The US business aviation company will be split into three global strands: Business Aviation, Fixed-Base Operations and Aircraft Maintenance.

Ronald Silverman will join the company as president, Business Aviation.

“Together, these changes align with the company’s business strategy and advance Skyservice’s ability to deliver personalized service and safety excellence, promote operational efficiency and position the company for future growth,” said a spokesperson.

Silverman, who was previously chief commercial officer at Jet Linx, will oversee the aircraft sales, charter, and sales and acquisition divisions. He will also be responsible for the global operations centre, flight operations and pilot and crew activity.

Before Jet Link, Silverman was president of Vista US, chief commercial officer of XO and senior vice president at Executive Jet Management (EJM), a NetJets company.

“Ron has an outstanding history of delivering top-line results and operational achievements in business aviation,” said Skyservice’s president and CEO Ben Murray.

“With our ongoing expansion and commitment to serving the global aviation community, Ron’s customer-first mindset will help us achieve our goal of revolutionizing business aviation services to provide a personalized and world-class experience for everyone.”

In other Skyservice leadership roles, Ty Dubay will become president, Fixed-Base Operations, Paul Weeks will lead Aircraft Maintenance and Mirjana Bosnic becomes chief human resources officer.

The post Skyservice restructures, hires Silverman appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

The aircraft, which has capacity for up to nine passengers and three crew members, will be based at London Biggin Hill Airport. With a range of 4,000 nautical miles, the Praetor 600 will be able to fly from London to New York or Dubai nonstop.

“Demand for super-midsize jets has rapidly increased. The Praetor 600 is an exciting addition to our fleet and we are looking forward to showing this technically advanced aircraft off to our charter customers. “Its location makes it the perfect base to deliver quick flight access for clients based in London and the South East,” said George Galanopoulos, CEO, Luxaviation UK.

“We have refurbished the aircraft and passengers can experience seamless onboard Wi-Fi, touchscreen cabin controls and immersive audio and video streaming, promising unrivalled levels of comfort and inflight entertainment. The aircraft’s extensive range means we can fly our clients to mid- and long-haul destinations without the need to refuel. Fully equipped and ultra-quiet, the Praetor 600 is perfect for those looking to work, relax or travel with family and friends.”

Robert Walters, commercial director, London Biggin Hill Airport, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Praetor 600 to our airport, a valuable addition to Luxaviation’s growing fleet. We look forward to supporting the team with a range of bespoke services, to further enhance the exemplary experiences we provide for our passengers, crew and charter customers.”

Embraer unveiled the Praetor 600 at NBAA in 2018 as the significantly improved version of the popular Legacy 500 aircraft. The Praetor 600 is the largest purpose-built business jet that the Brazilian OEM produces.

The post Luxaviation Adds Praetor 600 to UK Fleet appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

The results are compiled in The Jet Card Report 2023/4, published by Private Jet Card Comparisons, and covers the use of jet cards, memberships, fractional ownership, on-demand charters, and jet-sharing/ by-the-seat options.

“This is the industry’s only direct from-consumer research of actual private jet users before they buy and after, so it offers a 360-degree perspective with invaluable insights,” said Doug Gollan, president, Private Jet Card Comparisons. The report includes details on what private aviation consumers want, from aircraft types, the ability to book window seats, changing between cabin categories for different missions, and the importance of amenities such as Wi-Fi connectivity and bringing pets on board.

The report also covers the which private jet providers each user considered joining, who they bought from, which companies they renewed with, and which ones they left.

The report is available from Private Jet Card Comparisons.

The post Latest Private Jet Travel Trends Outlined In New Research appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

TRAQPak’s analysts predicted the fall based on the European market’s dip in December, which was down 15.8% from December 2021. Globally, flight activity slowed in December with a decrease of 5% from December 2021, while monthly activity dropped 1.8% from November 2022.

In Europe, large cabin jets accounted for the biggest drop in activity levels, down 36.6% from December 2021, followed by mid-size jets (down by 11.5%) and small cabin jets (down 1%). The only aircraft type that saw any increase in activity in the period was turbo prop aircraft, with a small growth of 0.6%.

Elsewhere, predictions for this month were more optimistic, with a 2.3% increase in flight activity predicted year-over-year in North America for January 2023. This follows a smaller drop in activity for the region in December, down 6.2% from December 2021. Despite this, overall activity in North America remains up 12.7% from December 2019.

Fractional activity remained relatively consistent in the region, with a 1.3% decrease year-over-year. In terms of activity of aircraft types in North America, all were negative, with mid-size cabin jets performing the worst year-over-year (down by 9.1%). This was followed by large cabin jets, which recorded a 5.7% fall in activity, small cabin jets down by5.5% and turbo props with a decline of 3.7%.

By region within the continent, the largest monthly decline occurred in New England, with a drop in activity of 15.5% from November 2022, representing the region’s fourth month of decline in a row. Activity in the Caribbean increased by 26.2% in the month, while Canada decreased by 3.9%.

Across Africa, Asia, Australia and South America there were just over 60,000 business aviation flights during December, up 9.3% from November. These markets appear to be strengthening as activity was up significantly for the fourth month in a row.

Meanwhile, the fall in European business aviation contrasts with the level achieved last June,  the region’s busiest month on record in June, according to Argus’ TRAQPak report released in last July.  Year-on-year, the market in Europe increased by almost a third between June 2021 and June 2022.   

See the business activity statistics by region below.

Business aviation flights – at a glance:

Business aviation flights across Europe

Business aviation  flights across North America, December 2022 vs December 2021

Business aviation  flights across Africa, Asia, Australia and South America 

The post European business flights to fall 15% this month: Argus TRAQPak appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

According to its analysis, 5,482 out of 9,223 heavy, long-range jets in the global fleet are registered in the US. ACJ defines heavy jets as aircraft with seating for 12 to 14 passengers and a flight time of 10 – 12 hours. The category accounts for 37.5% of the US fleet.

California leads the way with 724 aircraft and a 13.21% share of the American heavy private jet fleet. The Golden State is followed by Florida and Texas, with 617 and 560 jets respectively. The gap begins to widen with New York and New Jersey hosting 303 and 258 aircraft in their respective fleets.

Sean McGeough, vice president, ACJ North America said: “The US dominates the global heavy private jet market and we expect this market to enjoy strong growth as the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in the country grows and large corporations increase their use of business aviation.”

Van Nuys in Los Angeles has the most registered aircraft, with 206 jets accounting for 3.76% of the US heavy jet market. Teterboro, New Jersey and Dallas, Texas follow with 161 and 157 jets respectively. Houston, Fort Lauderdale and Chicago host 137, 132 and 126 aircraft.

The total US business jet fleet currently stands at 14,632 aircraft or 62.5% of the global fleet. After heavy jets, making up 37.5% of the US fleet light jets follow with 36.5%, midsize at 20.5% and very light jets at 5.5%.

Speaking last month McGeough said: “Because of the huge size of the US and its importance on the global stage, over one-third of private jets registered in the country are categorised as heavy or ultra-long range, which is where we focus.” 

Many flight departments and fractional ownership card have already exceeded their flight allocation for the year, he added.   ACJ attributed the increase in demand to lifestyle changes since the global pandemic.  The big reduction in scheduled commercial flights has boosted the number of new entrants for business aviation.

Read more about the ACJ research here.

US heavy private jet market – at a glance

US heavy private jet fleet by state

US heavy private jet fleet by city

Source: Airbus Corporate Jets

The post US dominates global heavy jet market: ACJ appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

It will also use Skycharter’s 100,000sqft (9,300sqm) hangar and a newly renovated FBO terminal at its Toronto-Pearson base.

Alan Cross, vice president, sales and marketing, IEAG told Corporate Jet Investor (CJI) the two firms are complementary. He said: “The integration of the partnership is a very good fit in terms of what they offer and what we offer. It’s a congruent fit and it will be a real complement to our service offering.”

IEAG offers aircraft refurbishment and technical services and has maintenance capabilities and FBO services at airports across Canada, including an Authorised Service Facility at Toronto-Pearson which has supported Cessna aircraft for more than 40 years.

Cross added: “The timing was right for both parties, and both parties capitalised on that opportunity.” He said the company is delighted to pair with “one of Toronto’s longest standing FBO and charter providers”.

IEAG’s parent company, IMP Group, made the acquisition for an undisclosed amount. Skycharter will continue operating under its own name as part of the IEAG umbrella of business aviation companies.

The post Skycharter joins Innotech-Execaire Aviation Group appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

“Our industry is very niche and with that comes some very unique workflows,” Buchanan told Corporate Jet Investor (CJI). “When trying to do our day-to-day tasks and administrate flights, using generic software that hasn’t been purposely designed for our industry, creates multiple hurdles, leaving you hitting your head against the wall.”

Often, companies that are using generic software systems are usually using multiple systems together and a variety of different workarounds to suit specific needs. “As different problems arise, a new system will then be applied to try and alleviate that problem,” said Buchanan.

The second issue is the centralisation of data, or lack-thereof, within the industry. As a range of systems are implemented, company data becomes spread across all of them, causing huge inconsistencies. Buchanan states that instead, a “central source of truth” is needed.

“Rather than having one central source of truth with all your data in one place, you’ll instead have data on WhatsApp, some data in your CRM [customer relationship management] system, data in your accounting system, data in your FMS [financial management system] and of course there’s email. So, what we have done is create a system that is bespoke for our industry. It takes into account all the niche workflows used in business aviation, eliminating workarounds, creating huge efficiencies in our operations, whilst centralising data on one platform.”

In May STACK.aero launched STACK.aero BOS, a core system to manage all aspects of the “Trip Request Lifecycle” and associated operations. The layout and functionality options vary according to the subscriber: charter brokers, charter operators and, soon, corporate flight departments.

Buchanan said: “On the whole an operator’s sales team will have slightly different workflows to a broker’s sales team. The platform’s core functionality is the same for both, but allows for flexibility in layout and workflows depending on the end user.”

For corporate flight departments it is all about the approval process. “They’re not going to clients per se or getting payment approvals, but they are getting requests internally and seeking executive approval. It is a very similar workflow process to the commercial side, but it too has its own nuance.”

STACK.aero’s system is based on global CRM platform, Salesforce – clients do not need to be pre-existing users. “Our customers get all of the horsepower of Salesforce.com, they get all of the assurances of data security and privacy that come from utilising a global platform, but then, owing to its malleable architecture we have been ablate build this platform on top,” said Buchanan.

“As an industry, focus on what you do best, focus on charter sales and let us focus on the tech to support you in doing that,” she added.

The post STACK.aero: All systems go appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

The document was drafted up by the NBAA Tax Committee and Regulatory Issues Advisory Group following discussions with US government officials including the Department of Commerce, the Bureau of Industry and Security and the US Census Bureau. It contains updated US Census Bureau guidance on business aircraft exports, advice on common export scenarios and making Electronic Export Information (EEI) filings. EEI filings include details on the parties involved in the transaction, the aircraft’s export classification and its value.

Scott O’Brien, senior director of public policy and advocacy, NBAA told CJI that guidance was “100% tied” to the Wright Brothers Aircraft Title case, which unfolded in March last year. Debbie Mercer-Erwin, the owner of Wright Brothers Aircraft Title (WBAT) and Aircraft Guaranty Corporation (AGC), and several other individuals were accused of helping to falsely register aircraft in the US and failing to register aircraft exports. So far, no one has been convicted of any offence.

O’Brien said: “They are alleged to not have made these filings in a lot of transactions and that created a situation where other trustees for business aircraft became concerned about [whether they] have this responsibility.” As a result, the document focuses on how trusts fit into the transaction, and for the most part, O’Brien says they are “not generally responsible” for making the EEI filing, as long as they ensure it’s being done.

When asked why the NBAA have made this an exclusive document, O’Brien said: “I think we felt like since our committee spent a lot of time on it, it made sense for it to be members-only.” He added that the organisation had previously held a free webinar on the subject that anyone could join.

NBAA’s O’Brien said the guidance was not in anticipation of new legislation, although he believes it is important to help the government understand how the rules apply. He said: “I don’t think this requires any sort of regulatory change or legislative change. It’s more a matter for us as an industry communicating that this is something that needs to be done and making sure that we keep an open line of communication with these regulators.”

The post NBAA launches exclusive US jet export guide appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

The expansion includes a full-service interior finishing capacity, a paint facility, ground handling services and a lounge. The expansion also adds new heavy structural and composite repair and maintenance capabilities and an integrated 24/7 parts depot equipped with more than $15m in parts. More than 2,000 business jets are expected to visit the new facility annually.

Jean-Christophe Gallagher, executive vice president, services and support and corporate strategy, Bombardier said: “With this major expansion, the Singapore Service Centre will provide infinite benefits, including quicker aircraft turnarounds, greater convenience and peace of mind to Bombardier’s growing customer base in Asia.” He added: “Customers can also enjoy access to the complete range of OEM customer service and support at their doorstep.”

Bombardier said the expansion is “redefining its position as a leader in aftermarket services in Asia Pacific, a pivotal part of its growing global network”.

The building achieved Singapore’s Green Mark Gold and the US Green Building Council (USGBC) Silver LEED Green Building certifications. Bombardier also installed solar panels on the facility’s roof as well as its carpark structures to reduce the site’s annual electricity demand by 15%.

Last week, Nilesh Pattanayak, regional vice president of Sales Asia, Bombardier, told our CJI Asia 2022 conference that he believes Asia’s business jet fleet could be doubled within the next five years. Speaking at the CJI Town Hall online meeting during the conference in Singapore, Pattanayak said Asia could rival Europe’s fleet numbers in “optimistically five or six years” if concept buyers are assured that Asia’s policies and infrastructure issues will be improved.

The post Bombardier quadruples size of Singapore Service Centre appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.

Speaking at Corporate Jet Investor’s Town Hall online meeting, during the CJI Asia 2022 conference in Singapore (pictured), Pattanayak said Asia could rival Europe’s fleet numbers in “optimistically five or six years” if concept buyers are assured that Asia’s policies and infrastructure issues will be improved.

“I think we are at the cusp of a tipping point,” he said. “As someone who’s been in this industry for 17 years, I’m seeing a number of concept buyers entering the market that we’ve never seen before.”

Pattanayak added: “It’s our job, collectively as stakeholders, in the industry to change the perception of policy makers. If we change their perceptions, then [charter permit] policies can change and make it easier to use business aircraft in Asia.”

Alex Jiao, chairman and CEO, Hongkong Jet, and Simon Bambridge, director of aircraft management, TAG Aviation, agreed improvements are needed to encourage concept buyers and boost fleet figures.

Jiao said the main policy challenge is the time taken to receive a charter permit. “In the US market, it’s so easy [to charter] anytime, anywhere,” he said. “If you want to go, you can just go. But here in Asia, you [submit for] permits first which maybe takes three to five days, and then you need to check the availability of the airport and you might not get the slot.”

Bambridge highlighted the lack of infrastructure. “The US has 5,500 airports, while China has four times the US population and only 230 airports,” he said. “We have to make it easier for people to use these machines. People [in Asia] go commercial because they can buy a ticket and leave that same afternoon or that morning. They can’t do that on a business jet. We have to make it easier with more airports, more infrastructure and regulatory reform.”

One solution offered by Pattanayak was using the influence of clients to persuade policy-makers. “Some of our clients have the biggest pull and access to government officials, so we have to work with them and convince them to convince the stakeholders about adopting and reforming policies,” he said. “We have to work together to get more charter business here. The existing guys will keep on renewing the fleet, but to increase the [fleet] from 800 to 1,600 where Europe is sitting, we need to go after the charter market and concept buyers.”

According to the panel, there are business aviation hotspots across Southeast Asia, specifically Indonesia and Vietnam. But Jiao worried about China’s Covid-19 restrictions putting off concept buyers. “For the China market, I don’t have a very positive outlook for this year and next year, because they [haven’t stopped] their quarantine policy,” he said. “For the China market, it may be 2024 before they start to recover. I would guess they will open their borders at the end of Q1 [first quarter] next year and then take half a year to recover economically before buying new aircraft.”

The CJI Asia 2022 Town Hall, ‘Growing the Asian Market’, took place on June 29th 2022. All Town Hall episodes are now available as podcasts. You can listen here or on Spotify and other popular podcast platforms.

The next Town Hall online meeting, ‘Who is on the frontline of market change?’, takes place on July 13th.

The post CJI Town Hall: Asia’s fleet may double in five years if… appeared first on Corporate Jet Investor.