall efficiency.
Operations were centralized in February 2025 when the system operations center was relocated to Addison, Texas.
By March 2025, Surf Air Mobility announced the selection of initial beta testers for SurfOS™, its AI-enabled software platform designed specifically for regional air carriers, brokers, and aircraft proprietors.