Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) will sell passenger ACMI and charter operator Omni Air International to OAI Holdings, a privately held company with an aviation track record, in a transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026 or early 2027, pending regulatory approval.

The divestiture removes ATSG's principal passenger-facing operation from its portfolio. Once the sale completes, the group will concentrate on three core lines:

• Air cargo transportation
• Aircraft leasing
• Related maintenance and logistics services

ATSG did not disclose financial terms of the transaction.

Why is ATSG exiting passenger operations?

Greg Mays, president and chief executive of ATSG, framed the sale as the execution of a long-planned strategic shift rather than a reactive move. "This agreement marks an important step for ATSG as it reflects the advancement of our long-term strategy of investing in and building out our core air cargo and related aviation services businesses," Mays said.

He added that the decision followed an extended strategic review of Omni's place in the group. "We have been assessing strategic options for Omni for some time given the significant opportunities in air cargo. This transaction allows us to focus our resources more fully on serving that market and related customers," Mays said.

The statement positions cargo demand — not passenger-market weakness — as the driver of the divestiture. Management is betting that capital and management attention redirected from passenger charter operations will generate better returns in freighter operations, leasing and the associated MRO and logistics businesses than in Omni's wet-lease and charter markets.

What does Omni bring to the deal?

Founded in 1993, Omni Air International specializes in passenger air transportation, providing customized charter services for commercial and government customers worldwide. Its business extends beyond charter flying: the Tulsa-based operator also supplies aircraft and operating support to other airlines through ACMI wet leasing, and offers airline startup, route development and aircraft management services.

That mix has made Omni a niche player in government and commercial passenger charter — a segment that requires dedicated aircraft, crews and certifications but sits apart from ATSG's freighter-centric fleet and leasing model.

OAI Holdings said it intends to build on Omni's established position in the passenger ACMI and charter markets while supporting the company's next chapter and long-term development. Mays endorsed the buyer's credentials, saying: "We look forward to continuing to execute on our strategic vision, and are confident that OAI is the right next owner for Omni and their customers as they will benefit from OAI's decades of proven aviation experience."

What happens next?

The transaction now rests with regulators. If approvals come on schedule, ATSG enters 2027 as a cargo-focused group — a cleaner structure for investors evaluating its freighter, leasing and MRO franchises, but one that also concentrates the company's exposure squarely on air cargo demand cycles.

For Omni and its commercial and government customers, the transition to private ownership under an experienced aviation owner will test whether the charter specialist can grow outside a cargo-dominated parent.