The company specialised in the transportation of oversize or unique cargo, chartering flights on Antonov An-124s, Ilyushin IL-76s and Boeing 747 freighters.

With a background at Ansett and air charter, James assisted the company to successfully bid for the Australian Defence Force Troop Lift Contract.

Former OzJet operations director David Blake was appointed CEO in 2008 to assist with the expansion of the airline side of the business.

In June 2009 Strategic purchased the troubled airline OzJet along with its staff, its Air Operators Certificate and the Perth–Derby RPT route.

[11] In February 2011 Executive Director, Shaun Aisen severed his ties with the company leaving Michael James the sole owner.

[12] In The Sydney Morning Herald on 2 April 2011, it was first claimed that the airline would change its name by the end of the year, in order to create a brand more identifiable with its Australian roots.

The name change was confirmed in August 2011, with the airline also planning on becoming a low-cost carrier and announcing service from Brisbane and Melbourne to Honolulu to begin in December 2011.

This was brought about because the fuel supplier refused to refuel an aircraft in Phuket, Thailand on 16 February 2012 due to mounting outstanding payments.

The two members, Captain David Charlton and Warrant Officer Class Two John Davies, then working for the ADF's No 1 Joint Movement Group, were reported to have passed information to company executives about "... key tender dates and Defence's preferred aircraft for the Middle East flights".