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GAMA Releases First Quarter 2025 Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report
GAMA Releases First Quarter 2025 Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) published the First Quarter 2025 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report. The results for the first three months of 2025 when compared to the same period in 2024 show increased shipments across all sectors and an increase in the overall value of aircraft shipments.

Gulfstream delivers 50th G700
Gulfstream delivers 50th G700

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the 50th customer delivery of the Gulfstream G700. The aircraft was outfitted at Gulfstream’s Savannah completions center. Since entering service in April 2024, the G700 operates globally, and the fleet has accumulated more than 11,700 flight hours.

First Production Aircraft of World’s Fastest Business Jet, the Bombardier Global 8000, Completes Flawless Inaugural Flight
First Production Aircraft of World’s Fastest Business Jet, the Bombardier Global 8000, Completes Flawless Inaugural Flight

Bombardier announced that the first production Global 8000 aircraft has successfully completed its inaugural flight. The milestone was completed on May 16 from Bombardier’s state-of-the-art Aircraft Assembly Centre in Mississauga, Ont., and the aircraft executed a series of tests, part of the production flight test procedures during the flight. The exquisite jet landed under the expert command of pilot Sandro Novelli, assisted by co-pilot Charlie Honey and flight engineer Bhargav Bhavsar. All flight controls were exercised on the aircraft, and the systems and aircraft performed as expected.

Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 flight test program advances through milestones as second test article takes flight
Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 flight test program advances through milestones as second test article takes flight

Textron Aviation announced a major program milestone for the Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 flight test program with the successful first flight of a second test article — P1. Testing on the P1 aircraft will focus on avionics, human factors and interiors. The Citation CJ4 Gen3 business jet is designed to keep pilots a step ahead in the cockpit by offering the next-generation Garmin G3000 PRIME avionics along with the most standard features in its class.  

Demand softening but still some growth spots
Demand softening but still some growth spots

Flight activity in May clearly shows that the Trump bump back in November has dissipated, although there are no signs in the US market of a major relapse in demand which would reflect the deteriorating economic outlook since Trump’s tariffs. The one country where there is a clear indication of tariff impact is Germany, where demand is flagging significantly the last few weeks.

Civil Helicopter Fleet Report YE 2024
Civil Helicopter Fleet Report YE 2024

There were 4,131 civil turbine helicopters operating in the Asia-Pacific region at the end of 2024, which was an increase of 64 over the previous year. While this 1.6% year-on-year fleet growth in the region seemed modest and was similar to the annual percentage growth during the period 2019 – 2022, the Asia-Pacific based fleet has in fact grown by 850 units during the past 10 years, with a year-on-year compound growth of 2.3% since 2014.

Slowdown in US bizjet activity, stronger in Europe, Germany the weak exception
Slowdown in US bizjet activity, stronger in Europe, Germany the weak exception

Business jet demand has tapered a little in the last couple of weeks but is still trending above 2024, with activity in Texas and Florida hubs exceeding 5%, and fractional operations continuing to grow close to 10% this year. Europe had a strong week, but April trends indicate a flat market.

Bizjet activity rebounds after Easter holidays, stalls in Europe
Bizjet activity rebounds after Easter holidays, stalls in Europe

Global business jet activity rebounded significantly following Easter holidays in the core US market two weeks ago, activity in the latest week, Week 17 (21 – 27th April) jumped 11% compared to Week 16. The core US market recorded 11% growth compared to Week 17 last year, meanwhile in Europe, whilst activity was 12% ahead of the previous week, it was 4% below Week 17 in 2024.

IADA Q1 2025 Report Reflects Strong Transactions
IADA Q1 2025 Report Reflects Strong Transactions

Members of the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) reported completing 316 aircraft sales transactions in the first quarter of 2025, a 24% increase from 254 deals during the same period last year.

Easter holidays slow demand, but activity still ahead so far this year
Easter holidays slow demand, but activity still ahead so far this year

The big dip in YOY traffic this week may appear to be the fallout from broader economic concerns but in fact we are only seeing the usual slowdown during Easter holidays, and indeed bizjet flights this Easter are comfortably ahead of Easter week last year. For the month of April, and for the year to date, bizjet demand is still trending ahead of last year.

Bizjet spike in Europe, whilst US sees jet influx to Augusta
Bizjet spike in Europe, whilst US sees jet influx to Augusta

As yet, there is little sign of a slowdown in business jet demand as a result of the volatility in financial conditions triggered by Liberation Day. Indeed there was some unusual growth in bizjet activity in some markets this Week, most notably in Europe. It may even be that the bounce in flight activity this week reflects business opportunities which need to be realised during the brief respite from the full tariff program.

Gulfstream G800 Earns FAA and EASA Certifications
Gulfstream G800 Earns FAA and EASA Certifications

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD), announced the all-new Gulfstream G800, the world’s longest-range business aircraft, has earned type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) along with certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and has done so with even greater performance capabilities than originally anticipated.

Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 ushers in 15 years of cutting-edge aviation advancements and technology
Cessna Citation CJ4 Gen3 ushers in 15 years of cutting-edge aviation advancements and technology

The Cessna Citation CJ4 business jet family today achieved a milestone anniversary – the 15-year anniversary of certification, entry into service and first delivery of the aircraft. The latest product investment unveiled for the CJ4, the CJ4 Gen3, is expected to enter into service in 2026.

Liberation Day slows bizjet demand
Liberation Day slows bizjet demand

Liberation Day and the associated enactment of global tariffs on imports into the US triggered market turmoil and expectations of a recession, but so far only a ripple in terms of declining flight activity, most notable in Florida. An uptick in transatlantic corporate flight department travel may have been linked to tariff policy changes. We shall have to wait to see impact in Europe as this week was affected by comparison with Easter holidays last year.

Cessna Caravan celebrates 40 years
Cessna Caravan celebrates 40 years

Textron Aviation is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Cessna Caravan single-engine utility turboprop with customers throughout the year, recognizing its growth and popularity throughout the world during the past four decades.

Bizjet demand strong despite tariff concerns
Bizjet demand strong despite tariff concerns

Liberation Day does not yet appear to have made a dent in demand for bizjet travel, although the concerns raised around the economic impact of a global trade war are likely to slow the market in subsequent quarters. For Q1 2025, modest gains in Year-on-Year bizjet activity is an improvement on last year and underlines the enduring resilience of the US market, as well as strong emerging markets in the Middle East and Asia.

Bizjet jet flights up 4% in Week 11 vs last year, and up 29% compared to same week in 2020
Bizjet jet flights up 4% in Week 11 vs last year, and up 29% compared to same week in 2020

Global business jet activity rebounded after last week’s relapse, with flight demand in the US belying broader economic concerns, bizjet departures up almost 20% in Texas compared to last year. This week’s bizjet activity is up by 28% in the US and 3% in Europe compared to the same week in 2020 when lockdowns started to be imposed.

Bizjet demand stutters for the first time this year
Bizjet demand stutters for the first time this year

Since November 2024 the week-on-week trends in bizjet activity have been consistently up, contrasting with sluggish negative trends through 2023 and 2024, but since Trump´s tariff policy started to rattle the markets, bizjet demand has noticeably fallen back. Both Europe and the Middle East saw significantly less activity in Week 10 year-on-year.

Airbus introduces the light twin-engined H140 to its range
Airbus introduces the light twin-engined H140 to its range

Airbus Helicopters has introduced its H140 at the vertical lift industry show VERTICON in Dallas, Texas. The multi-mission helicopter raises the bar in the light twin-engined category, for performance, cost-effectiveness, and passenger and crew comfort. The H140 is a 3-tonne class rotorcraft that complements Airbus Helicopters' current light twin offering for the emergency medical services, passenger transport, and private and business aviation markets. The entry into service of the helicopter is planned in 2028 for the emergency medical services segment.

US bizjet activity rebounds in first week March, notably in Florida and Texas
US bizjet activity rebounds in first week March, notably in Florida and Texas

Business jet activity has remained very firm in the last 3 months, representing a genuine rebound from flatline trends in 2023 and 2024. In the most recent week, demand was notably strong to and from Washington DC, unsurprisingly. European markets are generally behind at the start of March, with Germany the most obvious laggard.

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