Report: Rectrix sold to Ross Aviation

Ross Aviation of Denver has acquired Rectrix Commercial Aviation Services Inc., the aeronautical business that services planes at Worcester Regional Airport and four other air fields.

The deal could lead to new construction at Worcester’s airport.

Aviation trade publication AINonline reported this week that the transaction includes “fixed-base operations” at Worcester, Hanscom Field in Bedford, Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport in Westfield, Barnstable Municipal Airport on Cape Cod, and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida.

“Rectrix Aviation has done an excellent job of providing customers with luxury facilities and exceptional customer service,” Ross Aviation president and chief executive Jeff Ross said, according to AINonline. “We are excited to expand the Ross Aviation footprint on the East Coast and believe the Rectrix locations will be very complementary to our existing portfolio.”

Ross Aviation has existing fixed-base operations at airports in Alaska, California, Arizona, New York and the Cayman Islands.

Richard A. Cawley, Rectrix chief executive, referred questions to Ross Aviation. The company did not return a message seeking comment.

The Massachusetts Port Authority, which owns and operates Worcester Regional Airport, said in a statement it is in discussions with the company for a new lease that would include demolition of current hangars 9 and 10 at the airport and construction of a new 20,000-square-foot hangar.

“Massport appreciates the relationship we’ve had with Rectrix, and we look forward to working with our new partner Ross Rectrix to support increased activity at Worcester Regional Airport,” Massport Acting CEO John Pranckevicius said in a statement. “The planned development of a new 20,000-square-foot hangar and fuel farm under Massport’s new lease amendment with Ross Rectrix will further enhance the airport’s facilities and pave the way for more business opportunities in the future.”

Fixed-base operators are businesses that contract to operate at airports to provide services. They can fuel private planes, provide parking and hangar space for aircraft, run charter flights, repair and maintain planes, operate private terminals and offer other services.

Rectrix built a $5 million aerodrome in Worcester that opened in 2015, complete with a pilot lounge and 20,000 square feet of heated hangar space. Rectrix has also operated seasonal charter flights between Worcester and Cape Cod.

Those services have been built up for private planes at the same time that Massport, which also owns and operates Hanscom Field in Bedford and Logan International Airport in Boston, has worked to bring new commercial flights to Worcester.

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