Charter firm Wheels Up has appointed Rob Cords as executive vice president of fleet operations and infrastructure.
In his new role, Cords will lead all aspects of Wheels Up’s fleet maintenance, OEM relationships, corporate facilities and hangars, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, FBO services and supply chain. The company said Cords will also be a key contributor to overall operations integration and fleet strategy.
Cords said he is excited to join the team and to “continue building upon the great business [Wheels Up] members have come to trust”.
With more than 20 years of experience in the aviation industry, Cords joins Wheels Up from MRO Holdings, where he held the positions of president and board advisor. Before that, he was president of airlines and fleets at StandardAero for more than five years.
Vinayak Hedge, president, Wheels Up said: “As we continue to scale to meet growing customer demand and better serve our members, the availability, performance and health of our fleet is more important than ever.”
Hedge added that Cords will bring “a strategic and analytical orientation” to the role, with a “data-driven approach to problem solving”.
In February this year, Wheels Up acquired Arizona-based Part 135 operator Alante Air Charter to expand its operations and “strengthen its operational efficiencies”.
