An undisclosed customer signed an aircraft-plus-services agreement with Bombardier valued at up to $4 billion. The contract, announced late yesterday, includes a firm order for 50 Challenger and Global jets, plus options for another 70 aircraft, and a product support package.

According to the Canadian manufacturer, deliveries of the firm orders are due to begin in 2027 and the deal includes a “comprehensive and integrated” maintenance agreement for the fleet. Combined, the firm orders and maintenance agreement is valued at $1.7 billion.

The customer wishes to remain anonymous as it prepares to announce what Bombardier said will be a new service offering. Bombardier provided no details about the client’s business model or geographic location.

The manufacturer also has not declared the breakdown between Global and Challenger types under contract. The Challenger family includes the 650 and 3500 models, while the Global line covers the 5500, 6500, 7500, and 8000 types, with ranges spanning 3,400 nm to 8,000 nm.

“This significant order underscores the competitive advantage Bombardier’s full scope of products and services brings to customers throughout the entire aircraft life cycle, from design to delivery, then throughout the in-service journey,” said Bombardier president and CEO Éric Martel. “We build trust each day with each customer thanks to dedicated team members around the world who ensure their consistent satisfaction.”

Piaggio Aero Industries and Piaggio Aviation have been acquired by Turkish aerospace firm Baykar, with newly granted Italian regulatory approval set to conclude a protracted six-year insolvency restructuring process at Piaggio.

The transfer of Piaggio Aerospace’s business interests to the world’s largest unarmed combat aerial vehicle company represents “a strategic milestone in the relaunch of one of Italy’s historical aerospace brands with a major international investor,” said Italian Minister Adolfo Urso. Finalization of the deal follows approval last month under Italy’s so-called “golden power,” a regulation protecting and regulating transactions that could compromise national strategic assets.

Piaggio Aerospace has been engaged in administrative restructuring since December 2018 following a withdrawal from the previous major shareholder, Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala. Seven months ago, Baykar emerged as the winner of three bidders. Having already extended the deadline for the extraordinary administration’s conclusion twice, the Italian government welcomed Baykar’s expression of intent that it believes would safeguard Piaggio’s “long-term production perspective.”

Throughout the restructuring, Piaggio has continued both airframer and MRO roles—including developing the upgraded P.180 Avanti Evo turboprop twin—business areas that Baykar intends to expand and enhance. Planned workforce expansion could also focus on what Urso identified as “even greater market prospects in the unmanned aircraft sector.”

The UK’s aerospace industry is among the beneficiaries of a trade deal between the U.S. and Britain that came into effect on Monday. Among the concessions secured in bilateral negotiations has been the removal of a 10% tariff on aircraft engines and parts, with the UK government stating that President Trump has agreed to keep these items rated at 0%, while tariffs on Britain’s automotive sector have been reduced from 27.5% to 10%.

Among other leading U.S. trading partners, the EU and Canada face uncertainty over the tariffs their industries will be burdened with. In both cases, negotiations with the Trump Administration appear to be blocked as the July 9 deadline for agreeing on new trade details is nearing. More specifically, tariffs on steel and aluminum still remain to be settled, although for now the UK at least has avoided the 50% rate imposed by the U.S. in early June.

Trade groups, including the Aerospace Industries Association and GAMA, are lobbying the Trump Administration, seeking to exclude the aerospace sector from tariffs. Their main argument is that the U.S. industry has long enjoyed a healthy trade surplus and so is in no need of protection from importers, and that tariffs are proving highly disruptive to businesses and increasing costs.

Trip support group UAS helped more than 133,000 Hajj pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia last month for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. According to the Dubai-based group, it arranged 2,516 flight permits and arranged handling for more than 2,000 aircraft covering 31 airports during the peak Hajj season.

Supported flights brought Muslim pilgrims from across Asia, Africa, and Europe. The highest number of travelers came from Indonesia (87,657), with other countries including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Chad, Niger, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Germany.

“Hajj operations are among the most complex in the aviation calendar and also require a lot of sensitivity,” said Omar Hosari, founder and CEO of UAS International Trip Support. “Our team is proud to support the sacred journey of so many pilgrims, offering operational precision while honoring the spiritual significance of the experience.”

A spokeswoman for ExecuJet Middle East said that while it supports a lot of private flights into Saudi cities, it is not necessarily aware of whether these are connected with Hajj pilgrimages. She indicated that most pilgrimage flights are operated by commercial airlines.

Jetex, another business aviation services group with a strong presence in the Gulf region, did not respond to questions from AIN about the scope of its support for flights associated with the Hajj season.

Million Air’s location at Albany International Airport (KALB) is now the first FBO in New York to provide continuous supplies of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). While other facilities in the state have taken SAF in the past, it was only for demonstration purposes.

The lone service provider on the field, the facility received its first delivery of SAF late last month from Avfuel’s Northeast distribution facility. A drop-in replacement for jet-A in its blended form, SAF is made from renewable and sustainably sourced waste materials. The delivered 30% SAF blend will provide a 24% reduction in life cycle carbon emissions.

“Sustainable aviation fuel is the most effective tool we have today to reduce the aviation industry’s carbon footprint,” said Brian King, the FBO’s general manager, adding that the initiative has been four years in the making.

“Albany International Airport is proud to be the first airport in New York state to offer SAF through Avfuel to our general aviation customers,” explained Sam Fresina, chair of the Albany County Airport Authority. “This milestone reflects our deep commitment to supporting cleaner, greener technologies that protect our environment and advance the future of air travel.”

For the FBO chain, this represents the latest step in its company-wide commitment to responsible aviation practices. Its Beyond Green program focuses on the integration of sustainable solutions across the Million Air network.

Vaunt expects subscription sales to reach between $700,000 and $800,000 in the second quarter, representing a projected 85% sequential increase over the $389,000 recorded in the first quarter. The momentum signals continued demand for the Volato Group-operated platform, which markets discounted access to empty-leg private flights.

This growth follows a recent partnership expansion with JetVia and a doubling of platform capacity in the first quarter. Vaunt also credits new tools, such as its “Complete the Trip” booking feature and the Cabin Plus membership tier, which offers expanded benefits for frequent flyers.

Atlanta-based Vaunt is optimistic that the sales jump reflects not just engagement growth but also improving conversion to recurring revenue, with early traction accelerating since late 2024. “This isn’t just a short-term spike in activity,” said Tim Graves, v-p of marketing and operations. “It reflects a maturing business with real pull.”

As a spontaneous flight platform, Vaunt offers members the ability to book empty-leg flights at steep discounts while allowing operators to monetize unsold segments without disrupting primary operations. According to the company, the model has generated more than $1.5 million in annualized recurring revenue, more than 100,000 app downloads, and nearly 600 completed flights in 2024.