UNITED STATES OF AMERICA —Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) has signed a definitive agreement to divest Omni Air International, its passenger charter and ACMI wet-leasing unit, to private aviation entity OAI Holdings. The transaction, which remains subject to customary regulatory approvals, is slated for completion in late 2026 or early 2027. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the acquisition carries no financing contingencies.
This strategic realignment allows ATSG to exit the passenger transport sector and concentrate capital and operational capabilities strictly on its primary growth drivers: air cargo transportation, freighter aircraft leasing, and specialized aviation maintenance. Based in Wilmington, Ohio, ATSG is a major provider of aircraft leasing and air cargo services, operating a fleet that includes Boeing and Airbus aircraft through subsidiaries such as ABX Air and Cargo Aircraft Management. By offloading passenger operations, the company optimizes its resource allocation amid strong demand for global air freight capacity.
For Omni Air International, a Tulsa-based charter airline operating Boeing widebody aircraft for commercial and government clients, the acquisition by OAI Holdings provides a focused growth platform. The transition ensures continuity for Omni’s long-standing charter and ACMI commitments, particularly its transport services for government agencies, while insulating it from ATSG's strategic shift toward cargo infrastructure.
The deal reflects broader capital reallocation trends within the commercial aviation industry, where multi-segment operators are increasingly unbundling passenger and cargo operations to maximize specialized market opportunities. Investors and market participants in the aviation and logistics sectors are likely to see tightened competition in air cargo leasing as ATSG directs full operational focus toward freighter fleet management and logistics support.
