Your essential weekly digest of International Business and Private Aviation Industry news
United States:Vista and Tri-State Charter partner to bolster private shuttle operations in North AmericaVista Global and Tri State Charter, one of the largest operators of VIP Bombardier CRJ and Challenger 850 aircraft, have announced a partnership agreement aimed at expanding and enhancing per-seat shuttle operations to and from premium leisure destinations in the US.The partnership, operated under Tri State’s new luxury travel brand, Slate Aviation, will initially build on Vista’s existing XO branded shuttle service between New York and South Florida, with newly refurbished cabins and upgraded on-board services introduced to certain airport pairs starting in March.
Slate’s 18-seat all-business-class CRJ-200 aircraft will offer the most comfortable and luxurious travel option between the Northeast and Florida, with private terminal departures from several convenient NYC airports (including select member-only terminals), nearly 50 inches of legroom and extendable foot and leg-rests at every seat, improved Wi-Fi and on-board streaming entertainment, along with gourmet dining and wine service by Slate’s highly trained cabin attendants.
Washington, DC:NBAA responds to TSA’s changes to public charter security protocolsThe National Business Aviation Association has commented on changes the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) intends to implement to its Twelve-Five Standard Security Program (TFSSP) for public charter flights operating under 14 CFR Part 380 and FAR Part 135.“NBAA is carefully analyzing the TSA’s changes to public charter security,” said NBAA Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Sustainability and International Operations Doug Carr. “Because of the classified nature of the TFSSP, we cannot comment on the details of our internal review, but we look forward to working with TSA to ensure the new program requirements are workable for the diverse operational profile of our sector, and that operators clearly understand the new mandates.” The changes, released by the TSA earlier this month, have been under development for some time. Last year, the agency said it was working with the FAA to review security protocols for public charter flights, following calls from some industry stakeholders to make the requirements more reflective of those for the airlines. The TFSSP is a set of TSA security measures for aircraft operators utilizing aircraft with a maximum certified takeoff weight exceeding 12,500 pounds.
Miami, Florida:Strong interest in FOSAA25 Conference highlights renewed importance of the seaplane sectorWith less than a month to go, delegate, sponsor, and exhibitor numbers are up compared to last year for the annual Future Opportunities for Seaplanes and Amphibious Aviation conference.The strengthened interest in FOSAA25, taking place on 11th February 2025, demonstrates the growing importance of the amphibious and seaplane segment, providing a platform where stakeholders can address the needs, challenges and opportunities for the burgeoning sector. The conference is being held at the Biltmore Hotel, Miami, and is appealing to delegates across the globe.
“We know this industry meeting makes a difference to the expanding seaplane sector. Bringing together participants from around the world results in genuine action as delegates learn, share experiences, network, and initiate deals. We’re aware that at least three signed agreements originated at FOSAA24,” says Lorna Titley, Director of Quaynote Communications, who organizes the event with Arena Group Associates. “FOSAA is the only dedicated seaplane and amphibious aviation conference globally. For any stakeholder operating, working in or looking to launch, this is a vital event to attend,” she adds.
Montreal:CAE inaugurates its first Air Traffic Services Training Centre in collaboration with NAV CANADAThe recently opened training centre on CAE’s campus in Montreal marks a broadening of CAE’s training portfolio.Global aviation training leader CAE has inaugurated its first Air Traffic Services (ATS) Training Centre, on its campus in Montreal, Canada. As the largest provider of civil aviation training worldwide, CAE trains pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, and cabin crew.Last October, CAE started partnering in the training of air traffic controllers (ATC) and flight service specialists (FSS) with NAV CANADA. “We are thrilled to officially inaugurate CAE’s first ATS training centre in collaboration with NAV CANADA," said CAE President and CEO Marc Parent. "As an innovator in aviation learning sciences, CAE is perfectly positioned to partner with NAV CANADA and other Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) to meet the increasing global demand for air traffic services personnel and train the highly skilled professionals they need to manage air traffic safely. “This is an extension of CAE’s core mission to make the world safer, and as a pilot, I can attest to the critical importance of the communication between flight crew and the air traffic personnel who play an essential role in the safety of every flight.”
Toronto, Canada:Hybrid eVTOLs will transform air ambulances in IrelandAnalysis shows medical emergency transfer times across 230 km can be cut by nearly three hours compared with ambulances and by nearly 30 minutes compared with helicopters.Switching to hybrid electric Vertical TakeOff and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft will transform air ambulances in Ireland dramatically reducing transfer times for patients and cutting costs for operators, analysis from Horizon Aircraft shows. Hybrid eVTOLs, which have a flight range of up to 800 km with fuel reserves, can cover all of Ireland using existing helipads and analysis shows they are up to two-times faster and are 50% more cost efficient with almost twice the range of twin engine helicopters.
Horizon Aircraft, the leading hybrid eVTOL aircraft developer, says speed is essential with medical evacuations and transfers and the ability to reach hospitals faster will save lives. Data shows a 230 km transfer from Letterkenny University Hospital to Dublin Hospital would take 35 minutes in the Cavorite X7, compared with nearly an hour in a helicopter and as long as three-and-a-half hours by road in an ambulance. The cost per mile for the Cavorite X7 would be 74% cheaper when compared with a twin helicopter for the 230 km journey, Horizon Aircraft says.
Gulfstream Derek ZimmermanGulfstream Aerospace Corp. has appointed Derek Zimmerman as senior vice president of Enterprise Supply Chain, effective immediately.In this newly created role, Zimmerman will lead the strategic oversight for procurement, inventory management, logistics, warehousing, repair and overhaul, distribution, and spare parts.Zimmerman joined Gulfstream in 2011 as vice president of Product Support Materials. In 2014, he was named vice president of Gulfstream Customer Support and in 2015, named President, Customer Support.  Lor IzzardAccompanying this appointment, Lor Izzard has been named senior vice president of Gulfstream Customer Support.Izzard will oversee sales support, service center operations, government programs and field support. Izzard joined Gulfstream in 1999 as a systems engineer and most recently served as vice president of field support. “The strategic management of our enterprise supply chain and the ongoing support of our customers remains paramount to our long-term success,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “Derek and Lor are two seasoned leaders with proven track records of success. "I’m looking forward to their continued leadership in their new roles as they work together to ensure our products and parts are operating at the highest standard for our customers throughout the life of their aircraft.” |
So far this year (1st-20th January), global business jet flights are up 3% compared to last year, the active aircraft fleet 1% larger than the same period last year, according to WINGX weekly Global Market Tracker published today.Week 3, through 19th January, included the run up to Trump’s inauguration, drawing a large number of business jets to Washington, one contributor to the 11% growth in business jet flights compared to Week 3 2024.
During the Friday - Sunday weekend prior to the ceremony (17th-19th January), over 700 bizjet arrivals were recorded into Washington DC airports, 300% more than during the previous weekend (10th-12th January), four times more than in the 3 days prior to President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. On January 17th there were almost 300 bizjet arrivals into Washington metro area. The busiest departure cities for the DC arrivals were New York and West Palm Beach. Super Midsize and Ultra Long-Range jets served most of the demand, busiest operator types Fractional and Aircraft Management fleets flying an almost equal number of flights. Bizjet activity in the US since the election (November 6th-January 20th) is 4% ahead of comparable last year, contrasting the -1% decline in the first 10 months of 2024.
New Delhi:Eve Air Mobility and JetSetGo to explore urban ATM implementation in IndiaEve Air Mobility and JetSetGo, a private aircraft charter and fractional ownership company, headquartered in New Delhi, India, have entered into an agreement to explore and advance the use of Vector, Eve’s cutting-edge agnostic Urban ATM (air traffic management) software solution in India.
The announcement, which was made during the Bharat Mobility AAM Conference today, makes JetSetGo Eve’s 14th Vector customer and its second customer in India, as interest in the Eve’s Vector agnostic urban air traffic management software solution continues to grow globally.
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 Tarbes, France:Daher steps up delivery pace in 2024 with a total of 82 TBMs and KodiaksDaher delivered a combined total of 82 TBM and Kodiak aircraft during 2024 - marking a nearly 11 percent increase from the previous year, while also expanding the customer base for these single-engine, turboprop-powered airplanes with owners, operators and public service agencies.The company also logged a total of 100 new orders for TBMs and Kodiaks during its 2024 business activity, reinforcing the company’s solid order book that covers airplane deliveries extending into 2026. “The market demand for TBM and Kodiak continues to be resilient, benefitting from the versatility and operational efficiency of these aircraft - which is backed by Daher’s commitment for continual improvement across the product lines,” said Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft.
Daher’s 2024 deliveries were led by the fast and efficient TBM, with 56 TBM 960s provided to customers - of which more than 50% involved repeat buyers of TBM family aircraft. The US once again was the leading geographic region for annual TBM deliveries, as 40 of the top-of-the-line TBM 960s were received last year by owners and operators in this market. For the other deliveries across the Americas, four TBM 960s went to the dynamic Brazilian marketplace, while two aircraft were provided in Canada and one in Bolivia.
Davos, Switzerland:GACA announces record Saudi bizjet growth in 2024Private aviation to be a $2bn sector in the Kingdom.Saudi Arabia’s business jet sector achieved a record 24% jump in flight volumes in 2024, the General Authority of Civil Aviation has announced whilst profiling the sector’s future growth prospects at a Saudi House aviation event on the sidelines of the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos. Business jet flights rose from 19,000 in 2023 to a record 23,612 in 2024, with domestic jet flights rising 26% to 9,206 and international jet flights rising 15% to 14,406. This growth was led by Saudi Arabia’s airport hubs, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah saw a 30% increase in business jet traffic, while King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh recorded a 22% rise and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam saw a 7% increase. Tourism destinations Sindalah, the Red Sea and Al Ula were popular new destinations for business, whilst events such as the Future Investment Initiative and Formula One Grand Prix in Jeddah also supported the record growth in jet traffic.
Mohammed Alkhuraisi, GACA’s Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business stated: “A thriving business jet sector is essential to support Saudi Arabia’s luxury tourism and business sectors. "To build on the record business jet growth achieved in 2024, an unprecedented investment program is underway to ensure the Kingdom offers unparalleled business jet aviation infrastructure and services.”
United Kingdom:Analysis reveals SAF industry takes flight with £14.7bn global investmentNine UK companies have received a combined £180m private investment.New analysis has revealed how private investment and national commitments are driving global growth for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) - with a total of £14.7bn invested in SAF projects.‘The Sustainable Aviation Fuel: Global Investment Analysis’, produced by Innovate UK Business Connect, was developed to map out sources of private investment with national policies or instruments, production pathways and feedstock availability to understand patterns and correlations. Ranked fourth globally for total SAF investment, the UK has secured £180m in private investment, drawing finance from the USA, Saudi Arabia and Canada. In the UK, investors are financing a range of technology pathways with Power-to-Liquids (PtL), Fischer-Tropsch (FT) and Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) dominating. The analysis suggests the UK SAF industry is growing from increased private financial backing that has been supported by government policies. This includes the introduction of the SAF mandate, which launched on 1 January 2025, targeting a 10% blend in the aviation fuel mix by 2030. The UK government is also set to implement a Revenue Certainty Mechanism in 2026 to address the technological risks associated with non-HEFA (Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids) based SAF plants. This additional measure, which has received Royal Ascent, is expected to help attract private investment. Whilst most of the SAF plants in the UK in receipt of private investment are planned, there is evidence of increased investor confidence in UK SAF in response to Government policies.
The Netherlands:Euramec Cessna Caravan flight sim to train MAF pilotsMission Aviation Fellowship International (MAF), has signed with European flight simulation system builders, Euramec, to build a scalable mission training solution for the Cessna Caravan.MAF is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator that collectively operates a fleet of 117 airplanes serving some 1,500 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief and long-term development to isolated communities across the globe.
Rene Don, Flight Simulator Project Lead at MAF International, said: “We are very excited and proud to officially announce our partnership with Euramec for our next-generation Flight Sim solution of the Cessna C208B Caravan. Investment in this simulator will also bring cost and environmental benefits because it significantly reduces the number of hours in the air during training.” The simulator, to be based in the Netherlands, will contribute to MAF’s aim of cutting carbon emissions, in proportion to its flying, by 30% by 2035.
Uzbekistan:JETEX to develop Uzbekistan's first FBODuring an official state visit to the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Uzbekistan's Transport Minister, Ilhom Mahkamov, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with JETEX founder, Adel Mardini, to establish the country's first and only FBO.According to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport, the project will be implemented at Tashkent-Eastern Airport, where JETEX will introduce world-class FBO services designed to meet the needs of VIP and CIP clients. This initiative represents a public-private partnership and aims to elevate the standards of business aviation in Uzbekistan.
The project is expected to boost Uzbekistan’s tourism industry while reinforcing Tashkent's status as a regional hub for luxury travel and business aviation. Additionally, it will create over 200 skilled jobs in the business aviation sector, contributing to the country’s economic growth and expertise in aviation services. |
Hi Fly makes history with arrival of second Airbus A380 in Portugal
Hi Fly made history in Portugal once again by flying the world’s largest commercial aircraft from Dresden, Germany, to Beja, Portugal. This marks the second Airbus A380 to ever land in Portugal.
The first instance occurred in 2018, when Hi Fly’s A380 9H-MIP arrived, showcasing the Mirpuri Foundation’s environmental campaign "Save the Coral Reefs." The historic moment attracted an impressive number of spectators to Beja Airport, eager to witness the arrival of the Superjumbo.
The Hi Fly team successfully ferried the first Global Airlines Airbus A380-841, registered 9H-GLOBL, on a journey spanning 1,240 nautical miles from Dresden, Germany, to Beja, Portugal. Commander Carlos Mirpuri, Vice-Chairman of the Hi Fly Group, led the three-hour flight. He had previously led the missions from Mojave Desert Airport to Prestwick in May and from Prestwick to Dresden in October of last year.
Upon arriving in Beja, Commander Mirpuri remarked, “The A380 is a technological marvel. Nothing compares to it. It’s like a spaceship, and despite its impressive size, it’s as responsive as a smaller Airbus. It’s an absolute delight to fly. I’m looking forward to flying this impressive aircraft again when it makes its debut commercial flight with Global Airlines. This marks the culmination of nearly two years of effort, with a dedicated team of experts from Hi Fly and Global working tirelessly to make it happen.”
Hi Fly belongs to the very exclusive club of only 15 airlines to ever operate the A380, the largest and most advanced aircraft ever built.
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