Five FBOs and a New York City heliport have joined the Atlantic Aviation chain en masse, bringing the network to a total of 18 locations. The new FBO locations include Burlington, Vt.; Gulfport, Miss.; Louisville, Ky.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Wilmington, Del. The deal also includes the East 34th Street Heliport in New York City.

The merger of Atlantic and AvCenters was predictable, since both are wholly owned subsidiaries of Maquarie Infrastructure, a U.S.-based affiliate of Australian finance giant Maquarie Bank. Atlantic Aviation CEO Lou Pepper told AIN the acquisitions are an ideal fit for Atlantic’s long-term business plan, which includes penetrating large-market airports such as Wilmington, Pittsburgh and Louisville.

In other Atlantic news, its FBO at New Orleans Lakefront Airport (NEW) will remain closed indefinitely, pending further repairs to hurricane damage. (Million Air has reopened to serve the airport; see below.) The Atlantic FBO was seriously damaged and flooded after Hurricane Katrina, with the water level reaching countertop height inside the recently remodeled terminal building. Atlantic v-p Sue Sommers told AIN the company has chosen to concentrate its recovery efforts on its other New Orleans FBO at Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY). Atlantic at MSY opened shortly after the storm waters subsided and fielded a substantial amount of bizav-sponsored hurricane-relief traffic. Many of the employees from the NEW facility relocated to MSY.