Surf Air Mobility Inc. (SRFM) is making a serious play in aviation software, and investors seem to like what they're hearing. The company's stock climbed Tuesday after announcing progress on SurfOS, its AI-powered platform designed to bring order to the chaotic world of private aviation and air mobility.

The Palantir Connection Gets Deeper

Here's where things get interesting. Surf Air isn't building this alone. The company has doubled down on its relationship with Palantir Technologies Inc. (PLTR), the data analytics giant known for helping organizations make sense of complex operations. SurfOS is built directly on Palantir's AIP and Foundry platforms, which means it's tapping into some serious artificial intelligence firepower.

The goal? To unify what's currently a pretty fragmented air mobility ecosystem. Think about private aviation today: lots of different operators, brokers, and owners all working with different systems and processes. Surf Air wants SurfOS to be the connective tissue that makes everything more efficient, reliable, and profitable across the industry.

Following the Money

This isn't just talk. As part of a recent $100 million strategic transaction, Surf Air Mobility carved out $26 million specifically to advance SurfOS development. That funding is going toward three flagship products with straightforward names: BrokerOS, OperatorOS, and OwnerOS. Each one targets a different slice of the aviation market.

The company plans to use the capital to expand its engineering team, build out go-to-market capabilities, develop enterprise-grade solutions, and launch new modules. The timeline? Commercial rollout is targeted for 2026, assuming everything stays on track.

What's Actually Working Now

While 2026 might sound far off, Surf Air has already been testing SurfOS internally with some tangible results. Recent launches include a Palantir AIP-powered analytics dashboard that provides predictive insights for crew scheduling and reliability, plus enhanced mobile features for flight operations crews. These aren't pie-in-the-sky concepts; they're real tools being used in actual operations.

What Leadership Is Saying

Sudhin Shahani, Co-founder and Board member of Surf Air Mobility, positioned this as a transformational moment: "With Surf Air Technologies now funded, we are well positioned to begin the commercial launch of our category-defining SurfOS products. Backed by our partnership with Palantir, we are confident SurfOS will set a new standard for AI-enabled regional aviation software and will be part of the infrastructure needed for the industry's transition into the next era of air mobility."

Ted Mabrey, Palantir Global Head of Commercial, echoed the enthusiasm: "This is the next chapter of our partnership with Surf Air. Together, SurfOS and Palantir's Foundry and AIP platforms have delivered AI-enabled outcomes across Surf Air's core business. We are excited to power SurfOS and accelerate its transformation of the fragmented Part 135 aviation segment."

Part 135, for those not fluent in aviation regulations, refers to commercial operators of smaller aircraft—essentially the private charter and air taxi world that Surf Air is targeting.

Market Reaction

Investors gave the news a modest thumbs up. Surf Air Mobility shares rose 2.07% to $1.97 during premarket trading Tuesday. Not a moonshot, but solid green after what's been a challenging stretch for the stock.