SERE Holdings Ltd. has announced a major strategic move in the Northern Ireland aviation sector with the acquisition of Woodgate Aviation, one of the region’s most established private air operators. This acquisition marks a significant expansion of SERE’s aviation portfolio and strengthens its position as a leading provider of specialist aviation services across the UK.
The deal brings Woodgate Aviation, renowned for operating the Northern Ireland Fixed Wing Air Ambulance Service, under the umbrella of the newly formed SERE Aviation Group, alongside existing subsidiaries Jet Assist and 247 Aviation. This consolidation ensures the continuity of a vital healthcare transport link while expanding the group’s capabilities in executive air charter, ground handling, and medical repatriation services.
Woodgate’s long-standing General Aviation and Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) services, including its dedicated hangar and maintenance facilities at Belfast International Airport, will now integrate with SERE’s FBO infrastructure under the Jet Assist brand at both Belfast International and Belfast City Airports. This move guarantees enhanced operational support, including comprehensive ground handling, refuelling, and hangarage for the combined fleet and third-party aircraft.
SERE Holdings has committed to a multi-million-pound investment in the group’s capabilities, aimed at modernising services and improving resilience for the NHS air ambulance contract. The acquisition secures SERE Aviation Group’s position as Northern Ireland’s sole non-scheduled air operator and one of the largest specialist aviation groups in the UK.
Stanley Edgar, Group Managing Director of SERE Holdings, described the acquisition as “profoundly meaningful and poignant for me, as I obtained both my Pilot’s Licence and my Flight Instructor’s Qualification at Woodgate many years ago. It is with a deep sense of honour that I now assume the responsibility for Woodgate, particularly as a tribute to its founder, Mike Woodgate, who passed away recently. I firmly intend to honour his pioneering spirit by taking the company to the next level through strategic investment and integration, ensuring that the legacy he built continues to grow and deliver life-saving services to the region.”
James McKnight, Director of Flight Operations at 247 Aviation, expressed enthusiasm about the integration: “I am excited and genuinely looking forward to integrating Woodgate into the SERE Aviation Group. This is an exceptional opportunity to welcome a company with such a long and successful history. We plan to immediately capitalise on the vast experience of the Woodgate management team and staff to create a unified, high-performing group that sets a new standard for air ambulance and fixed-base operator services in Northern Ireland and further afield.”
Outgoing owner Johnny Keen reflected on Woodgate’s legacy: “Woodgate Aviation, which began in 1969 with just ‘a wooden hut and an Aztec,’ has grown into the oldest private aviation firm on the island of Ireland. As the second generation of a family-run business, it is a moment of pride to see the company’s future secured by SERE Holdings. This disposal ensures the legacy built over five decades will continue to grow and benefit Northern Ireland for years to come.”
