flyExclusive partners with AeroAngel bringing sick child to life saving treatment

Leo and his mother Priscilla Gonzalez. Photo: submitted by the Gonzalez family.

Local business flyExclusive recently partnered with AeroAngel.org to help bring a little boy named Leonidas (Leo) Gonzalez to the life-saving treatments he needed. Leo can’t fly commercial because of immunity concerns and traveled to Duke on a luxurious jet through flyExclusive.

“We had a wonderful experience with flyExclusive / Signature Flight Support,” said Aron Gonzalez, Leo’s father. “From the first time we spoke with AeroAngel, everything was made clear. We were told that there was absolutely nothing to worry about, that they would find a way to get us here to North Carolina as soon as we found out there was a viable organ.”

The two companies have partnered on previous flights where children in need of medical care are taken to their treatment facilities at no cost to their parents. 

“AeroAngel is grateful for the combined efforts of all those at flyExclusive who have contributed toward making private flights like Leo’s possible,” said Brit Baillargeon, Director of Special Projects with AeroAngel. “The level of passion and enthusiasm our teams share for helping seriously ill children access life-saving medical care is what fuels our drive toward ensuring short-notice flights come together.”

Leo was born with many health issues, some require surgical treatment. Leo was born with Tetralogy of Fallot, multiple holes in his heart, and Complete Digeorge Syndrome.

“Our partnership with AeroAngel has been such a fulfilling opportunity for the entire flyExclusive family,” said Roddie Hoyle, Director of Sales at flyExclusive. “Knowing that we work for a company that wants to give in a meaningful way, and not just take, makes everyone feel like we are truly making a difference.”

flyExclusive is no stranger to relationship building. Whether they are donating time or money to local organizations like Mary’s Kitchen, or investing in sustainability with a new carbon offset program, flyExclusive strives to be a positive force within the community. 

“When you work here, and you do flights with AeroAngel, it makes the pilots feel really great,” said Hoyle. “It makes everyone feel really proud, even the company.”

In 2020, AeroAngel, an organization based in Denver, Colorado, provided long-distance flights for over 70 sick children. This year they partnered with flyExclusive for seven flights.

“With all the things we have to worry about with Leo, they definitely relieved us of that stress,” said Gonzalez.