Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
 Los Angeles:IADA sees strong first half for business aircraft salesDealer transactions climb 21% as resilient demand meets tight aircraft inventory.The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) has publicly released its Second Quarter 2026 Market Report. It reveals that the global preowned business aircraft market remained healthy through the first half of the year, driven by strong buyer demand, historically tight inventory and continued confidence among the world's leading dealers and brokers. The report shows that closed private business aircraft transactions increased 21% year over year to 746 during the first six months of 2026, while acquisition agreements, dealer inventory purchases and exclusive aircraft sale retainers continued to reflect a highly active marketplace despite persistent supply constraints. "The first half of 2026 demonstrates that the preowned business aircraft market continues to perform remarkably well," said Lou Seno, Executive Director of IADA. "Demand remains healthy, transaction activity is even running ahead of last year and our members continue to express confidence in the market despite ongoing global uncertainties."
Sandpoint, Idaho:Daher achieves 400th Kodiak delivery milestoneDaher Aircraft has delivered the 400th Kodiak, marking a significant achievement for the multi-role airplane family as its customer base continues to expand across government, commercial, business and private aviation operations. The milestone airplane was a Kodiak 100 Series III delivered to a Canadian customer from Daher Aircraft's production facility in Sandpoint, Idaho. "The 400th Kodiak represents an important achievement for an airplane that has expanded far beyond its original purpose of supporting the humanitarian sector," said Nicolas Chabbert, Daher Aircraft’s CEO. "From the beginning, safety has been fundamental to the Kodiak's design with its superior handling characteristics - complemented by its outstanding short-field performance, excellent operating efficiency and mission adaptability."
Since acquiring the Kodiak program in 2019, Daher Aircraft has continually developed the airplane family by broadening the product line, introducing design improvements and enhancing the production capabilities. |
Global bizjet activity contracted 1.8% year-on-year in Week 30 (20-26 July), which marks the second time this year of consecutive weeks with YOY declines (along with Weeks 4 and 5), and the 9th week of YOY declines so far this year.The year-to-date figure now sits at +3.5% ahead of last year through 26 July, which is a 0.7 percentage point increase compared to the trend for the same dates in 2025 vs 2024. South America and Africa were the standout regions last week, accounting for a combined 4% share of global traffic, while South America was 12.4% ahead of Week 30 last year, and Africa 5.9% ahead.
Event Analysis: Knockout rounds drive biggest bizjet surges of the 2026 World Cup Business jet activity into the 16 host metros climbed steadily as the tournament advanced from the group stage towards the final, with the sharpest spikes clustered around the marquee knockout matches and the mornings that followed them.
Miami, Florida:Jet Aviation adds major new FBO facility at Miami-Opa LockaJet Aviation has opened its new FBO at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, strengthening its presence in one of the US’s most important business aviation markets. The new 27-acre facility expands Jet Aviation’s South Florida offering with a purpose-built FBO terminal, additional hangar capacity and a large aircraft parking apron designed to accommodate a wide range of business jets, including larger-cabin aircraft.
The 8,500 sq ft terminal is LEED-certified and forms the centrepiece of the development, which also includes 40,000 sq ft of new hangar space. The hangars feature 30-foot doors, while the 540,000 sq ft ramp provides substantial capacity for transient and based aircraft.
Montreal:Ferrari boss Piero Ferrari takes delivery of 200th Challenger 3500Bombardier has delivered its 200th Challenger 3500 business jet to Piero Ferrari, Vice Chairman of Ferrari, marking a major milestone for the super-midsize aircraft less than four years after entering service.
The aircraft will support Ferrari’s travel to Formula One races and other business engagements, combining the performance, efficiency and cabin comfort required for extensive international travel. The delivery brings together one of business aviation’s leading super-midsize jets with one of the world’s most recognisable names in mobility, design and engineering.
The recent discussion regarding fuel pricing in private aviation illustrates perhaps the most critical element in our industry - trust. While the rise in fuel prices in the early months of the year forced numerous charter operators across the globe to adapt by quoting their clients appropriately, most clients understood these changes. Fuel price increases, restricted airspace, rerouting, and extended quotes were widely discussed in news headlines, helping clients understand the need for higher prices. Today, with stabilizing fuel costs, many within our industry ask a similar question - how quickly will quotes revert to pre-fuel-cost-rising levels? Unfortunately, the issue is significantly more complex than this discussion allows us. While fuel prices play a vital role in determining the total cost of charter flights, numerous operational factors still influence the final price. Aircraft positioning, airport landing fees, crew availability and limitations, overnight stops, maintenance needs, permit issuance, seasonal fluctuations, aircraft availability, and other factors continue to uniquely affect the cost of individual missions.
Women in Aviation International sets sights on further European expansion
Ahead of the Farnborough International Airshow, Lynda Coffman, President of Women in Aviation International, spoke to Liz Moscrop about the organisation’s plans for further expansion across Europe, as well as upcoming events on the WAI calendar.
Farnborough, UK:Vertical Aerospace makes history at Farnborough with first public eVTOL transition flightUK Government backs UK production plans.Vertical Aerospace, a global aerospace and technology company pioneering electric aviation, made history on Monday (20th July) by completing the first public electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight at Farnborough International Airshow, switching from helicopter mode to airplane mode and back again.
At 1:46PM local time, in front of a global audience of aerospace leaders, regulators, operators and media, Simon Davies, Vertical’s Chief Test Pilot, flew Vertical's full-scale prototype, completing a transition flight by moving from vertical take-off to wingborne cruise and back to vertical landing.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin:Denali entry into service expected in 2027 as flight tests continueTextron Aviation has announced that the clean-sheet single-engine Beechcraft Denali turboprop is progressing through the final phases of flight testing. The Denali program remains on schedule to complete all flight test activities in October 2026. Upon completion, Textron will submit final flight test documentation to the FAA for certification. The aircraft is expected to enter into service in 2027.
With more than 4,100 flight hours across 1,650 flights, the Denali flight test program’s three test articles are supporting ongoing validation of aircraft performance, systems and operational capabilities. “Our teams continue to deliver meaningful progress on this clean-sheet aircraft,” said Chris Hearne, senior vice president, Engineering & Programs. “The Beechcraft Denali program is advancing through the certification process very well as we complete critical flight test milestones and continue validating performance, systems and operational capability, reinforcing our confidence in the aircraft’s performance and our path to entry into service.”
Luxembourg:Luxaviation expands global fleet with nine aircraft additions across Europe and Asia-PacificLuxaviation Group is expanding its global fleet with nine recent and planned aircraft additions across Europe and Asia-Pacific, including two Gulfstream G700s and one Gulfstream G800, all ultra-long-range aircraft. The expansion broadens Luxaviation’s offering across several aircraft categories and reinforces the Group’s operational presence in key European and Asia-Pacific markets.
In Asia-Pacific, Luxaviation has strengthened its ultra-long-range capabilities with the arrival of two Gulfstream G700s and one Gulfstream G800. The aircraft enhance the Group’s ability to serve long-range business aviation requirements across the region and support owners seeking aircraft management capabilities across multiple jurisdictions. In Europe, a Bombardier Challenger 604 and a Gulfstream G550 have joined the Luxaviation UK fleet and are available for charter. A further Challenger 604 is scheduled to enter service with Luxaviation UK in the coming weeks.
Australia:Australia's Revesco Aviation and Machjet International join Air Elite by World FuelWorld Fuel has announced that Revesco Aviation at Perth Airport (YPPH) and Machjet International at Sunshine Coast Airport (YBSU) have joined the Air Elite by World Fuel network, bringing the total number of member locations to 78 including 4 in Australia.
Revesco Aviation joins Air Elite at Perth Airport (YPPH), Western Australia's primary international gateway. Located approximately 12 kilometers from Perth's central business district, the facility offers a dedicated FBO, passenger lounge, hangar access, aircraft ground support, and airside passenger pick-up and drop-off. As a designated Point of Entry, Revesco Aviation coordinates customs, immigration, quarantine, and Off Terminal Clearance (OTC) services, supporting international arrivals into Western Australia.
Farnborough, UK:Bell marks 700th Bell 505 helicopter deliveryBell Textron announced during Farnborough International Airshow 2026 that it has delivered its 700th Bell 505 to a private VIP operator, highlighting the platforms’ popularity in the corporate aircraft segment. Since its introduction in 2017, the Bell 505 has accumulated more than 390,000 flight hours and operates in more than 55 countries across six continents.
Based on the proven Bell 206L-4 rotor and drive system, the Bell 505 brings that familiar feel of its predecessor and elevates it with intuitive avionics and operational reliability supported by a global network of trusted specialists in their respective fields for MRO and simulator training. |
 London:Joby and Virgin Atlantic finalize deal to bring electric air taxi service to the UKJoby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic have formalised a partnership announced in 2025 with the signing of a definitive agreement to bring Joby's air taxi service to the UK. The agreement converts the partnership announced in 2025 into a binding, multi-year commercial framework, establishing Virgin Atlantic as Joby's exclusive airline partner for air taxi services in the UK. The collaboration builds on Joby's existing partnership with Delta Air Lines, which holds a 49 percent stake in Virgin Atlantic, bringing together three brands focused on faster, more convenient travel across the UK.
In 2022, Joby and Delta announced a multi-city partnership to pioneer community-to-airport transportation, which is mutually exclusive across the US and UK. Delta and Virgin Atlantic operate as partners across a shared transatlantic network, and Joby's UK partnership with Virgin Atlantic complements and expands its partnership with Delta. “This agreement marks an exciting next chapter in our partnership with Joby and a significant step towards bringing electric air taxi services to the UK,” said Corneel Koster, CEO of Virgin Atlantic. “Together, we'll create more seamless journeys for our customers, making it easier than ever to travel between towns, cities and our airports. Innovation has always been part of Virgin Atlantic's DNA, and we're proud to partner with Joby to help shape the future of travel while delivering the premium customer experience we're known for." |
ACS picks up Air Cargo Charter Broker of the Year at India’s National Awards for ExcellenceLeading aircraft charter broker, Air Charter Service, has further enhanced its reputation in India, by picking up the title of ‘Air Cargo Charter Broker of the Year India & International’ at a ceremony in the Taj Lands End, Mumbai held by the World Logistics and Supply Chain Congress.
Aman Agarwal collects the Air Cargo Charter Broker of the Year award at India's National Awards for Excellence. Aman Agarwal, Cargo Manager of ACS’s Mumbai office, collected the award on behalf of the company, and said: “It is a true honour to win this award, after entering the category for the first time. Our Indian team comprises of more than 40 professionals, and this award is testament to the hard work that each of them put in. “It also celebrates our best ever year, with a record number of cargo charters, for both Mumbai and New Delhi, last year. And we’re currently on course to better those figures further this year. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the esteemed panel of judges that chose us as the recipients of this award.”
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