SonicAir
{{short description|US logistics service company}}
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SonicAir, Inc.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=917961|title=Company Overview of SonicAir Inc|work=Bloomberg}} was an integrated logistics service company, providing Logistics Planning; Strategic Stocking, Returns Management, SmartCourier Field Repair, Depot Repair, Parts Distribution, and Transportation Services to its customers. Acquired by UPS{{Cite news|title=Company News; United Parcel Service to Acquire Sonicair|last=Jones|first=Dow|date=1995-01-05|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} in 1995, SonicAir was eventually absorbed into the UPS Logistics Group.
History
Sonic Air Courier Inc. was originally founded by Ray Thurston in 1976 to provide same-day and off-hour shipment of time-critical parcels. The company name would later combine into one word, SonicAir.{{cite web |title = Sonic Air's Boom Goes Bust|publisher =Inc. |date =December 1, 1985 |url = https://www.inc.com/magazine/19851201/3510.html}}
Thurston's beginnings in the transportation industry go back to the age of thirteen when he worked as a bicycle messenger after school and summers for his father's messenger service. One year after finishing college, Ray's father died, and he assumed control of the business at twenty-three. After several failed attempts to purchase the business from his stepmother, Ray went on to form a new company, SonicAir Couriers, a same-day courier servicing the entire United States. Ray evolved SonicAir by adding warehousing, distribution, supply chain software and consulting to their services.
Sonic Air Courier Inc., acquired Air Couriers International Inc. (ACI) in May 1984. SonicAir at the time was a 7 million dollar company acquiring a 19 million dollar company there were many challenges ahead and some difficult times.{{Cite news|url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/19851201/3510.html|title=Sonic Air's Boom Goes Bust|last=Wojahn|first=Ellen|date=December 1, 1985|work=Inc.}} On time performance was only at 85%, and the company had experienced significant financial losses. SonicAir committed itself to the principles of quality improvement and management to turn the company around. The turnaround was so successful that SonicAir was named a "Great Comeback" by Success magazine in August 1990 and "Turnaround of the Year" in 1990 by Venture Capital Magazine.
SonicAir developed the Field Support Bank in 1984 as the company strategically located warehousing to complement its existing same-day service. The company continued to add services as the needs of its customers dictated.
SonicAir's Field Support Bank business continued to grow{{Cite web|url=https://www.joc.com/sonicair-stock-data-general-parts_19930823.html,%20/sonicair-stock-data-general-parts_19930823.html|title=SONICAIR TO STOCK DATA GENERAL PARTS|date=1993-08-23|website=www.joc.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}} with great success for the next ten years attracting the attention of both the United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (FedEx).
In 1995, UPS acquired SonicAir.{{Cite web|url=https://aviationweek.com/awin/ups-agrees-buy-sonicair-expand-same-day-delivery-service|title=UPS AGREES TO BUY SONICAIR TO EXPAND 'SAME-DAY' DELIVERY SERVICE|last=Jan 9|website=aviationweek.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}}{{cite web |title =United Parcel Service to acquire SonicAir|publisher =The New York Times |date =January 1, 1995 |url =https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/05/business/company-news-united-parcel-service-to-acquire-sonicair.html}} It was initially operated as an independently run UPS Logistics Group Company{{Cite web|url=https://www.joc.com/sonicair-feather-ups-cap_19961229.html,%20/sonicair-feather-ups-cap_19961229.html|title=SONICAIR A FEATHER IN UPS' CAP|date=1996-12-29|website=www.joc.com|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}} providing worldwide service parts logistics planning, transportation, central parts distribution, returns management, reverse logistics, SmartCourier Field Repair, depot repair and warehousing for after-sale, time-critical product support. In 1997 SonicAir would begin to be branded as a wholly owned subsidiary of UPS.
Growth as part of a UPS subsidiary was rapid, and in February 1999 SonicAir announced that it would be tripling the size of its Louisville operation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/stories/1999/02/15/daily13.html|title=SonicAir to triple size of Louisville operation.|website=www.bizjournals.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}
On September 5, 2000, SonicAir became the UPS Logistics Group and many of the initial services it offered would become eventually become UPS Express Critical.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upsexpresscritical.com/cfw/|title=UPS Express Critical|website=www.upsexpresscritical.com|access-date=2019-06-21}}
References
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Category:United Parcel Service
Category:Defunct companies based in Louisville, Kentucky
Category:1974 establishments in Kentucky
Category:1995 disestablishments in Kentucky
Category:Logistics companies of the United States
Category:Transportation companies based in Kentucky
Category:American companies established in 1974
Category:Transport companies established in 1974