Flapper Secures Investment to Expand Its Technology and Launch Fractional Program
Flapper raises new funding as private aviation continues to build international presence
Flapper, a leader in on-demand private aviation, announced that it has raised an undisclosed amount of funding as part of its Series A extension. All existing late-stage investors contributed, including the private equity fund Confrapar, the DXA fund, the alternative investment fund Arien Invest, and the investment vehicles IVC and SMU. Previously, Flapper had raised seed capital from the aerospace fund Aerotec, ACE Ventures, and individual angel investors.
According to Paul Malicki, CEO of Flapper, the new funds will be allocated for technological improvements and potential mergers and acquisitions. As part of its vertical expansion, the company plans to direct resources towards a fractional management program, allowing existing and future aircraft owners to purchase shares in selected jets and turboprops that Flapper intends to operate indirectly.
Paul Malicki stated, ‘Following a successful regional expansion, Flapper is now focused on strengthening its leadership position with innovative aircraft management programs created in collaboration with air carriers within our network. We are dedicated to providing a full spectrum of executive aviation services to all stakeholders through our innovative light asset marketplace platform, which includes air charter, crowdsourced flights, aircraft sales, and aircraft management services to be introduced soon.’
Using its mobile app, Flapper’s customers can currently quote one of the 2,500 safety-verified aircraft available for charter in its marketplace or purchase individual seats on pre-scheduled flights. The company’s proprietary quoting system can estimate the cost of a charter flight and arrange it in less than two hours. Among the so-called ‘Flapper Specials’ are helicopter transfers offered by seat for events such as motorsports and music festivals, as well as various empty legs available in Latin America and Europe.
The company also emphasizes its commitment to greener operations. To catalyze the entry of fully electric aircraft into urban and regional air mobility, it has signed letters of intent with several OEMs, including conventional fixed-wing concepts (MagniX) and eVTOL/eSTOL programs such as Electra, Jaunt Mobility, and Eve Mobility, a spin-off of Embraer. The CEO of Flapper serves on the advisory boards of Eve and Supernal.
Flapper’s revenues grew 38% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2024, along with a 50% reduction in costs. The company was profitable in that quarter and now boasts 400,000 mobile app users. It has a local presence in the USA, Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico, and operates in the Middle East and India through its associate network.
Flapper estimates that the current market size of the air charter sector is around $10 billion. The company argues that the future electrification of aviation could triple the size of the general aviation sector, offering access to new and previously abandoned routes and landing points, promising a cheaper, eco-friendly, and virtually noiseless alternative to existing modes of transportation.
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