Overview
Software as an Airline, not the other way around.
Asteria Air is a Part 121 certified regional carrier using custom software, AsteriaAtlas, as our primary long-term asset.
We are building AsteriaAtlas on live data, featuring automated pipelines and a growing Q400 fleet model.
One Integrated Platform
AsteriaAtlas replaces up to 20 legacy systems to drive hyper-efficient airline operations.
Digital Twin Architecture
Our software runs simulation and production using identical logic to ensure seamless operations.
Software Margins, Not Airline Margins
We leverage our operational data to license Atlas to other carriers at high software margins.
25+
Target Airports Across Midwest & Florida
30+
Real-World Data Feeds Powering Atlas
1
Fleet Type for Maximum Efficiency
Business Model
Two products, one company.
Our airline, Asteria Air is our proving ground and data engine; AsteriaAtlas is the operating system we sell.
The Airline: Asteria Air
An independent regional carrier operating Part 121 mainline flights with a Part 135 partner for thin routes.
Fleet & Network
  • Fleet: 70-seat Q400 turboprops optimized for quick turns.
  • Network: Midwest/Great Lakes hub at GRR; PBI hub for winter and expansion, more in future/
Strategic Edge
We compete directly against car travel, engineering our entire product to consistently beat 2–5+ hour door-to-door drives.
The Platform: AsteriaAtlas
A comprehensive operating system for the entire airline stack—from network planning to booking and customer service.
Unified Architecture
  • Integrated Platform: Replaces 15–20+ fragmented legacy vendor systems.
  • Digital Twin: Simulation and production run on identical data, training the system daily.
Long-Term Vision
We prove that modern airlines run on one "brain," then license this software to other carriers at 75–80% gross margins.
Regional Air Travel
Bypassing hubs and restoring lost routes.
Consolidation, scope clauses, and pilot shortages gutted regional flying — leaving Western Michigan with a choice between multi-stop hub runs or 4–6 hour winter drives.
The Problem
Regional departures have plummeted since 2019, forcing travelers into long, stressful drives or inefficient hub connections.
Our Solution
We leverage Q400 economics and algorithm-first scheduling to restore nonstop city pairs that major carriers have abandoned.
The Result
We prioritize total trip time to get passengers out of their cars and back into the air with seamless regional service.
Network & Geography
Michigan born. GRR home base. PBI winter engine.
Asteria is a Pure Michigan airline. With our North Woods aesthetic and Michigan-sourced onboard offerings, we are bypassing the major hub headaches of Chicago, Minneapolis, and Detroit.
The Network
  • Midwest from GRR: Milwaukee, Madison, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, and more via nonstops and smart one-stops.
  • Inter-Michigan: Q400 and Part 135 shuttles linking Traverse City, Pellston, Muskegon, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Marquette.
  • PBI Winter Hub: Seasonal operations for Florida secondary cities and leisure markets, avoiding Miami and Orlando congestion.
Future "Hubs"
AsteriaAtlas monitors self-connect flows at non-fortress airports; when demand hits threshold, we activate a new mini-hub:
  • Madison (MSN): Capital city; underserved.
  • Appleton (ATW): Fox Valley corridor; no fortress competition.
  • Columbus (CMH): Strong O&D demand; strategic SE connector.
  • Duluth (DLH): Northern gateway; Upper Midwest connectivity.

Uniforms as Brand Weapon
Carhartt x Asteria 'Glacier Night' collaboration — Pure Michigan, worn by the crew. Pilots are apex predators. Flight attendants are field officers. The uniform doesn't just represent the brand. It IS the brand.
Fleet
The Q400: the hardware that teaches Atlas.
We exclusively fly the De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 (Q400). This 70-seat turboprop offers jet-like performance on the short-haul routes where regional efficiency matters most.
Right-Sized
Perfectly sized for routes where larger jets fail to pencil, enabling service restoration rather than cuts.
Jet-Competitive
Fast turnaround times keep us competitive with jets on sub-500 nm legs.
Winter-Built
Engineered for harsh climates with a proven safety record in demanding conditions.
Fast Turns
Optimized for 10–25 minute turn times, designed from the Gantt chart backwards.
Atlas-Optimized Routes
AsteriaAtlas identifies the precise range and performance edge for maximum route profitability.
One Fleet, One Brain
Unified training and maintenance playbooks create a simplified, software-managed reliability model.

Asteria Air is building a true Part 121 airline, fully certified and optimized for the regional mission.
Passenger Experience
Passenger-obsessed policies that beat the car.
Our policies prioritize speed, calm, and predictability for a faster, enjoyable trip.
Free Checked Bags
Free Checked bags, no carry-on chaos.
Premium Concierge
Open seating with real human help, no fare ladders.
Ground Shuttle
Free shuttles from key areas — we own your door-to-door time.
One Fare, No Tricks
One fare, free changes, zero hidden fees.
Sensory Friendly
Earplugs, calm lighting, and sensory-friendly experiences built in.
Real Comfort
2–2 seating, no middle seats, Starlink Wi-Fi, local Michigan snacks & drinks.
Operations
Focused efficiency: one fleet, one platform, ghost stations.
One fleet, one platform, one playbook — every physical and digital operation engineered to remove friction.
Software Operations
AsteriaAtlas runs crew scheduling, dispatch, maintenance tracking, and gate assignments in real time. Algorithm-first scheduling, seasonal rebasing.
Physical Automation
Self-tag bag drop, self-scan gates, weight-sensing hardware, electric GSE, and app-guided deicing. Every step removes friction.
Ghost Stations
One cross-trained Operator, contracted screening, remote CX on video. Full Part 121 security. Curb-to-seat in 25 minutes.
Reliability
One fleet, one playbook, one platform. When something breaks, Atlas coordinates recovery so the system flexes instead of collapsing.
Crew as Competitive Advantage
Best regional job in the country. Competitive pay, stable schedules, one fleet type, and a culture built around precision. Retention is an ops metric, not an HR afterthought.
Customer Technology & Self Connecting
Seamless connections, unified customer experience.
One itinerary. Every leg, every connection, every partner flight — stitched together and watched in real time. When something breaks, we fix it before you notice.
One Brain for the Trip
We run our own booking and CX stack, wired into airline rails. It provides a single source of truth for flights, connections, and recovery.
Weaponized Spokes
Atlas evaluates real demand and MCTs to surface self-connect options through our hubs. We make these connections viable without the typical risk.
Stealth Self-Connect
Our platform links passengers beyond the Asteria network to other carriers without needing interline agreements. You see one itinerary while we control the network and software.
ConnectSure Protection
If a delay breaks your onward leg, we rebook you at our cost. ConnectSure logic is baked into the flow, turning risk into a protected product.
Founding Team
Founding Team
Ross Kinkade
Systems‑minded airline founder, aviation strategist, software operator.
  • Background in urban planning and community development; shifted to aviation strategy at Ricondo.
  • Supported many different airports, carriers and stakeholders with air service development.
  • Eight years in the Salesforce ecosystem, building data and software systems for operators, bootstrapped a Salesforce Consultancy to seven figures.
  • Now focused on designing and running Asteria Air.
Jonathan Rupp
Pilot, ops leader, fleet chief, airline co‑founder.
  • Embry‑Riddle trained, with airport ops experience at PHX and ATL.
  • 4,000+ flight hours across corporate charter, air ambulance, and fleet ops over 15+ years.
  • Former Fleet Chief Pilot, led aircraft recoveries, ops strategy, and pilot teams.
  • Brings cockpit and ops leadership into the design of Asteria Air's operation and our advisory work.
Roadmap
Roadmap: Phase 0 to full ecosystem.
Asteria grows through disciplined phases where each milestone validates the next.
1
Foundation & Atlas MVP (2024–Early 2026)
Status: ✅ Complete and evolving.
  • Atlas MVP includes Q400 fleet logic and 16 automated data pipelines.
2
Airline Entry (2027–2028)
Target: Charter revenue by late 2027 or early 2028.
  • Achieve Part 121 certification and deploy hybrid Atlas decision support.
3
Scheduled Service Launch (2028–2029)
Target: Scheduled service launch 2028, ramp through 2029.
  • Execute Part 121 routes in Midwest/Great Lakes + PBI using production Atlas modules.
4
Network Scale + SaaS (2029–2031)
Target: 10+ aircraft, first SaaS licensing deals by 2030–2031.
  • Expand network and launch internal subsidiaries via the mature Atlas platform.
5
Full Ecosystem (2031+)
Target: Platform maturity and exit readiness by 2032–2033.
  • Establish multi-carrier operations leveraging network effects for exit optionality.
Development sequence remains firm despite potential market shifts.
Stay in touch
Contact us & Stay in the loop
Asteria Air is a pre‑launch airline in active development. We’re building the airline and the operating system underneath it.”
“If you want to help fund it, fly it, integrate with it, or use the platform, reach out.
© 2026 Asteria Air, Inc. All rights reserved.St