Owners Kent and Niki Atkin have run their air charter transportation and flight-training company in Lincoln, California, for 17 years with pride in their personal commitment to their clients to deliver safety, comfort and luxury, as well as what they call doing business “the right way.” Recently, they doubled their facility to provide an avionics sales and repair department, as well as more space for students in their flight education program.
Located at Lincoln Regional Airport, Atkin Air is a Federal Aviation Administration certified company, flying 26 charter aircraft with 12 full-time pilots. While using the most modern aircraft on the market, the Atkins also employ an old-school business philosophy where, according to Niki Atkin, “a handshake is a bond.”
“When you train people to fly, there is a bond of trust that has to take place,” says Niki Atkin. “This is a personal business, and we will always deliver our services with the highest personal integrity.”
When they founded Atkin Air, there were only 10 aircraft on the runway. Today, a 6,000-foot runway leads King Air jets into the air. Their fleet size and the bigger facility are necessary as the demand for more charter flights continues to grow.
“More people want privacy, luxury and security when traveling, and after 911, many airports have long lines and tremendous delays,” says Atkin. “Commercial air travel has become a hardship to many, and we don’t have any of that. People who travel by air charter believe that time is most important.”
About 95% of flights chartered with Atkin are for business trips. A pilot may take a client to a destination and bring them back that same evening. Atkin Air also provides sight-seeing flights, weekend getaways, and aerial photography services.
“All of our planes are thoroughly detailed before each flight,” says Atkin. “The planes are clean and can be stocked with any amenities and catering a client requests. It is traveling beyond first class.”
The dynamics of operating a flight on demand business keeps the Atkins on their toes. They have to function as a 24/7 company where service must be available around the clock, every day. Pilots will be called in at all hours to take on a flight. On busy days, Atkin Air may charter up to 17 flights, making no two days alike.
With such a 24-hour operation of ready response in place, Atkin Air also takes organ donor flights through a program organized in the Bay Area. Their pilots may be called in the middle of the night to pick up a surgeon and an organ to fly them to the needed location. The pilot will then stay grounded until the surgeon is finished with the transplant to fly the doctor back home.
It saves time by delivering passengers in about half the time a commercial airline would take. For groups, the price is very reasonable.
With a commitment to personal service, the Atkins can guarantee their passengers will make their trip in about half the time it would take for a commercial flight and, for groups of seven, Atkin says the price becomes very doable. Atkin Air will also take care of the details that matter to their clients, such as the entire planning process from rental cars, limos, booking hotels, as well as any other special requests.
“Our goal is to spoil you!” says Atkin.
To book a flight or receive a competitive quote, call 800-924-2471 or visit AtkinAir.com.
