The Road to the Dallas 100™ – DFW Private Luxury Aviation (Million Air, Leviate Air Group)
In this episode of The Road to the Dallas 100, host Daniel Litwin takes listeners on a special journey, not down the road but up into the skies with a roundtable episode, aptly titled “The Runway to the Dallas 100.” Today’s show shines a spotlight on two major players in the competitive luxury private aviation industry, Luis Barros, CEO and founder of Leviate Air Group, and Kiril Jakimovski, VP of Marketing and Sales at Million Air Dallas. Together, they provide insights into what it takes to excel in the high-stakes, high-net-worth-driven world of luxury private aviation, especially as Dallas-Fort Worth continues to grow as a hub for business leaders and wealth.
The episode opens with Luis and Kiril recounting their early inspirations in aviation—Kiril’s fascination with aerospace engineering and Luis’s childhood spark during a visit to a local county airport. Both shared how those early experiences evolved into decades-long careers in the private aviation industry. Kiril worked his way from engineering roles to marketing and sales leadership, while Luis’s journey took him from entry-level roles to founding his own company, Leviate Air Group.
A major theme throughout the conversation is the importance of mentorship and how lessons from both mentors and customers shaped their leadership. Kiril highlights how feedback from customers can offer unexpected but critical insights into business success, while Luis reflects on early mentors who helped him understand the value of building a company from the ground up.
Both leaders emphasize that their hands-on experience in technical and operational roles has been a critical asset. Understanding the inner workings of the industry gave them the ability to lead teams with credibility and a deeper knowledge base. This background also makes them more competitive, allowing them to blend technical expertise with the luxury and service expectations of the private aviation industry.
The episode digs into the realities of leading in a space filled with stiff competition and high expectations. Kiril and Luis explain how they’ve adapted to shifts in customer demographics and preferences, especially during pivotal times like the pandemic, which created an influx of new, younger private aviation clients. From embracing new technologies and analytics platforms to offering innovative luxury experiences, both companies have pivoted to meet the changing needs of high-net-worth individuals.
As the discussion wraps up, Luis and Kiril share their vision for scaling their businesses and the future of luxury private aviation. For Leviate, this involves exploring strategic mergers and acquisitions to position the company for the next phase of growth. Million Air, on the other hand, is preparing to launch a new division, MAnext, which will offer a one-stop luxury travel experience, bundling private jet services with exclusive villa accommodations and tailored travel packages.
Ultimately, the episode provides valuable lessons for anyone looking to understand how to thrive in a high-end, competitive industry: surround yourself with a strong team, stay ahead of market trends, and be willing to adapt and innovate.
For more information about their companies, visit Leviate Air at leviateair.com and Million Air Dallas at millionairdallas.com or their new division, MAnext, at manext.com.
