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Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news

Las Vegas:

Innovation and optimism on display as NBAA-BACE 2025 wows attendees and exhibitors

The National Business Aviation Association Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) supercharged an industry driven by strong growth and a blazing pace of innovation.

From a packed exhibit hall and standing-room-only crowds, to a dazzling NBAA Aircraft Connection and nearly nonstop announcements, the 2025 NBAA-BACE showcased an industry ready to take on the future.

“From the moment we opened the doors, it was clear this NBAA-BACE would be a monumental gathering for our industry,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “With boundless energy and great vibes, this show captured all that is unique and exciting about business aviation.”

The 2025 show led off with an unforgettable performance by multiplatinum artist, pilot and aviation champion Dierks Bentley, who shared how his career in music-making has been interwoven with his love of aviation.

On the keynote stage, Bolen presented aerospace visionary Steuart Walton with business aviation’s highest honor, NBAA’s Meritorious Service to Aviation Award.

Innovation and optimism on display as NBAA-BACE 2025 wows attendees and exhibitors

A dizzying array of new technologies, never-before-seen aircraft and business ventures were unveiled at NBAA-BACE, including the world debut of Textron Aviation’s new Cessna Citation Ascend midsize jet and Otto Aerospace’s Phantom 3500 business jet, featuring advanced laminar-flow design.

full report, plus video highlights

Toronto:

Skyservice opens new FBO and hangar facility at Napa County Airport

Skyservice Business Aviation has announced the completion and opening of its new 60,000-square-foot FBO and hangar complex at Napa County Airport (APC).

Situated on a 15-acre parcel and completed within just one year of breaking ground, the facility represents a significant milestone in the airport's modernization and the expansion of premium aviation services in the San Francisco Bay Area.

"The opening of our Napa facility reflects Skyservice's deep commitment to the local community and to the future of business aviation in the region," said Benjamin Murray, President and Chief Executive Officer of Skyservice.

"As part of our award-winning network of best-in-class FBOs, Napa delivers the elevated standard of service excellence our clients expect at every Skyservice location. We're honoured to support the growth and modernization of Napa County Airport and contribute to the region's continued economic development."

US corporations turn to business aviation with growing emphasis on efficiency and sustainability

US-based corporations that use business jets are placing an increasing focus on how these aircraft can help them run their operations more efficiently and with lower environmental impact.

This is among the findings of new research commissioned by Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ), which surveyed senior executives at large US companies with an annual revenue of more than $500m.

The findings show a clear rise in corporate jet use - over the past two years 83% of corporates surveyed reported an increase in both continental and intercontinental business travel.

Chadi Saade, President of Airbus Corporate Jets, said: “This research reinforces the importance US corporations are placing on efficiency, sustainability and productivity from business aviation.

"With advances in sustainable fuels, optimized fleet management and new-generation aircraft, the sector is well-positioned to meet the needs of companies looking to grow responsibly while ensuring their employees’ productivity and well-being.”

The study reveals a growing link between business aviation and sustainability.

Embraer celebrates groundbreaking of its new Fort Worth MRO

Embraer broke ground Monday (20th October) on a new commercial jet MRO facility at Perot Field Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, joined by local officials, company leaders, and partners.

This new, state-of-the-art hangar is scheduled for opening by 2027. With the expanded infrastructure, Embraer’s capacity to serve E-Jets customers in the United States will grow by 53%. The investment - expected to reach up to $70m - is expected to create approximately 250 new skilled aviation jobs in Texas.

In collaboration with the City of Fort Worth, Denton County, and the State of Texas, Embraer began operations at Alliance Airport in June at an existing hangar.

“Today’s groundbreaking marks an exciting milestone for our region,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.

“The airport continues to serve as a hub of innovation and economic opportunity, and Embraer’s expansion further strengthens Fort Worth’s position as a global leader in aviation and advanced manufacturing.

"This investment brings not only high-quality jobs but also highlights the strength of our business environment and the talent of our local workforce.”

Sydney, Australia:

ExecuJet MRO Services Australasia marks 25 years of excellence in business aviation

ExecuJet MRO Services’ Australasian operation is celebrating its 25th anniversary in October, marking a quarter century of technical excellence and trusted service to the business aviation community across Australia, New Zealand and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Founded in 1991 at Johannesburg’s Lanseria International Airport - where it remains headquartered today - ExecuJet has grown into a global leader in business aircraft maintenance.

The Australasian operation, which started in Sydney in the year 2000, has evolved from a single-site maintenance provider into an award-winning, multi-facility regional network recognised for its depth of expertise and world-class customer support.

Grant Ingall, Regional Vice President Australasia at ExecuJet MRO Services, says: “Twenty-five years is more than a number; it's a testament to the dedicated people who built this company from the ground up. We've cultivated a culture where quality workmanship, attention to detail and outstanding customer service are paramount." The expertise in our hangars today is the direct result of that focus and our team's relentless commitment.”

Saska Gerasimova

Air charter specialist Chapman Freeborn has announced the appointment of Saska Gerasimova as the new Group CEO.

Saska Gerasimova takes over responsibilities from Eric Erbacher, who moves to a new role as Chair of the Chapman Freeborn Holdings Board of Directors.

Saska boasts a broad range of experience that spans aviation leasing, air freight, logistics, and fleet management. She joins Chapman Freeborn from a position as Senior Supply Chain Manager with Amazon Air Europe, having also worked as Fleet Director and Leasing Manager at Smartwings Group.

Saska will be supported in her new role by an engaged and experienced Executive Committee. Group COO Bernardo Nunes, who takes over legal directorships within Chapman Freeborn's subsidiaries, will play a prominent role in ensuring a smooth transition.

Regarding the Board of Directors, Russi Batliwala will remain on the board and provide essential guidance and continuity.

WINGX Global Market Tracker:

Week 42 records busiest week in last 12 months

In Week 42 (13-19 October), global bizjet activity reached 81,471 departures, up 5% versus Week 42 of 2024, and marking the busiest week in the last 12 months.

On a rolling last four-week basis (W39-W42), global business jets have accumulated more than 316,000 departures, a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.

This four-week trend of 6% outperforms the global year-to-date (1 Jan-19 Oct) trend of 5%. The streak shows no signs of stopping: 26 consecutive weeks of year-on-year growth.

Out of the 42 weeks so far in 2025, 39 posted gains, with the biggest surge of 13% in Week 37, and the largest decline of 4% in Week 1.

“Week 42 was our busiest in the last 12 months with over 81,000 departures, we're now at 26 consecutive weeks of growth and it seems to just keep going.

North America: Region surpasses 60,000 weekly departures
The North American market recorded 7% more activity in W42 2025 vs W42 2024, with total departures reaching above 60,000. The US accounted for 97% of these North America flights in Week 42, driving the region’s 7% increase in traffic.

full report

How emerging business aviation hubs aim to tighten the gap

By Kevin Singh, Founder & CEO, Icarus Jet.

The growth of private aviation in the aftermath of the pandemic is no longer centered around North America and Europe.

Some intriguing developments are taking place in Latin America, Africa, and Australia - three regions that are fast-transforming with investment in infrastructure, expansion of air corridors, and digitalization.

Each is being propelled by different fundamentals: airport capacity and modernization of infrastructure in Australia; growing commercial as well as humanitarian air corridors in Africa; and Latin America, with sheer depth of fleets as well as the creation of a digital-native client base.

They together comprise the next chapter of the diversification of global private aviation.

Australia: Infrastructure as the catalyst

Covid 19: the impact on aviation and how the air charter industry kept the world moving

The Covid-19 pandemic was probably the most significant episode in charter aviation since the Berlin Airlift of 1948/49.

Justin Lancaster, Air Charter Service’s Commercial Director, and Dan Morgan-Evans, ACS’s Group Cargo Director, sat down to discuss what it was like navigating a business through this hugely challenging period.

Like the pandemic itself, the response came in waves, with different challenges at each stage. All three of ACS’s main divisions of Cargo, Private Jets and Group Charter each came into their own at different points over the period.

As a global company, ACS had a front row seat with many of the logistical problems that the pandemic threw up but also played a major part in finding solutions.

watch the video

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Fort Lauderdale:

VIP Completions expands access to Canadian market with FAA/TCCA MIPs certification

Company marks new designation with completion of stunning Bombardier Global 5500 - its first Canadian-registered SSTC refurbishment project.

VIP Completions, providers of aircraft completions and refurbishment services, has earned a maintenance implementation procedures (MIPs) designation and has simultaneously unveiled a fully refurbished Bombardier Global 5500 - the company’s first serialized supplemental type certificate (SSTC) project for a Canadian client.

MIPs are bilateral agreements between the FAA and Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) that allow certified maintenance organizations to perform work on aircraft registered in either country. MIPs simplify approvals, reduce duplication and facilitate cross-border operations.

Bombardier celebrates two-aircraft order from Japan's Sojitz Corporation

Sojitz Corporation, a general trading company known as one of Japan’s leading business jet providers, has placed an order for two Bombardier aircraft: the high-performance Global 6500 and the soon-to-enter-service flagship Global 8000.

The newly ordered aircraft will play a central role in Sojitz’s launch of the Share Jet Program (SJP) - Japan’s first shared ownership program for large, ultra-long-range business jets capable of trans-Pacific flights.

Yohei Sakurai, General Manager, Business Jet Department of Sojitz, and Éric Martel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier.

“Our decision to select the Global 6500 and the Global 8000 was driven by our extensive experience operating Bombardier aircraft in Japan,” said Yohei Sakurai, General Manager, Business Jet Department of Sojitz.

“These aircraft have demonstrated exceptional reliability in our fleet, while Bombardier’s wide range of services and customer support consistently exceeds that of competitors in our experience. Their proven aircraft platforms and quality of service make them the ideal foundation for launching Japan’s first large-jet shared-ownership program.”

Hanoi, Vietnam:

Vietnam certifies ExecuJet Haite for heavy maintenance on Dassault, Embraer and Gulfstream aircraft

The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has certified ExecuJet Haite Aviation Services to do line and heavy maintenance on Vietnam-registered Dassault, Embraer and Gulfstream business jets.

The certification applies to ExecuJet Haite’s state-of-the-art MRO facilities at Tianjin Binhai International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, solidifying its position as a leading business aviation MRO provider for the region.

The certification covers: Dassault Falcon 7X and 8X aircraft, Gulfstream G650ER, and Embraer Legacy aircraft. The Legacy series of business jets is derived from Embraer’s EMB-135 and EMB-145 commercial regional jets.

Global:

Honeywell sees record business jet demand, expects decade of continued growth

34th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook projects 8,500 new business jet deliveries valued at $283bn.

Honeywell has published its 34th annual Global Business Aviation Outlook, which forecasts a record-setting number of new business jet deliveries over the next decade.

The report provides unique insights into current industry trends and longer-cycle developments based on forecasting models and surveys of hundreds of business aviation operators across the globe.

Honeywell sees record business jet demand, expects decade of continued growth

Within the report, Honeywell predicts 8,500 new business jets with a projected value of $283bn the highest in the report’s 34-year history - will be delivered over the next 10 years with an average annual growth rate of 3%.

The strong demand for new jets continues to persist against a backdrop of increasingly complex macroeconomic and geopolitical factors. However, those factors have not slowed down the demand for new aircraft.

Avia Solutions Group plans European AOC consolidation into 3 brands

Dublin-based Avia Solutions Group, the world's largest ACMI provider, has announced plans to consolidate its European Air Operators Certificates (AOCs) as the Group continues to complete its expansion into counter-cyclical markets to Europe in Asia Pacific and Latin America.

As part of these plans, the Group has sold SmartLynx Latvia to the current management and a Dutch fund and plans to merge the SmartLynx Estonia and SmartLynx Malta AOCs and rebrand them as well as explore further efficiency enhancements within the Group’s European AOC network.

The Group estimates that an optimal fleet size for one AOC is around 27-30 aircraft. The Group currently owns European AOCs in the UK, Turkey, Malta, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, which, except for the Turkish AOC, offer almost equal traffic rights and operational benefits.

Air Charter Service reaps rewards in Southeast Asia

Asia has seen strong growth in the private charter market over the first nine months of the year, outperforming the global average (based on WingX figures), and Air Charter Service’s business in the Southeast part of the region has seen its Singapore office experience incredible growth in that period, arranging 61% more charters than at the same stage last year.

Brendan Toomey, ACS Singapore’s CEO, commented: “We have had a great first nine months of the year, with charter numbers up by 61%, and we surpassed last year’s total last month. We have seen even larger growth in revenue figures, as we are up 155% on last year.

“The economic climate of the region, and Singapore in particular, has played its part in our success. With many companies relocating their regional headquarters out of Hong Kong in recent years, Singapore has benefitted, emerging as one of the top choices for several global corporations."

Islands of opportunity: Helicopter charters in Indonesia

Civil helicopter chartering is growing across the APAC region, and Indonesia is no exception.

Saladin Siregar, Key Account Management for Passenger Air Chartering, APAC at global charter experts Chapman Freeborn - part of Avia Solutions Group - provides in-depth insights on helicopter charters in Indonesia, explaining why they are a good fit for the country and which sectors are driving growth:

A diverse and growing civil helicopter fleet

Fleet growth in civil turbine helicopters in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has been consistent and steady for over a decade. Between 2014 and 2024, it expanded from 3,287 up to 4,131 with a CAGR of 2.3%, according to research by the Asian Sky Group.

Saladin Siregar.

At 154, Indonesia’s civil helicopter fleet represents 3.7% of the region’s total and is the largest fleet in Southeast Asia. This should come as little surprise considering the country’s unique geography, Saladin Siregar explains.

“Indonesia is vast, and its geography is complex and unique,” he comments. “It is a country of over 17,000 islands, and many locations are extremely remote and difficult to access due to challenging terrain.”

MRO Europe 2025

Reporting from MRO Europe 2025, GearUp TV’s Liz Moscrop explores the people, ideas, and technologies shaping the next chapter of aviation maintenance.

This year’s event showcased a dynamic mix of innovation, collaboration, and forward thinking across the global MRO community.

watch the video

EBACE26:

EBAA reaffirms Geneva as the home of EBACE as static display returns for 2026

The European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is reaffirming Geneva as the home of EBACE26, confirming the event’s return to the city with a full static display.

Following EBACE’s evolution in 2025, the first year fully organised by EBAA, the 2026 edition will build on a new vision for the show.

Stefan Benz, CEO, EBAA, says: “We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the positive and supportive reaction to EBACE remaining in Geneva with a static display. Switzerland remains the centre of business aviation in Europe and Geneva combines outstanding connections, a strong financial ecosystem and a clear appeal to the industry’s end users.

“In previous years, the true value of Geneva as a location has not always been fully realised. For EBACE26, our goal is to build on that foundation and ensure the city’s strengths, its accessibility, professionalism and global outlook, are used to their full potential.

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Artemis Aerospace presented with King’s Award for Enterprise

UK-headquartered global aviation component solutions company, Artemis Aerospace, has officially received the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of its exceptional growth and contribution to international trade within the aerospace sector.

The award was formally presented by Lady Emma Barnard, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex, during a special ceremony held at the company’s warehouse and logistics facility in Ashington on Monday 20th October. The event brought together staff, partners and special guests to mark the occasion and reflect on Artemis’s success as a leading global provider of aviation solutions.

Lady Emma Barnard was welcomed by co-founders Jim and Deborah Scott, who led a tour of the company’s newly expanded warehouse facilities, showcasing Artemis’s capabilities and ongoing investment in innovation and service delivery.

Artemis Aerospace leadership team.

Speaking on the occasion, Lady Emma Barnard remarked: “I'm absolutely delighted that Artemis Aerospace is receiving this very prestigious Award. All nominations for The King’s Award for Enterprise are very rigorously assessed, so this is a truly well-deserved recognition of the company’s tremendous achievements in international trade. It is a joy and a privilege for me to present it, on behalf of His Majesty The King, and my heartiest congratulations go to everyone concerned.”

Jim Scott, CEO and co-founder of Artemis Aerospace, commented: “It was a true honour to welcome Lady Emma Barnard and celebrate this landmark moment with our team and supporters. The King’s Award for Enterprise is a symbol of excellence and determination, and we are immensely proud to receive it. This recognition belongs to every member of our team, whose dedication, expertise and passion have driven our success across global markets.”

The King’s Award for Enterprise is one of the UK’s highest official accolades for business achievement, recognising companies that have demonstrated outstanding commercial success and a commitment to excellence. Artemis Aerospace was selected for its strong international growth and exemplary service in the aerospace industry.

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