Wilson Air Center General Manager Vince Papke, Founder Bob Wilson and Airport Chief Executive Officer Haley Gentry pose with a Delta Air Lines award recognizing Wilson Air Center at CLT as its top 2023 fixed base operator.
April 18, 2023 – Delta Air Lines has recognized Wilson Air Center at Charlotte Douglas International Airport as its top 2023 fixed base operator (FBO) in the nation.
“What you have is very special,” said Dale McCartney, Delta’s manager of charter operations. “Wilson Air Center in Charlotte is a shining star out of all the FBOs we use around the country, and we work with some fantastic FBOs.”
Located on the CLT campus, Wilson Air Center provides private and corporate aviation support services to several large companies as well as NBA and NFL teams.
For its inaugural award, Delta asked its more than 70 charter coordinators and planners to vote on the best FBO based on level of service. When the votes were tallied, McCartney said it wasn’t even close.
“To say this was a landslide victory for Wilson in Charlotte would be an understatement. You guys really shine,” McCartney said.
Bob Wilson founded Wilson Air Center in 1996 with the same commitment to customer service his father established at the Holiday Inn hotel chain. With locations in Memphis, Houston, Chattanooga and Charlotte, Wilson says Charlotte stands out and he gives credit to the staff.
“This is quite an honor,” Wilson said. “The Wilson name is on the building, but you are the ones who truly make it work.”
The award itself is etched on an actual passenger plane window. At the luncheon celebrating Wilson’s achievement, McCartney said he foresees this as the first of many for the Charlotte FBO.