Forty years ago, founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics Mary Kay Ash needed a place for business partners to land and be treated with the standard of luxury for which the beauty icon and her brand were known. “The Mary Kay HQ, and then the Million Air Dallas terminal, were placed in Addison with the foresight to know that Addison would soon be a bustling business center for the North Dallas area,” says Sr. Director of Business Strategy at Cara Tolentino.
Now, Million Air Dallas, the private jet services company born from Ash’s need has grown into one of the largest fixed base operators in the world. “We were the first to pioneer the idea of a luxury fixed base operator,” says Director of Charter Operations Kim Hexter. The company is now owned by Richard & Nancy Rogers, with 15 aircraft under management, and flies approximately 3,700 hours per year.
Million Air offers its clients the ability to streamline the customs process when arriving on an international flight, as well as book cars, chauffeurs, and hotels via a single platform. It also publishes prices up front and prior to landing. Ramp fees are waived with a minimum fuel purchase, helping to ensure the pilots experience the same luxury standard as their passengers.
Other amenities include: complimentary wifi on the ramp, more than 13,000 square feet of heated hangar space, onsite showers and quick turn service, private snooze rooms, a business center with conference space, private pilot lounge, a newly renovated passenger lounge, and a surround sound-equipped theater room. Finally, private aviation passengers, like those at Million Air Dallas, have the ability to fly into 5,000 smaller airports, rather than the 500 commercial hubs accessed by major airlines and airports. “This means optimizing your most important asset: time,” says VP of Sales Amy Bowers.
In early 2025, Million Air Dallas launched its MAnext Brand to represent its aircraft management and charter divisions. “As the company expanded, we made the strategic decision to separate our business lines to better serve clients around the world,” says Tolentino. “This structure preserves the strength of the founding brand while enabling MAnext to focus exclusively on delivering premium, high-touch ownership and travel solutions.”
Aircraft management by a professional service like MAnext enables owners to sell their aircraft for 20 percent more on average. “We ensure 360-degree, transparent ownership—a partnership, not just a service,” adds Amy Bowers, vice president of aircraft management at MAnext. “We maximize your investment by offering an optional, professionally managed charter program, enabling owners to offset significant costs while retaining priority access and complete financial visibility. Our goal is to be your trusted aviation partner and make ownership seamless.”
Piloted by Many Women Leaders
Bowers, Hexter, and Tolentino are among the 14 percent of women who hold senior leadership roles in private aviation. All three are 20+-year industry veterans. “We have an exceptional team of career aviation professionals who work hard for our clients and operate with integrity in everything we do,” says Hexter, who began her career in aviation as a commercial pilot, before becoming a flight scheduler at Million Air Dallas post 9/11. “Over the course of my career with Million Air Dallas and MAnext, I have worked exclusively within the flight operations department, progressing from flight specialist, to manager of flight operations, and now, director of charter operations,” she says.
Bowers began her career at Executive Jet Management, building the company’s Texas market from the ground up. “This included securing new aircraft management clients and driving charter revenue to keep our fleet busy,” she says. She then worked at the now defunct Dallas-based Wheels Up, helping the brand fill its weekday schedule. Now, she is leading growth for MAnext. “I am leveraging my extensive experience with this established aviation company, a 40-year legacy poised for its next chapter of expansion,” she says. MAnext has recently grown to serve Houston, Austin, Fort Worth, and more.
Tolentino has spent her entire career in private aviation with Million Air Dallas. She began in line service for Million Air Dallas and has risen through positions in customer service, accounting, and flight operations, before landing in her current role overseeing business development, marketing, HR, and business operations for Million Air Dallas and MAnext. “Learning to navigate industry downturns and architect and execute strategic growth processes has handed me some of the biggest achievements along the way,” she says.
Piloted by these women leaders and the entire leadership team, Million Air Dallas and MAnext only hope to grow and continue perfecting and expanding the luxury services they offer. “Million Air Dallas continues to work on expanding the ground handling services that it provides at Addison Airport,” Tolentino says. And MAnext is continuing to expand operations. “Once we conquer the Texas charter and jet management service sector, the sky’s the limit!” she adds.