EASA is preparing guidance on how jet-A and jet-A-1 can be combined as European aircraft operators come to terms with fuel supply shortages caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Europe’s aviation safety regulator confirmed today that it is consulting with member states on the contents of a safety information bulletin.

According to industry sources, Eurocontrol has also prepared a set of contingency measures intended to save scarce fuel. These could include reducing aircraft speeds, endorsing single-engine taxiing at airports, and continuous descent flight paths. At press time, the air traffic control agency had not responded to AIN’s request to confirm the plans.

Beyond taxes, airport access, and decarbonization costs, Europe’s charter operators are now facing a new cost burden in the shape of revised EASA pilot flight time limitations (FTL) that are due to take effect in 2027.

According to Olivier Perdriel of Skyfirst, the tighter NPA 2024-106(B) rules around rest periods during and after trips will be “horrible” for operators, and he called for the industry to counter strong lobbying by commercial pilots’ unions.

Global private aviation trip support provider Jetex has partnered with iGA Istanbul Airport (LTFM)—Turkey’s largest aviation gateway—to open the Jetex İGA Terminal, the 40th worldwide under the company’s brand. Catering to both airline passengers and private jet travelers by reservation, the facility—which opened this week—offers a private members’ club atmosphere with seamless, personalized service before, after, or between flights.

Its architecture draws inspiration from Istanbul’s iconic nazende çiçeği (slender flower), featuring natural stone, wood, and custom-crafted surfaces, and provides private suites with spa services, dining spaces, en-suite bathrooms, and dedicated service teams. Luxurious lounges, enhanced duty-free retail, and open-air terraces are available, along with expedited passport and security screenings through dedicated checkpoints.

The UK’s Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM) Airborne Laboratory—a specially modified BAe 146 aircraft—has officially come to the end of its scientific research service. This follows a sudden announcement in February that its financial support, provided by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) via the UK public body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), was to be withdrawn.

NERC told AIN that around £38 million ($51 million) of a £49 million mid-life upgrade (MLU)—due to be completed in 2027—had already been spent. NERC believes that, “regrettably, much of this [investment] will no longer provide useful capabilities for the future.” The MLU had aimed to keep the unique facility operational until at least 2040.

If opportunities for business aviation growth in Europe remain fairly constrained, achieving greater efficiency has become an ever-more-compelling priority for aircraft operators and those who support them. Increasingly, the path to progress is being pursued through technology with a focus on breaking the industry’s deeply ingrained manual work processes and tapping automation to free up time for humans to apply the personal touch.

Stack Aero is part of the digitization trend, offering charter brokers and operators a Salesforce-powered Business Operations System that automates and streamlines their core workflows. The company believes business aviation service providers could significantly boost their competitiveness by ditching analog processes.