Amerijet International - Haiti Observer Blog

Amerijet International, established in 1974, began service with one piece of leased aircraft, carrying both freight and passengers from the U.S. to the Bahamas. CEO and Chairman, David Bassett, founded the airline with a co-partner. Bassett and his partner decided in 1976 to make Amerijet a cargo-ship carrier only. By 1978, Amerijet International bid for contracts that were then being given to Purolator, FedEx, UPS, DHL, and Airborne Express, and won them all.

By 1982 Amerijet, suffering financial difficulties, dissolved the partnership with a buyout by Bassett. Bassett re-launched the airline under the name Amerijet International, and ran the newly-formed company under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the next four months. A financial turnaround happened quickly, due to a merger with HIG Capital, who bought 66% of shares, leaving Bassett with 34% of the company. Since then the company has extended its fleet to nine airships, flying to 52 destinations, with 577 employee personnel. Its freight transportation division carries cargo to 550-plus destinations globally.

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