Buisness aviation news

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.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced its fleet has achieved an industry-leading 700 city-pair speed records with a Gulfstream G700 flight from Taipei to Miami. This flight commemorates the 50-year anniversary of Gulfstream’s first U.S. National Aeronautic Association (NAA) accredited speed record, set in 1975 by the Gulfstream GII.

Phenix Jet Cayman has completed a major milestone in business aviation by managing the first-ever Temporary Registration for a business jet in the Asia-Pacific region. The registration, approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI), was completed at Singapore’s Seletar Airport in just five business days.

Leading private air charter specialist, Air Charter Service (ACS), has become the official private charter supplier to Silverstone, joining forces with the home of British motorsport to deliver an experience unlike any there before. The partnership will see ACS, along with its long-standing partner Helipad, deliver an improved customer experience at the heliport, which will be launched at the British Grand Prix along with a series of new aviation products for those looking to enjoy the ultimate Silverstone experience year-round.

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 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.

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.

Bombardier announced the development of its new service facility at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), further extending its industry-leading maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities around the world. This new facility represents a strong partnership with Abu Dhabi Airports, leveraging their expertise and commitment to aviation excellence. The new facility, which will relocate from its originally announced location at the Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2022, further reinforces Bombardier’s commitment to serving its customers in this key market. The new location at the dynamic Al Bateen Executive Airport more effectively aligns with the needs of Bombardier customers.

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.

Comlux, one of the leaders in private aviation industry, has signed a 3-year endorsement agreement with Romain Grosjean, a Swiss racing driver who competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for Lamborghini and serves as a reserve driver in the IndyCar Series for Prema.  

Bombardier announced that its Global 8000 business jet program is progressing to plan, with its first Global 8000 production aircraft continuing in the assembly phase in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Canada. Major components from Bombardier facilities were delivered per plan and the aircraft is progressing through the high-tech manufacturing process toward planned entry-into-service (EIS) in 2025.

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.

OPUL Jets UK Ltd has announced its acquisition of Zenith Aviation, a espected UK-based operator headquartered at London Biggin Hill Airport.

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.

Rolls-Royce has certified ExecuJet MRO Services Malaysia as a hub for the provision of maintenance services for Rolls-Royce BR710A2-20 engines that power the Bombardier Global Express aircraft series.

Epic Aircraft announced the launch of its latest high-performance, single-engine, turbine model, the E1000 AX. Delivering the same unparalleled performance as its predecessor and category-leading E1000 GX, the E1000 AX is making its public debut April 1 to 6 at Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo in Lakeland, Florida. This next-generation aircraft offers over 25 new features, including Garmin Autothrottle and Autoland.

Jet Aviation announced that it has redelivered its quietest narrow-body completion to date, with sound levels below 40 dB SIL. The elegant contemporary interior was designed by the Jet Aviation Design Studio, and engineered, produced, installed, and certified in-house at the completion center in Basel, Switzerland.