Satair

Satair was founded in 1957.[2]

On December the 23, 1957, a group of businessmen keenly dedicated to the aviation industry founded a new organisation: Scandinavian Air Trading Co. A/S. The founder was Blicher Jensen, a SAS engineer, and ten of his colleagues. Together they managed to put up share capital of DKK 50,000 distributed more or less equally among the shareholders.

The chairman of the company was Helge W. Hansen, and for the early years Satair was based at his home address. All aspects of buying and selling were handled by the 11 stakeholders; the books were done by Helge W. Hansen's wife.[3][4]

Satair expands and in 1960 it needs a real office and employees. The first employee being the secretary Tove Jeppesen.[4]

Satair has 24 employees and annual net revenues of DKK20 million. The business continues to grow and in 1979 Management decides to build a brand-new warehouse and office building on Amager Landevej 151, Kastrup Denmark.[4]

Satair now has 65 employees and revenues beyond DKK100 million.

But in 1981 disaster strikes. Satair's facilities are devastated by fire. It is just before Christmas, the early hours of December 22, when a fire breaks out in the old warehouse from 1967. The fire causes several explosions and nearby residents have to be evacuated. For two hours the firefighters battled the fight but the damage was done – the entire content of the warehouse was destroyed. All at an estimated loss of DKK 30 million.

In 1986 it established a subsidiary in the United States, and in 1988 opened an office in Singapore.[4]

A heavy recession in aviation forces Satair to downsize, especially its activities within aircraft trade and rental.

When the Iraqi army invades Kuwait on August 2, 1990 it is the start of the First Gulf War (Operation Desert Storm). At first Satair finds it to be unlikely that the war will influence its business, but as it turns out it puts a strain on the air traffic industry. The aviation industry as a whole reacts by putting its purchases on hold, drawing instead upon its own stocks of parts. This state of the market lasts several years, and the consequences are grave. Satair sales drop 6% in fiscal 1991/92, and for the first time in its history Satair must cut its workforce on account of external factors. The company sheds 23 jobs – 17% of its total staff.

In 1994 Knud Soerensen, Satair's CEO, retires at the age of 72 after 35 years with the company. John Staer is appointed his successor. John Staer comes from a position as Chief Financial Officer with Ambu International A/S, a manufacturer of equipment for the health sector.

In the 90's Satair continues to grow and sets up subsidiaries in Malaysia and China and takes over companies in France and Switzerland.

On June 3, 1997 Satair A/S obtains listing on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.[4]

In 2000 Satair's revenues exceed DKK 1 billion. New concepts such as Satair Direct, the Group's e-commerce concept, and IPP, a new service concept, are launched.

In 2001 Satair makes the decision to merge its OEM activities with UK-based C.J.Fox & Sons Ltd. and establishes Satair Hardware Group.

In 2003 Satair acquires two companies, Lentern (Aircraft) Ltd and Lentern International Inc.

In 2005 an agreement with US-based Pall Corporation (Pall) for the acquisition of the latter's distribution activities for Pall products in the commercial after market in North and South America is signed.

Having already established offices in China and Singapore Satair decides to look to the East again in 2006. The activities in Singapore are expanded by buying a company called TPA Pte. Ltd. This acquisition gives Satair local staff in Korea, Japan and Dubai.

In 2008 Satair acquires a 49% holding in the Chinese repair company Sichuan Ruibo. .[5]

In 2010 Satair completes the purchase of Aero Hardware in the US and in 2011 it acquires Aero Quality Sales in the UK.[4]

As of November 2011 Satair A/S is unlisted from NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen to become 100% owned subsidiary of Airbus. Satair is a stand-alonebrand and continues its current business as an independent brand under Airbus ownership.[4][2]

Satair Group is officially launched on January 1, 2014 as the merged organization between Airbus Material & Logistics Management and Satair A/S. They also open a new joint facility in Singapore. [6] In February Satair and Airbus open their first joint warehouse in Singapore.[7][2]

On November 1, 2016, Bart Reijnen took over as CEO of Satair Group succeeding former CEO Mikkel Bardram. Bart Reijnen has been working for the Airbus Group in various roles since 1995. His most recent position was Senior Vice President at Airbus Defence and Space at Bremen in Germany, where he has been for the past three years. Prior to this, Bart was CEO of Dutch Space B.V. in Leiden, the Netherlands, a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space.[8]

On February 6, 2018 Satair Group adapted its name, logo and visual identity thus transforming into a new identity under the name of Satair.[9]