CARIBAVIA 2025 BIRDY Private Jets - connecting the Caribbean By Kelly Murphy

Born in New York and raised in Saint Barthelemy, Sherkane de Haenen draws her inspiration from a unique family heritage where aviation, exploration, and the arts converge.

After studying business in France and gaining experience in the automotive industry, Sherkane returned to St. Barth and founded BIRDY.AERO, trading as BIRDY Private Jets, her own private aviation charter company.

Her grandfather, Rémy de Haenen, an iconic adventurer and pilot, made the first historic landing on St Barth’s Saint-Jean’s savannah (la Savane). He advised no one of his plan - just landed between the hill and the sea - in February 1945. Captured by the tiny island’s beauty, he decided to settle there and became one of the most notable figures of the Caribbean. Self-made and an unconventional character, he built the 500-metre landing strip and established Saint Barth Airport. He repeated that triumph in 1959, landing at the even smaller Saba Island and then established Caribbean Airline Company - to connect the Caribbean Islands.

Sherkane de Haenen.

Rémy ran various businesses throughout his life. After a successful career as a marine trader, he acquired his first aircraft for $2,500 in Puerto Rico and acquired his first aircraft.

“My grandfather of course inspired me, and I believe he didn't only inspire me, he inspired a lot of people,” Sherkane says.

The Flying Gentleman, authored by Tristan de Haenen and Philippe Esnos and published in French and English, (https://amzn.to/4lYI86h) is an account of Rémy’s adventurous life. From a young officer on the illustrious ocean liner Normandie, he became a lobster fisherman in Cuba, a gold prospector in French Guiana, a smuggler in the islands, a treasurer hunter with Commander Cousteau, but above all a pilot.

“He was the kind of person who never really set limits on what he wanted to achieve. He would take action first and then ask for permission later, if he asked at all,” Sherkane says. She remembers that as his true influence on her was humility.

Growing up with a spirt of adventure, cultural openness and countless travel experiences, Sherkane’s early exposure to these worlds shaped her drive to create meaningful experiences through travel.

After studying business in France and gaining experience in the automotive industry, Sherkane found her calling in aviation. She rose through the ranks at Europe’s busiest business airport before founding BIRDY Private Jets, her own private aviation charter company. Today, she channels her passion into crafting seamless journeys and building bridges between people, cultures, and destinations.

Establishing the company four years ago, Sherkane is a woman owned and managed company with a fresh name [it came to her as she was driving on a highway in Paris]. BIRDY focuses on charter flights for private flights on any aircraft required. While based in St. Barths covering the Americas, Sherkane’s business partners cover Europe and Africa - with the goal to expand in the future.

“We don’t own any aircraft, so we don’t have those costs, and that’s a good thing as we have no limits in the type of aircraft we can charter and plan itineraries anywhere in the world,” she adds.

The future of BIRDY will include strengthening the company’s partnerships with concierge and private chauffeur’s not only in the Caribbean but any destination they fly to. “My mission at BIRDY is to really connect the Caribbean to the world, spreading the word about tourism and airlift growth in the Caribbean, working closely with CARIBAVIA,” she says. Sherkane did a brilliant job coordinating guests’ travel arrangements and serving as on the ground conduit for the event. “Sherkane was absolutely fantastic. I couldn’t have put on this event without her and her team,” said Cdr Bud Slaebbert.

Sherkane’s boutique-style company continues to prove its worth both in the United States and Europe by establishing value, reliability, and trust to its customers - 70% are repeat customers - with new customers continually added.

A big supporter of raising the next generation of female aviators, Sherkane participated in Girls in Aviation Day and underlines the importance of these type of inspiring youth events. Having worked in the male-dominated automotive industry she points out: “We need to show girls there are plenty of possibilities in aviation – there are no limits “if you are passionate, proactive, and learn fast - nothing can stop you.”

She encourages youngsters to “be curious, ask questions, and don’t wait for someone to give you permission for anything. Just go for it. Aviation needs more women, not just in the cockpit, but also across operations, logistics, strategy, leadership - build your own path.”

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 7th August 2025 | Issue #807