World Kinect, the parent company of World Fuel Services, announced a blockbuster acquisition today with an agreement to purchase Universal Weather and Aviation’s trip support services (TSS) division. According to the company, the deal—expected to close by year-end—is worth approximately $220 million and will include the Universal Weather and Aviation brand name, as well as the agreements Universal has made with third-party ground handlers around the world.

“We’re excited to announce the agreement to acquire Universal Weather’s TSS division, which will significantly expand our trip support services business,” said World Kinect COO John Rau. “This strategic move complements our fuel business and enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive flight operations support—including flight planning, overflight permits, and ground support services—at more than 3,000 airports worldwide.”

The sale of its trip support division leaves Universal with Universal Aviation, its worldwide FBO and ground-handling supervisory network, as well as the Air Culinaire in-flight catering business.

Rau added that World looks forward to welcoming Universal’s TSS team in the move, which will bring immediate value to World’s customers. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next 60 to 90 days, meaning the two companies will still exhibit as separate entities next month at NBAA-BACE.

Gulfstream Aerospace has installed its 100th Starlink connectivity system aboard an aircraft, the company said today. The milestone installation was completed at Gulfstream’s Fort Worth Alliance Service Center on a G650ER. This installation came less than a year after the Savannah, Georgia-based aircraft manufacturer received FAA supplemental type certificate approval to add the system to the G650 and G650ER.

In addition to the G650/G650ER, Gulfstream has achieved FAA nods for Starlink aboard the G800, G700, G600, G500, G550, and GV models so far, with plans to add more. Gulfstream also offers the option of Starlink forward-fit installations on new G800s, G700s, G600s, and G500s.

Starlink enables a range of in-flight connectivity capabilities, including video calls, cloud-based functions, and data transfers. The service has a latency of less than 90 milliseconds and download speeds of between 100 and 250 Mbps.

“No one knows Gulfstream aircraft better than we do, and by providing these additional certified installation capabilities within our facilities, customers can work directly with our experts,” said Lor Izzard, senior v-p of Gulfstream customer support.

Atlantic Aviation has expanded its FBO network with the acquisition of Glacier Jet Center (GCI), the lone service provider at Montana’s Glacier Park International Airport (KGPI) for nearly half a century. The FBO has a 10,000-sq-ft terminal with a galley, eight-seat conference room, pilot lounge, flight-planning area, concierge, and crew cars. It is also adjacent to the airport’s U.S. customs facility.

The complex features 10 acres of ramp and more than 175,000 sq ft of heated hangar space capable of sheltering aircraft up to a Bombardier Global 6000. Its fuel farm has a capacity of 137,000 gallons of jet-A and 24,000 gallons of avgas.

“[KGPI] is pleased to welcome Atlantic Aviation to our community,” said airport director Rob Ratkowski. “For years, [GCI] has done an excellent job providing first-class service to our general aviation customers. Atlantic Aviation is uniquely suited to continue that tradition.”

For Atlantic, this represents its 106th location in the U.S. and Caribbean, and its first in Montana. “We are extremely proud to be operating in Montana,” said Atlantic CEO Jeff Foland. “Glacier Jet Center has superbly served Kalispell and the surrounding area for nearly 50 years, and created a legacy of strong relationships and dedicated personal service that is in perfect alignment with our values at Atlantic Aviation.”

India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved ExecuJet MRO Services Middle East to conduct heavy maintenance on Dassault Falcon 6Xs. The Dubai-based operation announced the addition to its certification portfolio on Monday, adding to its UAE and EASA authorizations for the long-range business jet.

ExecuJet MRO Services, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dassault, intends to support 6X operators in India, where the first example is due to be delivered to an undisclosed customer later this month, with a second to follow later this year. The French aircraft manufacturer has three authorized service centers in India, with two located in Mumbai and another in New Delhi, but these do not yet have specific approval for heavy maintenance on the 5,500-nm 6X.

Under the DGCA approval, ExecuJet MRO Services is cleared to provide heavy maintenance on Indian-registered 6Xs, including 36-month checks at its facility at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW). The company is in the process of applying for the same authorization from the FAA and Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation.

ExecuJet MRO Services’ 166,840-sq-ft Dubai facility also recently secured DGCA approval to conduct 3C heavy maintenance inspections on Indian-registered Falcon 2000s, 900s, and 7Xs and 8Xs.

Building trust, fostering teamwork and delivering exceptional outcomes. Thornton Aviation’s success is the result of more than technical expertise.

Business aircraft brokerage Aero Ventures today launched a digital platform that it says will redefine how business jets are valued, bought, and sold. According to the Miami-based company, the Aero Ventures Marketplace is a “Zillow-like” platform that offers artificial intelligence (AI)-powered instant business jet valuations, verified aircraft histories, off-market listings, capital-backed financing options, and real-world ownership cost simulations.

“The platform brings long-overdue modernization to an industry historically dominated by opaque processes, manual dealmaking, and legacy brokers, replacing them with transparency, speed, and deep advisory intelligence,” Aero Ventures said. However, company managing partner Sergey Petrossov told AIN that while the marketplace serves as its client-facing front end that enables users to browse available aircraft, human aircraft brokers will still be involved in the buying and selling processes.

Petrossov, who founded Jetsmarter and was the chief growth and digital officer of Vista Global and president of XO, said Aero Ventures focuses on transactions above $10M. He added that the platform is free for existing aircraft owners and qualified aircraft buyers.

Founded by Bill Papariella, Aero Ventures and its Jet Edge predecessor has conducted more than $4 billion in business jet transactions over the past 15 years. With the AI platform, Petrossov said the goal is at least $1 billion in preowned jet transactions annually, which would give the company about an 8% market share.

Private flight provider Wheels Up today launched a new membership-based option focused on the Bombardier Challenger 300s and Embraer Phenom 300s being added to its fleet. The Signature Membership program will guarantee year-round access to these super-midsize and light jets.

Members pay an undisclosed monthly fee and make a minimum prepaid deposit of $200,000 to cover costs. Flights will be available throughout the contiguous U.S. and up to a 225-mile radius beyond the coastline.

Signature Membership offers two options: Dynamic and Fixed Plans. Under the Dynamic Plan, members can book flights at variable hourly rates according to fluctuating demand for any given time or destination. Meanwhile, the Fixed Plan is for customers seeking consistency and predictability in travel costs.

Under the Fixed Plan and depending on the size of the prepaid deposit, hourly rates vary between $8,695 and $9,295 for the Phenoms and between $12,495 and $13,495 for the Challenger 300s.

The new program also gives members access to benefits through Wheels Up’s partner and leading shareholder, Delta Air Lines, including Delta SkyMiles Diamond Medallion status. Additionally, members can apply funds on deposit to pay for Delta scheduled airline flights, receiving a 20% discount on some routes booked through Wheels Up. Signature Members will also be invited to the company’s Wheels Down private events and curated experiences.

Aviation insurance underwriter Class A Insurance and the Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP) are collaborating on a program that rewards CJP members for participating in the association’s safety programs. Class A unveiled the program today at the CJP Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Launched in January, the company is taking a data-driven approach to evaluating risk when providing coverage and will provide ongoing risk-mitigation assistance through its Virtual Flight Department service. Unlike traditional insurance underwriters, Class A will evaluate a significant amount of data on behalf of its customers and use that to inform underwriting decisions.

Under the partnership, Class A is offering new members free CJP membership; tailored insurance with enhanced coverage for CJP Gold Standard participants; a “bursary” to help pay for members to participate in the CJP-FOQA program; and access to the Class A Virtual Flight Department and Tailored Training Options, which provide “continuous risk assessment, proactive safety alerts, and pilot-focused training.”

“From the moment we engaged with the Citation Jet Pilots Association, we were struck by their deep and genuine commitment to safety,” said Mark Haidar, founder and CEO of Class A Insurance. “At Class A, our philosophy is centered on empowering pilots with technology, training, and proactive support that make safer skies possible. By aligning with CJP, we can reward safety-minded pilots with tangible benefits and the confidence they deserve.”

Wisconsin-based software developer Aloft Evermōr officially launched its Maintenance Manager platform ahead of the Citation Jet Pilots (CJP) conference this week in San Antonio, Texas. With a soft release early last month, the tool was designed to streamline the planning and management of scheduled aircraft maintenance for Cessna Citation operators.

According to its developers, Maintenance Manager is compatible with existing maintenance tracking programs and focuses on the decision-making process around “when and how to accomplish required tasks.”

The program organizes and optimizes upcoming maintenance projects by lowest cost and least downtime, and makes it easy to request and compare quotes from multiple service providers, as well as lock in shops and dates with the click of a button. Once the work is completed, the software will review the paperwork, including invoices, to check for errors and duplicate charges.

“Maintenance tracking software programs tell you what is due,” said company founder Mark Melby, adding that the software is a practical tool designed for operations that may not have dedicated maintenance staff. “Maintenance Manager helps owners and operators decide when and how to complete that work most efficiently.”

Phoenix Air Group has installed SpaceX’s Starshield satcom on one of its Learjets, marking the first such installation on the Learjet 35/36. Starshield is the government version of the Starlink low-earth-orbit satcom, and Phoenix Air plans for the equipped Learjet to enter service during upcoming Gray Flag exercises.

The Starshield installation has received FAA approval, according to Phoenix Air. A Starlink electronically steered antenna is mounted forward of the midsection on the top of the Learjet’s fuselage. With the Starshield system, Phoenix Air can transmit large amounts of data in real time—and securely, according to the company, “a capability that has become increasingly vital to Test & Evaluation operations."

“Integrating Starshield into the Learjet marks a new benchmark for airborne data relay and mission support,” said Steve Christopher, v-p of Phoenix Air military programs. “This achievement underscores Phoenix Air’s ability to execute complex modification programs in partnership with industry leaders like Dunagan Engineering Services, while delivering enhanced capabilities directly aligned with customer mission requirements.”

During the Gray Flag exercises, the Starshield-equipped Learjet will support real-world operational scenarios, the company said, “transmitting and sharing mission data under demanding conditions, ensuring that commanders and operators have the information they need when they need it.”