Omni Air International
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Omni Air International |
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| Industry | Charter aviation |
| Country | United States |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States |
| Parent company | Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) |
| Status | Active |
| Verification |
Unverified |
Overview
Omni Air International is a United States–based charter airline specialising in long-haul passenger transport and ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) wet-lease services. The company does not operate scheduled commercial routes, instead providing charter aviation for government, military, and commercial clients.
Headquartered at Tulsa International Airport in Oklahoma, Omni Air is certified under FAA Part 121, holds IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) registration, and participates in the U.S. Civil Reserve Air Fleet as a long-range international carrier. The airline operates wide-body aircraft configured for high-capacity, long-distance missions.
Boycott
Omni Air International has been the subject of boycott campaigns and sustained public criticism due to its role in operating deportation flights on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The airline has provided charter aircraft used in large-scale removals, including deportations to countries experiencing armed conflict or documented human rights abuses.
Investigative reporting and academic research have identified Omni Air as a key contractor willing to conduct deportation missions classified as “high-risk,” including flights involving restrained detainees and prolonged confinement. Human rights organisations have documented cases in which individuals deported on Omni Air flights were returned to situations involving detention, torture, or sexual violence, raising concerns under international law, including the prohibition on refoulement.
These findings have led advocacy groups and researchers to call for boycotts of Omni Air and related companies, as well as pressure campaigns targeting its corporate parent and business partners.
Background
Omni Air International was founded in 1993 under the name Omni Air Express, initially operating cargo services using Boeing 727 aircraft. The company later transitioned to passenger charter operations and adopted its current name in 1997. By the late 1990s, Omni Air had shifted its focus entirely toward long-haul passenger charters and wet-lease services, operating wide-body aircraft for commercial clients and government agencies.
Over the following decades, the airline expanded its fleet and secured contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and other state entities, operating international transport missions across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Omni Air has also been contracted for emergency repatriation operations, including government-organised rescue flights.
In 2018, Omni Air was acquired by Air Transport Services Group (ATSG), a logistics and aviation holding company, consolidating its position within a broader network of government and contract aviation services. The company has received substantial public funding through government contracts and emergency relief programmes.