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Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
Los Angeles:
The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) reported the business aviation market remained fundamentally strong in the first quarter of 2026.
The organization’s First Quarter Market Report, featuring perception surveys and actual performance data, signaled continued demand outpacing supply and stable pricing across most categories, leading to generally positive expectations for the year ahead.
Survey respondents described a market defined by resilience and discipline, even as geopolitical uncertainty and macroeconomic risks introduce a more measured outlook compared with late 2025. Overall sentiment reflects steady performance with underlying strength in demand, constrained inventory, and sustained transaction activity.
“The prevailing tone across respondents is one of measured confidence,” said John Odegard, Chair of IADA and Co-Founder and Partner of 5X5 Trading, an IADA-Accredited Dealer.
“The business aviation market remains fundamentally healthy, demand continues to outpace supply, values are holding firm, and buyer interest remains broad. However, a growing undercurrent of geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty is tempering enthusiasm somewhat heading into mid-2026.”
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Dallas, Texas:
Positioned for continued 2026 growth.
Moving into the second quarter of 2026, Mente Group has the momentum from a record breaking 2025, with more than $1bn in aircraft transactions, to execute another record year.
The company achieved its highest annual transaction volume and greatest number of deals closed in company history in 2025. The milestone caps a year of accelerated growth and reinforces the firm’s trajectory heading into 2026.
“2025 was Mente Group’s strongest year yet, both in total transaction value and number of deals closed,” said Brian Proctor, president and CEO of Mente Group. “These results underscore the confidence our clients place in us to guide critical aviation investment decisions. We’re grateful to our clients, partners, and team for their roles in this success.”
The company has strengthened its leadership team in 2026 with several key appointments and promotions.
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Los Angeles:
Clay Lacy Aviation has announced that it will not charge special event fees at any of its FBO locations throughout the United States during the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off June 11th.
The company’s decision underscores its commitment to transparency, exceptional service and unwavering hospitality as the world’s largest sporting event comes to North America.
“In our industry, special event fees were originally implemented to help offset the legitimate and significant costs associated with handling high-volume traffic within a compressed timeframe such as the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby or Formula 1 race weekends,” said Doug Wilson, Chief Business Officer for Clay Lacy Aviation FBOs.
“These events can require flying in additional personnel, securing accommodations, bringing in extra ground support equipment, and mobilizing more fuel trucks to meet demand, all of which drive real operational expense.”
However, Clay Lacy notes that in recent years, the scope of special event fees has expanded to include smaller gatherings that do not generate significant air traffic.
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Austin, Texas:
Business Air, Inc., a Texas-based FAA Part 135 charter operator in continuous operation since 1967, has announced its expansion into retail private jet charter, bringing corporate aircraft access to Texas travelers without membership fees or long-term commitments.
Under the leadership of CEO Daniel Kearns, Business Air is bringing a different model to the Texas charter market.
Rather than owning or leasing a fleet directly, the company contracts with Texas corporations whose aircraft sit idle most of the year, making those purpose-built business jets available to charter clients at competitive rates with no membership requirements.
Daniel Kearns.
"Most charter operators pass the fixed cost of owning aircraft on to their customers in higher hourly rates," said Daniel Kearns.
"We work directly with Texas corporations whose Falcons, Challengers, and Gulfstreams fly perhaps two hundred hours a year for their owners. The other fifteen hundred hours, those aircraft sit on the ramp. We bring those hours to market at charter rates that undercut what a fleet operator can offer. The owner offsets fixed costs. The customer pays less. Better aircraft, better economics for everyone."
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Nashua, New Hampshire:
Tuvoli exceeds record $100m in monthly private air charter bookings
Tuvoli, the expanding digital platform for business aviation, facilitated $100m in charter bookings this March.
This equates to one departure every 11 minutes - a record month for the company since its launch in 2019, edging closer to its goal of achieving $2bn charter transactions this year. Tuvoli’s mobile-optimized digital infrastructure enables charter brokers and Part 135 operators to manage the entire charter sales process, from quoting to payment, in one place.
Tuvoli’s performance establishes a $1.2bn annualized run-rate and reflects accelerating adoption across both operators and brokers. The business has now surpassed $3bn in lifetime bookings, further reinforcing its position for providing core transaction infrastructure within private aviation.
“This success underscores the escalating trend towards digitalization in private aviation,” said Tuvoli CEO Greg Johnson. “The combination of real-time availability and integrated instant payments offer brokers and operators crucial time advantages.
"This is a meaningful inflection point for the platform. Crossing $100m in a single month demonstrates that operators and brokers are not just trying Tuvoli - they’re relying on it to run real volume.”
Washington, DC:
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has released a white paper, outlining a targeted industrial blueprint to anchor clean aviation manufacturing in Europe, entitled 'Wings of Change: A Strategy for Competitiveness, Innovation, Industry, and Investment in Europe’s Sustainable Aviation Sector'.
As the EU advances the Clean Industrial Deal and its competitiveness agenda, GAMA proposes aviation-specific measures to further advance Europe’s leadership in electric, hybrid-electric and hydrogen-powered flight. The white paper builds upon GAMA’s 2024 white paper recommendations on accelerating electric aviation in Europe and includes a progress report of those recommendations.
“European general aviation manufacturers have led the way with the certification of both a fully electric aircraft and an electric propulsion engine,” said Péter Márton, Director of European Government Affairs, GAMA.
“Unfortunately, insufficient access to capital and limited industrial scale-up support have caused some companies to file bankruptcy and/or relocate. Without stronger investment frameworks and regulatory backing, Europe risks losing ground in a sector that is making headway in reducing environmental impacts and growing economic opportunity.”
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Ramboll
Richard Graybrook
Global architecture, engineering, and sustainability consultancy Ramboll has announced the appointment of Richard Graybrook as Aviation Lead for UK&I and Europe.
In this role, Richard will lead Ramboll’s aviation business across the region with responsibility for major programmes and projects, driving innovation and embedding sustainability throughout project delivery.
Richard brings extensive experience in the aviation sector, having led multi-disciplinary teams and managing complex operations. He has a strong track record in delivering long-term operational strategies, as well as identifying innovative ways to design, develop, and deliver new processes.
Following service in the British Army, he later transitioned to the private sector, holding a series of senior leadership roles, most recently at Jacobs helping to grow their aviation business across Europe.
In his role as Aviation Director at Ramboll, Richad will draw on this experience to build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders across the sector. He will apply his sector experience and leadership skills to drive innovation, challenge conventional thinking to deliver high-quality, sustainable solutions, playing a key role in advancing Ramboll’s ambition to act as the partner for sustainable change to its clients across the aviation market.
Chapman Freeborn
Danish Cutleriwala
Chapman Freeborn has appointed Danish Cutleriwala as Country Manager India, further strengthening its leadership presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation and logistics markets.
Based in Mumbai, Danish Cutleriwala will lead Chapman Freeborn’s operations in India, with a focus on driving commercial growth across cargo and passenger charter services, while expanding the company’s footprint through strategic partnerships and enhanced customer engagement.
He brings more than 19 years of experience in logistics, freight forwarding and supply chain management, with a proven track record in business expansion, P&L management and building high-performing teams across India, Asia and the Middle East.
Danish joins Chapman Freeborn from Sciens Logistics, where he served as Country Manager (APAC & Middle East), overseeing regional operations and leading business transformation initiatives. Prior to this, he held senior roles at FedEx, Crane Worldwide Logistics and Wiz Freight, where he was responsible for driving commercial growth, expanding freight forwarding operations and managing key global accounts.
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WINGX Global Market Tracker:
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Global bizjet activity contracted 1.5% year-on-year in Week 17 (20 – 26 April), with the year-to-date figure (1 January-26 April) holding at +4.6% ahead of last year, a 0.1pp decrease from the +4.7% reported through 19 April, while still a notable improvement on the +2.5% achieved over the same period in 2025 vs 2024.
While accounting for 72% of all bizjet sectors flown last week, North America declined 1.7% year-on-year, whereas Europe, the world’s second largest market (14% of Week 17 flights), posted the strongest regional year-on-year growth, expanding 9.4%.
While Europe’s +9.4% Week 17 YOY growth was a highlight last week, the Middle East continues to drag down activity. Accounting for roughly 1% of global bizjet sectors, the Middle East’s 30.7% decline drug down the global growth figure by 0.4 percentage points.
Africa also suffered a notable decline at -15.7%, while also accounting for 1% of total sectors and dragging the global trend roughly 0.2 percentage points.
full report
France:
Textron Aviation recently entered into an agreement with SD Aviation for two Cessna Citation M2 Gen3 business jets and a Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 business jet with options for three additional light jets.
These aircraft will support SD Aviation’s new program SD Share, a shared ownership program offering private flights based in Paris and Cannes. SD Share is a partnership between SD Aviation and Groupe Dubreuil and initial deliveries are expected to begin in 2027.
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David Bienvenu, Global Leader, Maintenance Training & OEM Relationships, CAE discusses the need for structured maintenance technician training in a severely strained workforce environment.
If you ask almost any operator today what keeps them up at night, the answers usually revolve around aircraft availability, regulatory compliance, and operational reliability.
But behind all of those concerns sits a growing challenge that affects every corner of the aviation ecosystem: the worldwide shortage of aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs).
The numbers are striking. According to CAE’s 2025 Aviation Talent Forecast, the global aviation industry will need more than 416,000 new maintenance technicians by 2034, including around 69,000 in business aviation alone. That demand is being driven by continued fleet growth, the increasing sophistication of aircraft systems, and a wave of retirements among experienced technicians.
For operators and owners, this isn’t just a workforce issue. It’s an operational one.
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New York:
Joby Aviation has announced the completion of the first-ever point-to-point electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi demonstration flights in New York City’s history, marking the start of a week-long public campaign across the city’s existing heliport network.
Framed against the most iconic skyline in the world, the campaign offers the first real-world demonstration of how electric air taxis, which are quiet and produce zero operating emissions, will be able to connect the region, linking vertiports, international airports, and communities across the New York metropolitan area.
Joby's aircraft (N545JX) departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and landed across the city’s existing heliport network, including Downtown Skyport, and the West 30th Street and East 34th Street Heliports in Midtown, home to Blade Air Mobility’s premium passenger lounges. Together, these sites trace some of the commercial routes the company envisions for New York, connecting Lower Manhattan and Midtown to JFK in under 10 minutes.
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The great and the good of European business and general aviation descended on a small German town near the Swiss and Austrian borders last week.
There was nothing small about the event they were attending however. This year's largest European tradeshow for the sectors was alive with great prospecting, networking and conversations.
The best of the best in sustainable aviation technology was there, long-standing stellar OEMs with new aircraft and the world's top B2B providers. Hear from Saxon Air Helicopters Susan Ying, DC aviation and Women in Aviation International among others.
 And the one hiccup? Watch the video to learn more
United Kingdom:
Britten-Norman has delivered a key milestone in its collaboration with World Mobile Stratospheric, with the BN2T-4S Islander aircraft supporting the programme now prepared for the next phase of system integration.
The aircraft is now ready for installation of the airborne 5G antenna system, marking a significant step forward in the development of aircraft-based connectivity solutions.
The installation of the advanced phased-array antenna system represents a complex integration challenge, supported by over 100 individual engineering drawings produced by Britten-Norman’s Design Office. This work underpins the aircraft’s role as a platform for next-generation airborne connectivity and highlights the company’s in-house capability across structural analysis, systems integration and certification.
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Canada:
Embraer has added Execaire Aviation to its Authorized Service Center Network to support executive jet customers in Canada.
Execaire will provide line maintenance for the Phenom 100 and Phenom 300 series, Praetor 500 and Praetor 600 series, and Legacy 450 and 500 aircraft at its base in Toronto.
“Becoming an Embraer Authorized Service Center is a significant milestone for Execaire Aviation and reinforces our commitment to delivering world-class maintenance and support to our customers," says Execaire President. Michael Fedele. "As demand for Embraer aircraft continues to grow across Canada, we are proud to expand our capabilities to support operators of the Phenom, Praetor, and Legacy platforms."
Guadalajara, Mexico:
Marks major bizav milestone in Western Mexico.
Universal Aviation has announced the inauguration its new purpose-built FBO and General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at Guadalajara International Airport (MMGL), marking a major new milestone for business aviation in one of Mexico’s most important and fastest-growing markets.
The new facility - expected to open for operations in the coming days - is the city’s first FBO dedicated to serving the business aviation community and represents a significant advancement in private aviation infrastructure for Guadalajara and the broader western Mexico region.
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Vaernes, Norway:
Project will showcase Electra’s hybrid-electric Ultra Short aircraft, transforming regional destinations.
Bristow Group Inc., Electra, Avinor, and the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority have announced the launch and contract signing of a second international test project for zero and low emission aviation.
Electra's EL9 Ultra Short aircraft in Bristow livery.
The project builds on Norway’s established international test arena and aims to generate operational, regulatory and market knowledge supporting the introduction of electric and hybrid electric aircraft.
Electra’s hybrid-electric airplane operates from ultra-short access points, the size of a football pitch/soccer field, and dramatically reduces travel times by flying directly across terrain and waterways that make surface transportation frustrating and slow.
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Broomfield, Colorado:
Pilatus marked the official start of construction on a new state-of-the-art facility at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield, Colorado.
The new building will house a premium customer delivery center, where customers from all over the country can configure and personalize their PC-12 or PC-24. Additionally, Pilatus will significantly expand its existing engineering as well as passenger seat processing capabilities for the growing fleet.
The groundbreaking ceremony brought together senior Pilatus executives and representatives from Jefferson County Government, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, and numerous local and regional stakeholders.
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AERO Friedrichshafen:
By Alison Chambers.
AERO Friedrichshafen may be a show with a nearly five decades’ legacy, but it gained a considerably wider fan base last week with record participation from the business aviation fraternity.
Its Business Aviation Showcase Hub (BASH) landed well last year, but this April it was back - bigger - with 50 business aircraft showcasing on the static. Approximately 350 of the total 860 exhibitors, from 50 countries, were active in business aviation.
Easy walking access to the static from Hall 1, the dedicated bizav hall, with a large JetEx stand centrepiece, was a reminder of EBACE past. Yet AERO presents a different vibe. Opening the event, Show Director Tobias Bretzel, heralded the elevation of business aviation as an exciting new chapter in its history. However, we will not lose sight of our roots, he insisted, sharing that every second visitor to AERO is a pilot.
“We created this show as a meeting place for pilots, with light, general and sports aviation as the core focus and that hasn’t changed.”
Eleven of the 12 halls were devoted to these growing sectors, complemented by daily expert presentations and briefings on new propulsion systems, electric and hydrogen flight, pilot training initiatives and avionics advances, playing out in the East and West conference rooms.
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Friedrichshafen, Germany:
Gogo marked a significant milestone in its reinforced presence in the international market with its debut at AERO Friedrichshafen last week.
The company highlighted its growing Gogo Galileo portfolio, which now brings high-speed, reliable and low-latency inflight connectivity to a broader range of aircraft - including light jets and turboprops - that previously had limited or no viable high performance connectivity options.
It also underlined its commitment to customer privacy and cybersecurity, and as industry leaders in the field, are committed to supporting new standards required by EASA Part-IS regulations.
“For the first time, operators of light aircraft such as Cessna Citations, Pilatus PC-12s and 24s and Embraer Phenom 300s have access to a truly global, high-speed connectivity solution purpose-built for business aviation that meets their performance, size, and budget requirements,” says Dave Falberg, Gogo’s SVP Sales EMEA-APAC.
“Our Galileo portfolio opens the door for more aircraft owners to stay connected wherever they fly, without compromise.”
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Turkey:
Textron Aviation has announced that Turkish Airlines Flight Academy has signed a purchase agreement for 10 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft, expanding its training fleet to support growing airline pilot demand across Europe.
Turkish Airlines Flight Academy currently operates 66 Cessna Skyhawk aircraft, making it one of the largest Skyhawk training fleets in the region. Deliveries of the new aircraft are expected to begin this year.
“The Cessna Skyhawk continues to set the standard for flight training worldwide, offering the reliability, performance and operating efficiency flight schools depend on,” said Lannie O’Bannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. “This order reflects Turkish Airlines Flight Academy’s confidence in the Skyhawk as it continues to scale its training capacity to meet long‑term pilot demand.”
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Friedrichshafen, Germany:
Creates a unified workflow for charter operators and helping them generate revenue growth.
STACK.aero, the technology platform streamlining business aviation workflows, announced at AERO Friedrichshafen a new integration with Leon Software, a leading provider of flight scheduling and operations management solutions.
The integration enables mutual customers to manage the full lifecycle of a flight seamlessly across both platforms through a single, connected workflow - enhancing customer service, increasing efficiency, and improving operators’ bottom line.
STACK.aero’s Business Operations System (BOS) is the only customer relationship management (CRM) software built for business aviation. Leveraging the full power of Salesforce, the world’s leading CRM platform, BOS consolidates information traditionally stored across multiple systems into one centralized environment.
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London:
Luxaviation UK is celebrating its 30th anniversary this month by showcasing the future of the industry and its career opportunities.
To mark this milestone, the company invited 30 students from Stansted Airport College to spend a day at its own office in Stapleford and facilities at Stansted Airport.
Founded in 1996 with a post-war hut in Stapleford, UK and a two-aircraft air taxi service to ferry jockeys between races, Luxaviation UK has grown to become one of Europe’s largest business aircraft charter operators. Originally known as London Executive Aviation, the company joined Luxaviation Group in 2014, became Luxaviation UK, and continued to grow its fleet.
George Galanopoulos, CEO, Luxaviation UK, says: “We’re incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone, and are thankful to all members of our team for their continued excellence in offering our clients the very best. We would also like to extend our genuine gratitude to all those who have supported us over the years."
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Friedrichshafen, Germany:
Bell secures three new orders for corporate-configured Bell 429s in Europe
Bell Textron has successfully signed purchase agreements for three Bell 429s for VIP operators in the United Kingdom and Estonia, strengthening the platforms’ stronghold throughout Europe
“We continue to see a growing demand for our corporate-configured aircraft in region, especially with the Bell 429,” said Robin Wendling, Managing Director, Europe, Bell.
“The Bell 429 combines speed, comfort, and luxury, which are three things that are especially ideal for our corporate and VIP customers. We look forward to working with our three new operators as they expand their fleets with this exceptional platform.”
Currently, there are over 500 Bell 429s in operation across the world, accumulating more than 735,000 flight hours. Designed for passenger transport, the Bell 429 boasts one of the largest cabin spaces in the light twin helicopter category, featuring flat flooring and seating for up to seven people, on top of an integrated avionics suite and IFR capability.
Singapore:
The Business Aviation Asia Forum & Expo (BAAFEx) will be returning for its second edition on 22nd–24th March 2027 as business aviation in Asia Pacific enters a new phase of growth.
The second edition of BAAFEx is set to be bigger, with expanded participation across all show elements, including over 3,000 industry professionals and trade visitors expected; more than 75 participating companies to be represented across exhibitions, sponsorships and the conference programme; a curated conference programme addressing key industry topics, including sustainability, airport infrastructure and regulatory developments, tohether with a static aircraft display.
Leck Chet Lam, Managing Director of Experia Events, says: “BAAFEx was launched to fill a clear gap in Asia Pacific’s business aviation landscape, and the response to the first edition exceeded expectations. With the region entering a new phase of growth, the 2027 edition will be larger in scale, reflecting the momentum of the market and the increasing importance of bringing the industry together.”
A region on the rise
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Textron secures nine-jet order from LUMINAIR for Cessna Citation Latitude fleet expansion across Europe
TITAN addresses European fuel shortage and industry transition
Daher's TBM 980 makes its European show debut at AERO Friedrichshafen
Technology · Aviation · Business launches global forum for aviation technology standards
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Air Charter Service - the seasoned professionals
Leading aircraft charter specialist, Air Charter Service, recently arranged one of its more unusual cargo charters, when it helped a Mexican food additive and condiments manufacturer avoid a shutdown in a Nicaraguan factory. Several tons of seasoning was required in Managua, and ACS was able to source an A330-200F to carry the load.
Luis Canales-Tough, Cargo Director of ACS Mexico, commented: “The client originally approached us for our next flight out (NFO) service, to move around 18 tons of the condiment, used at a meat products manufacturing plant in Managua, to avoid the production line shutting down. After discussing the potential closure with the customer we advised that, due to the infrequency of scheduled flights from Mexico to Nicaragua, a charter carrying 51 tons on one flight could be a better solution and would still get there in time, which they agreed to.
| “We worked closely with the airline and the national authorities in Nicaragua to obtain the necessary permits, and were able to accelerate the process by getting a letter of urgency from the consignee. The customer had never chartered before, so we then talked them through the correct customs procedures to ensure everything ran smoothly. To make sure the operation went without a hitch, we offered to accompany the shipment down to Managua. The cargo arrived in time to stop the factory in Nicaragua having to shut down its production line.” |
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