Company Name: EmpireCLS
Legal Company Name: Empire International Ltd. is the current legal name associated with the principal U.S. passenger-carrier operation in FMCSA records. Historical federal court records also reference EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services, Inc. as a corporate entity. (A&I Online)
Trading / Brand Name: EmpireCLS / EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services
Primary PrivateJetia Category: Chauffeur & Limousine
Secondary Categories: Concierge; Luxury Travel & Lifestyle; Services; Private Aviation Ground Transportation; VIP Airport Services; Executive Protection / Secure Transportation; Meetings & Events Transportation
Company Type: Privately held ground-transportation and chauffeured-services company
Industry: Executive ground transportation / luxury chauffeured transportation / travel services
Year Founded: 1980 operational origin according to the company’s history; EmpireCLS and its LinkedIn presence generally use 1981 as the founding/service commencement year. This discrepancy should be preserved rather than silently normalized. (EmpireCLS)
Founder(s): David Seelinger founded Empire Transport Services, the predecessor to Empire International and ultimately EmpireCLS. (EmpireCLS)
Headquarters: Secaucus, New Jersey, United States
Country: United States
Geographic Markets Served: Global, company-reported service in more than 1,000 cities across six continents. (EmpireCLS)
Official Website: EmpireCLS.com
Company Status: Active
Parent Company: Not publicly disclosed with sufficient current evidence. Historical litigation references GTS Holdings entities in connection with EmpireCLS, but a current parent-company relationship should not be inferred from those records alone. (Justia Dockets & Filings)
Subsidiaries / Major Related Companies: EmpireCLS London, Ltd.; EmpireChicago LLC; other locally incorporated operating entities may exist, but a complete current corporate structure is not publicly disclosed. (Find and Update Company Information)
PrivateJetia Verification Status: Verified, with selected company-reported operational statistics requiring qualification

2. Executive Company Overview

EmpireCLS is a privately held executive chauffeured-transportation company headquartered in Secaucus, New Jersey, with services designed around executive travel, airport transfers, private aviation connections, luxury hospitality, meetings and events, roadshows, entertainment touring, secure transportation and VIP airport assistance. Its customer base includes corporate travelers, senior executives, private aviation clients, luxury hotels, travel agencies, event planners, entertainment clients and travelers requiring enhanced security support. The company says its network reaches more than 1,000 cities across six continents through a combination of corporate operations and vetted transportation affiliates. (LinkedIn)

For the private aviation ecosystem, EmpireCLS should be classified as a ground-mobility and passenger-logistics provider rather than an aviation operator. It does not publicly present itself as an aircraft charter operator, aircraft manager, broker, FBO, MRO provider or flight-support company. Its aviation relevance is concentrated on the ground side of a private-flight itinerary: chauffeured transfers, coordination between aircraft and final destination, executive and VIP movements, airport greeter services, group logistics and security-oriented ground transportation. EmpireCLS explicitly identifies private aviation among the sectors using its services. (EmpireCLS)

The company’s roots extend to David Seelinger’s launch of Empire Transport Services in New Jersey in 1980. It later became Empire International, developed an international affiliate network beginning in 1994, and merged with CLS Transportation in 2005 to create EmpireCLS. Current federal passenger-carrier records identify the principal Secaucus operation as Empire International Ltd. d/b/a Empire CLS. (EmpireCLS)

3. Key Facts at a Glance

Founded: 1980 operational origin; 1981 is the company’s commonly stated founding year. (EmpireCLS)
Founder: David Seelinger
Headquarters: 225 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus, NJ 07094, United States (EmpireCLS)
Primary Business: Worldwide chauffeured executive and luxury ground transportation
Private Aviation Role: Ground transportation, airport transfers, VIP airport services and executive transportation supporting private aviation travelers
Global Reach: Company-reported 1,000+ cities across six continents (LinkedIn)
Current Principal U.S. Legal Carrier: Empire International Ltd. d/b/a Empire CLS
USDOT Number: 534941
Passenger Authority: MC-190692
FMCSA Status: Active passenger carrier
FMCSA Safety Rating: Satisfactory, rating date December 12, 2024 (A&I Online)
Chairman & CEO: David Seelinger
CFO: Nat Buonfiglio (EmpireCLS)
Employee Indicator: LinkedIn displays approximately 351 associated profiles while the company-entered size band is 1,001-5,000 employees. These are not equivalent measures and should not be treated as an audited headcount. (LinkedIn)
Principal Vehicle Types: Luxury sedans, SUVs, Mercedes-Benz Sprinters and motorcoaches
Website: EmpireCLS.com

4. Services & Capabilities

Primary Services

Executive Chauffeured Transportation
Professional chauffeured car service for corporate and personal travel.

Airport Transportation
Scheduled airport pickups and drop-offs with flight-related itinerary coordination. (EmpireCLS)

Private Aviation Ground Transportation
Ground mobility for private aviation customers and aviation-related travel programs. EmpireCLS expressly identifies private aviation as a client segment. (EmpireCLS)

VIP Airport Greeter Services
The company’s Airport Greeters program provides arrival, departure and connecting-passenger assistance. EmpireCLS has stated availability at more than 450 airports and destinations through the program. (EmpireCLS)

Corporate Travel

Meetings & Events Transportation
Includes itinerary planning, passenger manifests, event walkthroughs, dedicated event management, onsite coordination and centralized billing. (EmpireCLS)

Executive Roadshows

Entertainment Touring

Motorcoach and Group Transportation
Includes minibuses, Sprinters and coaches, with certain motorcoaches capable of carrying up to 56 passengers. (EmpireCLS)

Secure Transportation / Executive Protection Support
The company markets security-detailed transportation, bodyguards, armored and non-armored vehicle options and related executive-protection capabilities. Forbes reported EmpireCLS providing specialized executive-protection transportation and security-oriented vehicle options. (Forbes)

Travel Agency Services
EmpireCLS works with travel advisors and agencies and has offered commission programs and booking-system integrations. (EmpireCLS)

Luxury Hotel Transportation

Shuttle Services

Specialized Capabilities

• Multi-stop executive roadshow transportation
• Chauffeur and vehicle coordination for private-flight passengers
• Flight-delay itinerary adjustment
• VIP airport arrival and departure assistance
• Airport-to-chauffeur handoff
• Group manifests and transportation logistics
• Event walkthroughs and onsite transportation management
• Corporate direct billing
• Centralized group/event invoicing
• Chauffeur arrival notifications
• International affiliate-network coordination
• Security-detailed transportation
• Armored and non-armored vehicle arrangements in appropriate markets
• Bodyguard / executive-protection coordination
• Luxury sedan, SUV, Sprinter and motorcoach deployment
• Travel-agency fulfillment
• Deem-connected corporate-travel booking capabilities
• 24/7 reservation support (EmpireCLS)

5. Industries & Client Types Served

Documented or strongly supported customer groups include:

• Private aviation companies and travelers
• Private jet passengers
• UHNW travelers
• Senior executives and CEOs
• Corporations and corporate travel departments
• Fortune 1000 companies
• Luxury hotels and resorts
• Travel agencies and luxury travel advisors
• Meetings and event organizers
• Roadshow managers
• Entertainment and touring organizations
• Film, television and music-industry clients
• Dignitaries and VIP travelers
• Security-sensitive travelers
• Leisure travelers
• Group travel planners
• Destination and hospitality organizations

EmpireCLS specifically states that its services are used by private aviation and luxury hotel brands, meetings and events organizations, touring and roadshow managers, travel agencies and corporate buyers. (LinkedIn)

6. Geographic Coverage

Headquarters Country: United States
State: New Jersey
City: Secaucus
Full Headquarters Address: 225 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus, NJ 07094, United States (EmpireCLS)

Additional Documented Locations

Los Angeles / El Segundo:
600 South Allied Way, El Segundo, CA 90245 (LinkedIn)

Chicago:
5207 N Rose St, Chicago, IL 60656

Las Vegas / Henderson:
915 Alper Center Dr, Henderson, NV 89052 (LinkedIn)

Austin:
7000 N Mopac Expy, Austin, Texas (LinkedIn)

London:
EmpireCLS London, Ltd. is an active UK private limited company incorporated May 4, 2022, with registered office at 5th Floor, 10 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AF. (Find and Update Company Information)

Countries and Regions Served

EmpireCLS describes its service footprint as more than 1,000 cities across six continents. Its published city directory includes markets across:

• United States
• Canada
• Mexico and Central America
• Caribbean
• South America
• Europe
• Middle East
• Asia
• Africa
• Australia
• New Zealand (EmpireCLS)

Operational Scope: Global

Airports Served

The company does not publish a clean current airport-by-airport operating list suitable for reliable taxonomy ingestion. Its VIP Airport Greeters program has historically stated coverage of more than 450 airports and destinations worldwide. (EmpireCLS)

ICAO Codes: Not applicable as a company-level aviation operator classification
IATA Codes: Not applicable

Individual airport codes should be assigned only where a specific EmpireCLS destination or airport program is separately verified.

7. Aircraft Expertise

Aircraft Categories

Not applicable as an aircraft fleet or operating specialization.

EmpireCLS does not publicly document ownership, management, operation, brokerage or maintenance of private aircraft.

Manufacturers

No current aircraft-OEM specialization should be assigned.

Aircraft Models

None verified.

Aviation Relevance

EmpireCLS’s private aviation specialization is passenger ground transportation and journey continuity, not aircraft operation. Relevant use cases include:

• private-terminal or airport transfers;
• executive movements following private flights;
• chauffeur coordination with flight schedules;
• VIP airport greeting;
• security-sensitive onward transportation;
• hotel and destination transfers;
• group ground logistics.

8. Fleet Information

EmpireCLS operates a road-vehicle fleet, not an aircraft fleet.

Current Publicly Presented Vehicle Types

The company’s fleet page lists vehicles including:

• BMW 760i
• Cadillac Lyriq
• Cadillac XTS
• Lucid Air
• Mercedes-Benz S550
• Volvo S90
• Cadillac Escalade
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
• Custom “Ground Force One” executive Sprinter
• Motorcoaches and group-transport vehicles (EmpireCLS)

Vehicle Categories

• Luxury sedans
• Electric luxury sedans
• Luxury SUVs
• Executive vans
• Mercedes-Benz Sprinters
• Minibuses
• Motorcoaches

Reported Fleet Size

EmpireCLS partner-facing material states 650+ vehicles in the New York and Los Angeles metro-area corporate-owned locations. Another company page references 600+ owned vehicles. These figures appear on older or undated promotional partner pages and should therefore be classified as Company Reported / Requires Current Verification, not as a verified 2026 fleet count. (EmpireCLS)

FMCSA’s July 31, 2026 registration data for Empire International Ltd. d/b/a Empire CLS shows 20 regulated power units and 22 drivers. The separate EmpireChicago LLC carrier record shows four power units. These FMCSA figures should not be interpreted as the company’s total luxury-car fleet because federal motor-carrier reporting captures regulated carrier equipment and can exclude other vehicle classes and separately incorporated operations. (A&I Online)

Total Enterprise Vehicle Fleet: Not independently verified
Aircraft Fleet: None documented
Average Fleet Age: Not independently verified
Fleet Geographic Distribution: Corporate and affiliate-network operations worldwide; complete vehicle distribution not publicly disclosed

9. Company Statistics

Operational origin: 1980
Source: EmpireCLS company history
Period: Historical (EmpireCLS)

Commonly stated founding year: 1981
Source: EmpireCLS LinkedIn/company branding
Period: Current profile, accessed 2026 (LinkedIn)

Years in operation: Approximately 45-46 years depending on whether 1980 or 1981 is used as the starting point.

Geographic reach: 1,000+ cities across six continents
Source: EmpireCLS / LinkedIn
Period: Current company claim (LinkedIn)

VIP airport greeter reach: More than 450 airports and destinations
Source: EmpireCLS
Period: Published program information; precise current count not independently verified (EmpireCLS)

LinkedIn-associated employees: approximately 351 profiles
Source: LinkedIn
Period: September 2026 search result (LinkedIn)

LinkedIn company-size band: 1,001-5,000 employees
Source: Company LinkedIn profile
Period: 2026
Confidence: Company-reported platform classification, not an audited workforce count. (LinkedIn)

Corporate-owned fleet: 650+ vehicles stated on partner-facing company material
Source: EmpireCLS
Period: Publication date unclear / legacy collateral
Confidence: Requires current verification (EmpireCLS)

Principal FMCSA operation: 20 power units / 22 drivers
Source: FMCSA
MCS-150 date: February 10, 2026 (A&I Online)

2025 vehicle miles reported to FMCSA: 355,187 miles
Source: FMCSA carrier registration
Period: 2025

Historical annual passengers: Nearly one million customers annually
Source: EmpireCLS press release
Period: 2015
Confidence: Historical company-reported figure and should not be used as a current 2026 statistic. (EmpireCLS)

Revenue: Not publicly disclosed
Funding: Not publicly disclosed
Current audited employee count: Not publicly disclosed
Current consolidated enterprise fleet count: Not independently verified

10. Certifications & Regulatory Status

EmpireCLS is a ground passenger transportation provider, so conventional private aviation credentials such as FAA Part 135, FAA Part 145, EASA AOC, IS-BAO or IS-BAH are not applicable unless separately associated with an aviation operating entity. No such aviation certification was identified.

U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Status

Legal Carrier: Empire International Ltd.
DBA: Empire CLS
USDOT: 534941
Entity Type: Carrier
USDOT Status: Active
Operating Authority: Authorized for motor carrier of passengers
MC Number: MC-190692

FMCSA Safety Rating: Satisfactory
Rating Date: December 12, 2024 (A&I Online)

A Satisfactory rating is a road-transport safety rating and must not be represented as an aviation safety accreditation.

Chicago Operating Entity

EmpireChicago LLC
DBA: EmpireCLS
USDOT: 4008077
Passenger Authority: MC-1508315
Status: Active / authorized for passenger operations in the retrieved FMCSA record.

New York

New York State Department of Transportation records identify Empire International, Ltd., d/b/a EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services, in a 2025 passenger-carrier application relating to chartered or special-party service. (NYSDOT)

Aviation Certifications

FAA Part 135: Not applicable / not identified
FAA Part 145: Not applicable
AOC: Not applicable
EASA Approval: Not applicable
IS-BAO: Not identified
IS-BAH: Not identified
ARGUS: Not applicable to the documented ground-transport operation
WYVERN: Not applicable to the documented ground-transport operation

11. Industry Memberships

Virtuoso: A third-party Forbes article described EmpireCLS as a member of the Virtuoso travel network, and the company’s 2026 LinkedIn activity indicates continued involvement with the Virtuoso community, including recognition as a 2026 Global Awards finalist. (Forbes)

National Limousine Association: EmpireCLS publicly supported the NLA’s Ride Responsibly initiative, and company material concerning Deem Car Service identifies participation in an NLA-member ecosystem. Historical evidence supports an association with the NLA, though current 2026 membership status was not independently confirmed from a live NLA member record. (EmpireCLS)

Global Business Travel Association: EmpireCLS has participated as an exhibitor at GBTA events. Event participation is verified historically, but current formal membership status is not established by that fact alone. (EmpireCLS)

ASTA: EmpireCLS maintains ASTA-focused travel-advisor material. A current formal membership designation was not independently confirmed and should not be inferred solely from that page. (EmpireCLS)

12. Leadership

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer: David Seelinger
Founder of the company’s predecessor operation and long-serving leader of EmpireCLS. The company credits him with building the business from a New Jersey transportation operation into an international chauffeured-services network. (EmpireCLS)

Chief Financial Officer: Nat Buonfiglio
Joined EmpireCLS in January 2011. His published responsibilities include finance, accounting, treasury, insurance, banking relationships and liaison work with outside legal counsel. (EmpireCLS)

Vice President, Sales: Gary Stevens
EmpireCLS partner-facing material identifies Gary Stevens as Vice President, Sales. Some older material uses Executive Director, Sales & Marketing, indicating the title has evolved. (EmpireCLS)

President: Not publicly disclosed / not verified from current authoritative material
COO: Not publicly disclosed / not verified
Current General Counsel: Not publicly disclosed
Head of Private Aviation: Not publicly identified

13. Ownership & Corporate Structure

Ownership Type: Privately held (LinkedIn)

Principal U.S. Operating Legal Name: Empire International Ltd.
DBA: Empire CLS (A&I Online)

Historical court records also identify:

• EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services, Inc.
• Empire International Ltd.
• GTS Holdings entities
• CLS Worldwide Services, LLC

These historical references show a more complex group structure but are insufficient by themselves to define EmpireCLS’s complete current corporate hierarchy. (Justia Dockets & Filings)

EmpireCLS London

Entity: EmpireCLS London, Ltd.
Company Number: 14086222
Status: Active
Incorporated: May 4, 2022
Company Type: Private limited company
Business Classification: Other passenger land transport (Find and Update Company Information)

UK Companies House identifies David Seelinger as the active person with significant control, with ownership and voting rights of more than 50% but less than 75% and the right to appoint or remove directors. This information relates specifically to EmpireCLS London, Ltd., not necessarily to the entire U.S. enterprise. (Find and Update Company Information)

Other Operating Entities

EmpireChicago LLC, d/b/a EmpireCLS, is separately registered with FMCSA as a passenger carrier.

Parent Company: Not independently established for the current consolidated enterprise
Major Shareholders: Not publicly disclosed for the U.S. enterprise
Private Equity Sponsor: None independently verified
Public Listing: None identified

14. Company History & Milestones

1980: David Seelinger launches Empire Transport Services in Norwood, New Jersey. (EmpireCLS)

1981: The company commonly uses 1981 as its founding year in current corporate profiles and marketing. (LinkedIn)

1994: Empire International begins developing its global affiliate network. (EmpireCLS)

1995: Empire Transport Service is rebranded as Empire International. (EmpireCLS)

2001: Empire International establishes a Los Angeles office, expanding its corporate-owned presence to the U.S. West Coast. (EmpireCLS)

2005: Empire International and CLS Transportation merge to form EmpireCLS. The company describes the transaction as a major consolidation in the chauffeured-transportation industry. (EmpireCLS)

2015: EmpireCLS introduces an airport concierge program supporting VIP airport journeys. (EmpireCLS)

2015: Chairman and CEO David Seelinger appears on CBS’s Undercover Boss. (EmpireCLS)

2016: EmpireCLS reports receiving a “Supplier of the Year” award from NetJets, documenting a meaningful historical relationship with a major private-aviation company. (EmpireCLS)

2022: EmpireCLS London, Ltd. is incorporated in England. (Find and Update Company Information)

2025: EmpireCLS highlights expanded corporate presence in Chicago, Las Vegas and Austin in addition to its established New York/New Jersey and Los Angeles operations. (EmpireCLS)

2026: EmpireCLS remains active and continues marketing service across 1,000+ cities. FMCSA records show its principal U.S. carrier status active as of 2026. (LinkedIn)

15. Strategic Partnerships

NetJets

EmpireCLS announced in 2016 that NetJets had recognized it as “Supplier of the Year.” The relationship is significant to PrivateJetia because it directly demonstrates EmpireCLS’s historical participation in private-aviation passenger ground transportation. The retrieved evidence establishes the historical relationship, not necessarily the exact scope of the current 2026 contract. (EmpireCLS)

Virtuoso

EmpireCLS has a documented relationship with the Virtuoso luxury-travel ecosystem. Forbes described it as a Virtuoso member, while 2026 company activity identifies EmpireCLS as a finalist in Virtuoso’s Global Awards. (Forbes)

Global Travel Collection

EmpireCLS stated in 2026 that it was recognized as Global Travel Collection’s Specialty Partner of the Year for the second consecutive year. (LinkedIn)

Luxury Hotels

EmpireCLS reports supplying transportation to numerous luxury hotels in New York and Los Angeles. Company materials have historically referenced Four Seasons-trained chauffeur etiquette and relationships with high-end hotel properties. These are company-reported relationships and individual current contracts should be verified separately. (EmpireCLS)

Deem

EmpireCLS supports travel-agency and corporate booking workflows associated with Deem. The company has also participated historically in the Deem Car Service ecosystem developed with the National Limousine Association. (EmpireCLS)

16. Key Differentiators

1. Explicit private aviation specialization
Unlike a generic consumer black-car provider, EmpireCLS identifies private aviation among its principal client sectors. (EmpireCLS)

2. Large international service network
Company-reported service reaches more than 1,000 cities across six continents through direct operations and affiliate relationships. (LinkedIn)

3. Corporate-owned operations plus global affiliate model
The international affiliate strategy dates to 1994, giving EmpireCLS a long-established framework for extending service outside its directly operated markets. (EmpireCLS)

4. Ground transportation plus VIP airport services
The company combines chauffeur transport with airport greeter/concierge capabilities, which is particularly relevant for seamless private and executive aviation itineraries. (EmpireCLS)

5. Security-oriented transportation capabilities
Secure transportation, bodyguards and executive-protection arrangements broaden the offering for UHNW, diplomatic, celebrity and executive travelers. (Forbes)

6. Multi-vehicle group logistics
Sedans, SUVs, Sprinters and motorcoaches allow EmpireCLS to support both individual VIP travelers and larger delegations or events. (EmpireCLS)

7. Long operating history
The company’s operational roots date to 1980 and its global-network model to 1994. (EmpireCLS)

17. Contact & Digital Presence

Corporate Headquarters:
225 Meadowlands Parkway
Secaucus, NJ 07094
United States (EmpireCLS)

Main Published Telephone: 800-451-5466 (EmpireCLS)

Global Reservation Center: 888-826-3431
Reservation Email: [email protected] (EmpireCLS)

Guest Relations: 800-451-5466 ext. 2896
Guest Relations Email: [email protected]

Business Development: 800-451-5466 ext. 2897
Business Development Email: [email protected]

Sales & Marketing: 800-451-5466 ext. 2897
Sales Email: [email protected]

Meetings & Events: 800-451-5466 ext. 2899
Email: [email protected]

Global Network Partners: 800-451-5466 ext. 2892
Email: [email protected]

Executive Offices: 800-451-5466 ext. 2220
Email: [email protected] (EmpireCLS)

Official Website: EmpireCLS official website

Official Contact Page: EmpireCLS contact page

LinkedIn: EmpireCLS on LinkedIn

Instagram: Not independently verified during this research
YouTube: Not independently verified during this research
X / Twitter: Not independently verified during this research

No UTM parameters or tracking query strings are included in the links above.

18. PrivateJetia Market Classification

Primary Market: Executive chauffeured ground transportation
Market Segment: Luxury / corporate / private aviation passenger mobility
Geographic Position: United States-headquartered with global service network
Company Scale: Global network / enterprise ground-transport provider
Primary Specialization: Chauffeured executive transportation and global passenger logistics
Typical Customer: Executive, UHNW traveler, private aviation passenger, corporate travel buyer, travel advisor, luxury-hotel guest or event organizer
Business Model: Direct corporate transportation operations combined with a global vetted-affiliate network
Core Revenue Activities: Chauffeured rides, airport transfers, group transportation, meetings and events logistics, travel-advisor/corporate programs, motorcoach services, airport assistance and security-related transport

PrivateJetia Editorial Classification:
EmpireCLS is best positioned in PrivateJetia as a global chauffeur and executive ground-transportation company serving the private aviation and luxury-travel ecosystem.

19. PrivateJetia Taxonomy

Primary Category: Chauffeur & Limousine

Secondary Categories:

• Concierge
• Luxury Travel & Lifestyle
• Services
• Private Aviation Ground Transportation
• Airport Transfer
• VIP Airport Services
• Executive Transportation
• Secure Transportation
• Meetings & Events Transportation
• Motorcoach & Group Transportation

Country: United States
Region: North America
State: New Jersey
City: Secaucus

Additional Cities / Operating Locations:

• El Segundo / Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Henderson / Las Vegas
• Austin
• London

Airports: Global airport-service capability; do not assign specific airport taxonomy without individual verification.

Services:

• Chauffeured Transportation
• Executive Car Service
• Airport Transfer
• Private Aviation Ground Transportation
• VIP Airport Greeter
• Corporate Transportation
• Meeting & Event Transportation
• Roadshow Transportation
• Entertainment Touring
• Security Transportation
• Executive Protection Support
• Group Transportation
• Motorcoach
• Travel Agency Transportation
• Hotel Transportation

Vehicle Manufacturers:

• BMW
• Cadillac
• Mercedes-Benz
• Lucid
• Volvo

Aircraft Manufacturers: None applicable
Aircraft Models: None applicable

Certifications / Regulatory Tags:

• FMCSA Passenger Carrier
• USDOT 534941
• MC-190692
• FMCSA Satisfactory Safety Rating

Client Types:

• Private Aviation
• UHNW Individuals
• Executives
• Corporations
• Corporate Travel Departments
• Travel Advisors
• Luxury Hotels
• Event Planners
• Entertainment Companies
• Dignitaries
• VIP Travelers
• Security-Sensitive Travelers

Entity Associations

• David Seelinger
• Secaucus, New Jersey
• Empire International Ltd.
• EmpireCLS London, Ltd.
• NetJets
• Virtuoso
• Global Travel Collection
• Deem
• National Limousine Association
• FMCSA
• USDOT 534941
• BMW
• Cadillac
• Mercedes-Benz
• Private aviation
• Executive travel
• Luxury hotels

20. Related Company Opportunities

Related Company Types

• Executive chauffeur companies
• Limousine and black-car providers
• Private aviation ground-transportation companies
• VIP airport concierge providers
• Executive protection companies
• Luxury travel agencies
• Destination management companies
• Private jet charter operators
• FBOs
• Luxury hotels and resorts

Potential Comparable Companies

Companies that may warrant comparison within the broader executive ground-transportation market include:

• Carey International
• Dav El | BostonCoach
• Blacklane
• Music Express
• Commonwealth Worldwide

These should be treated as potential comparables, not automatically as direct competitors in every geography or client segment.

21. Sources & Verification

Source Name: EmpireCLS Official Website
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: Services, headquarters, global reach, fleet, company positioning
Publication/Update Date: Current site; pages vary
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: EmpireCLS Company History
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: 1980 origin, global-network launch, Los Angeles expansion, 2005 merger
Publication/Update Date: Not clearly stated
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: EmpireCLS Team
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: David Seelinger, Nat Buonfiglio, company market segments
Publication/Update Date: Current site
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: EmpireCLS Contact Page
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: Telephone numbers, departmental emails, address
Publication/Update Date: Current site
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: EmpireCLS Fleet
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: Vehicle types and models
Publication/Update Date: Current site
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: EmpireCLS Cities We Service
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: Geographic service footprint
Publication/Update Date: Current 2026 crawl
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: EmpireCLS Airport Greeters
Source Type: Official
Information Supported: VIP airport assistance and 450+ airport/destination claim
Publication/Update Date: Not independently dated
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: FMCSA Safety Measurement System / SAFER
Source Type: U.S. Regulatory
Information Supported: Legal carrier name, DBA, USDOT, MC authority, carrier status, power units, drivers, mileage and safety rating
Data Period: 2024-2026; MCS-150 February 10, 2026
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (A&I Online)

Source Name: U.S. District Court / Justia docket records
Source Type: Judicial / legal database
Information Supported: Historical legal entities associated with EmpireCLS
Publication Date: 2010 onward
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (Justia Dockets & Filings)

Source Name: UK Companies House
Source Type: Government / corporate registry
Information Supported: EmpireCLS London, Ltd. status, incorporation date, registered office and David Seelinger’s control position
Updated: Current 2026 company record
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (Find and Update Company Information)

Source Name: EmpireCLS LinkedIn
Source Type: Official company professional profile / company-reported
Information Supported: Headquarters, private ownership, 1981 founding convention, locations, service footprint, company-size band and private aviation client sector
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (LinkedIn)

Source Name: EmpireCLS NetJets Announcement
Source Type: Official company release
Information Supported: Historical NetJets Supplier of the Year relationship
Publication Date: September 23, 2016
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (EmpireCLS)

Source Name: Forbes
Source Type: Business publication
Information Supported: Executive-protection capabilities, Virtuoso affiliation and David Seelinger commentary
Publication Date: October 7, 2016
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (Forbes)

Source Name: New York State Department of Transportation
Source Type: State regulatory source
Information Supported: Empire International Ltd. d/b/a EmpireCLS passenger transportation application
Publication Date: August 27, 2025
Accessed: September 7, 2026 (NYSDOT)

22. Data Confidence & Data Gaps

Verified

• EmpireCLS is an active chauffeured transportation business.
• Headquarters at 225 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus, New Jersey.
• David Seelinger is Chairman and CEO.
• Nat Buonfiglio is CFO.
• Private aviation is an explicitly documented client/service sector.
• The company provides executive chauffeur, airport, meetings/events and group transportation.
• Empire International Ltd. currently operates as Empire CLS under USDOT 534941.
• Passenger authority MC-190692 is documented.
• FMCSA’s retrieved record shows a Satisfactory safety rating dated December 12, 2024.
• EmpireCLS London, Ltd. is active.
• EmpireChicago LLC is a documented operating entity.
• The company has a historical documented relationship with NetJets.

Company Reported

• Service in 1,000+ cities.
• Coverage across six continents.
• 650+ corporate-owned vehicles in selected operating markets.
• 450+ airports/destinations for VIP greeter services.
• Various luxury-hotel partnership counts.

Third-Party / Regulatory Verified

• U.S. passenger-carrier status
• USDOT and MC numbers
• Regulatory power-unit and driver counts
• UK corporate registration
• David Seelinger’s controlling interest in EmpireCLS London, Ltd.

Requires Verification

Founding year:
Official history starts operations in 1980, while LinkedIn and current brand messaging use 1981. Both should remain noted.

Total vehicle fleet:
Company collateral cites 600+ or 650+ vehicles, but these figures are not clearly dated and cannot be treated as a verified current 2026 consolidated fleet count.

Employee count:
LinkedIn’s 1,001-5,000 company-size range materially exceeds the roughly 351 associated LinkedIn profiles surfaced in search. No audited headcount was found.

Complete ownership structure:
Historical references to GTS Holdings and multiple operating corporations exist, but a current consolidated organizational chart is not publicly available.

Current private aviation partnerships:
A historical NetJets relationship is verified. A definitive list of active 2026 aviation partners is not publicly disclosed.

Current NLA membership:
Historical affiliation is well supported, but current membership was not independently verified from a current association directory.

Not Publicly Disclosed

• Consolidated annual revenue
• Profitability
• Funding history
• Complete shareholder structure
• Consolidated enterprise employee count
• Consolidated current vehicle count
• Number of active global affiliate companies
• Current annual passenger volume
• Private aviation-specific revenue
• Number of private aviation clients
• Number of private-jet movements supported annually

Aviation Data Gap

EmpireCLS has no verified aircraft fleet, AOC, Part 135 certificate, Part 145 approval or aircraft-management operation identified during this research. These fields should remain blank or marked not applicable rather than populated with generic aviation terminology.

23. Information Last Verified

Information Last Verified: September 7, 2026

Research Confidence: High for company identity, principal services, headquarters, leadership and U.S. regulatory status; Moderate for total fleet, total workforce, corporate structure and current partnership scope.

Important Data Gaps: Current consolidated vehicle fleet; audited/current employee count; revenue; complete parent/subsidiary structure; comprehensive 2026 aviation-partner list; current annual passenger volume; exact number of directly owned versus affiliate-operated offices.