Kenny Dichter, founder and CEO of Wheels Up, has received the Eren Ozmen Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 17th Annual Living Legends of Aviation Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Dichter was recognised for his groundbreaking entrepreneurial achievements. The star-studded event, hosted by actor and aviation enthusiast John Travolta, honours those who have made significant contributions to aviation and aerospace. Dichter follows other notable award winners including Elon Musk.

In 2013 Dichter founded Wheels Up, which has become a fast-growing brand in the industry and expanded the addressable private aviation market. Dichter's vision for creating a solution that would leverage pent up demand at a lower price point and with guaranteed access, led to the placement of the largest order in history for turboprops. In just over six years, under Dichter's leadership, Wheels Up, through its membership programmes, features and technology, has achieved an enterprise valuation of over $1.5 billion, sold over 8,000 memberships, owns and manages a fleet approaching 200 private aircraft and employs over 1,000 people across the U.S.

“I'm honoured to be receiving the Eren Ozmen Award following the long line of accomplished entrepreneurs who have received this prestigious award before me, and I hope that it inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas to dream big,” says Dichter. “Wheels Up's tremendous growth is a testament to our incredible employees as well as our investors and partners. Together, we've created a brand that will continue to lead the market.”

With the December 12, 2019 announcement of Wheels Up's partnership with Delta Air Lines, and its agreement to combine with Delta Private Jets, the company is committed to creating unparalleled travel experiences in private and commercial aviation.

As an innovator known for reimagining the private aviation space, Dichter is now leading the digitisation of the industry through the development of a technology platform that aligns with his pioneering vision of making private flying and the private flying lifestyle accessible to millions of individuals and businesses in the US and around the world.

In 2001, he co-founded Marquis Jet, introducing the first-ever fractional jet card programme, which transformed the private aviation industry and the way private aviation is purchased. Marquis, over the course of a decade, generated over $5 billion in revenue, culminating in its 2010 sale to NetJets, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway.

In 2010, he went on to co-found Tequila Avion, an ultra-premium brand acquired by Pernod Ricard in 2014 for over $100 million. Dichter's career began at the University of Wisconsin, where he started Bucky's, a clothing store that quickly became popular with students on campus. After graduating, Dichter co-founded Alphabet City, a sports-marketing and music company that was sold to SFX Entertainment in 1998.