Delta Air Elite buys Seagrave Aviation

A subsidiary of Delta Air Lines has purchased Kinston-based Seagrave Aviation, which runs a charter flight service and provides aircraft maintenance.

The multimillion-dollar cash acquisition of Seagrave and its 21 planes will nearly double the fleet size of Delta AirElite, which is based in Cincinnati and also offers charter flights. Delta AirElite now has 45 aircraft, spokesman Anthony Black said. The precise purchase price wasn't disclosed.

Jim Seagrave, president and owner of Seagrave, has been named president of the combined business.

Job cuts or job transfers could result from the acquisition, but that won't be decided until Delta AirElite decides the best way to combine the two operations.

Seagrave has about 100 workers.

Staff writer David Ranii