Jet2.com boss Philip Meeson has been named for the first time in an annual list of the wealthiest people in Britain.
He entered the 2014 Sunday Times Rich List at number 549 out of 1,000 with an estimated fortune of £170 million.
The former RAF pilot and aerobatics champion launched Jet2.com in 2002, selling 12,000 seats online within the first 24 hours.
Jet2holidays was launched five years later, offering package holidays to more than 50 destinations.
Also within the Leeds-based Dart Group holding company is logistics and distribution division Fowler Welch, one of the UK’s biggest suppliers to supermarkets.
Jet2.com operates more than 150 routes from eight airports in the north of England.
Chairman and chief executive Meeson moved into the world of commercial aviation in 1983 when he bought the Express group of companies, which floated on the stock market in 1988 and was later renamed Dart Group.
Dart made a record £40.5 million profit on £869.2 million sales in 2012-13. Meeson’s stake is worth £165m. Past salaries and dividends add £5 million.
Meeson inherited his love of planes from his father, who was a mechanic on Spitfires and Hurricanes during the Second World War.
The 66-year-old joined the RAF aged 17 before starting a business with a friend, selling second-hand cars, and raised enough money to buy a BMW franchise, but he was more interested in being a stunt pilot and formed the Marlboro Aerobatic Team.
He was British aerobatics champion five times between 1978 and 1986.
Meeson joins other travel industry figures in the list.
These include Southall Travel’s Kuljinder Bahia and family in 325th place with £298 million, Abercrombie & Kent co-founder Geoffrey Kent in 342nd position, worth £273 million, Trailfinders founder Mike Gooley at 367 with £250 million, Airtours founder David Crossland and his family at 458 with £200 million and Gold Medal Travel founder Ken Townsley at 596 with £125 million.
Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson and his family came in 23rd position, worth £3.6 billion.