Writer

Amy Wilder

Opening briefs yesterday at CJI Miami 2025 examined how business aviation is evolving after several years of strong demand and investment activity, particularly following changes brought by Covid. Speakers and panelists expressed cautious optimism about where the market stands and what could influence its future growth.
Shawn Vick of AE Industrial Partners painted a picture of a market that remains active but more stable than in recent years, with manufacturers, operators, and service providers adapting to normalized business aircraft utilization levels and steady backlogs. Vick noted that fractional ownership and charter programs continue to support aircraft use and broaden access to private travel for those seeking alternatives to full ownership.
He said previous “downturns, economic upturns, rapid growth” have all tested the sector, but the Covid era proved unique. “I am much more a believer that it’s acted more as an accelerant on the acceptance of these assets,” he noted, explaining that travelers had already recognized the productivity, privacy, and efficiency benefits of business aviation and that the pandemic simply accelerated that shift.
While only a fraction of those who can afford to fly privately use the service regularly, he added, growth depends on matching customers’ need for access to these assets with the right ownership or charter model.
Don Spieth of VanGas Aviation Analytics observed that the cost challenges posed by fractional models may require innovation. “The only thing that I can tell you is the revenue model of the past may not be the revenue model that you see for, you know, fractional owners going forward,” he said, and pointed out that engine manufacturers have shown resourcefulness in the face of similar challenges.
“There’s more offerings,” he said. “There’s different offerings because of the challenges that they’ve encountered over time.”
Despite economic pressures facing fractional models, “There’s clearly a desire by lots of people to fly private,” George Ferguson of Bloomberg Intelligence noted. “They can’t afford a whole airplane and don’t want to go to charters. They want more availability…The demand is there. It’s not going away.”
James Palen of Jefferies Aviation &amp; Aerospace Investment Banking &amp; Capital Markets put capital flows and financing structures under the microscope, saying investor activity remains strong, reflecting confidence in business aviation’s long-term fundamentals. He noted that investors are increasingly focused on consistent revenue generation and operational data when evaluating opportunities, indicating a more analytical approach to capital deployment.
Palen traced how large institutional investors have moved steadily into private aviation. He compared the trend to “a massive influx of institutional, large-ticket capital coming into commercial aviation” in the late 1990s and early 2000s, noting that a similar wave has unfolded in business aviation over the past five years.
He described a broader range of participants—sovereign wealth and public-style investors, private equity, and hybrid funds—that are targeting operators, management firms, MROs, and FBOs. Much of the appeal, he said, lies in scale, predictable cash flow, and clear exit potential as earlier private-equity investments near maturity.
Palen added that capital inflows have been accelerated since Covid by mergers, roll-ups, and infrastructure-style investors “beginning to look at what we call core or core plus type assets.” These include FBO networks, which combine stability with growth potential.

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Cautious Optimism Sets Hopeful Tone for Bizav at CJI Miami Opening Briefs 

Industry experts assess post-pandemic resilience, fractional trends, market balance

CJI Miami 2025 opening briefs speakers noted steady business aviation demand, with investors maintaining strong interest and fractional programs evolving.

Cautious Optimism Sets Hopeful Tone at CJI Miami 2025

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Fleet now includes 19 Embraer Phenoms and five Bombardier Challenger 300s

Wheels Up Stays the Course with Fleet-modernization Plan

Charlotte Bailey

Inaugural ACASS Falcon 8X trip landed at privately operated Antarctic runway 

ACASS Completes First Falcon 8X Flight to Antarctica

Kerry Lynch

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Revenues for the aviation businesses were up 9.2%

NetJets, FSI Provide Boost to Berkshire Hathaway Results

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

Flexjet's nerve center is like Mission Control for business jets.

How Flexjet Keeps Its Fleet of Business Jets Flying at Its Global Command Center

Peter Shaw-Smith

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

More In Charter & Fractional

Wheels Up Stays the Course with Fleet-modernization Plan

Fleet now includes 19 Embraer Phenoms and five Bombardier Challenger 300s

ACASS Completes First Falcon 8X Flight to Antarctica

Inaugural ACASS Falcon 8X trip landed at privately operated Antarctic runway

NetJets, FSI Provide Boost to Berkshire Hathaway Results

Revenues for the aviation businesses were up 9.2%

How Flexjet Keeps Its Fleet of Business Jets Flying at Its Global Command Center

Flexjet's nerve center is like Mission Control for business jets.

GA Gears Up for Roadmap To Growth in Saudi Arabia

Middle East country brings hope for market growth but barriers remain

Vista Sees Business Boom in Asia-Pacific

Program memberships increased by 26% in first half

Jet Out Expands to Dallas-Fort Worth with New Base

Milwaukee-based operator also adds digital initiatives

JetSafe Launches Vision Jet-based Shareowner Program

Aircraft will be based at primary service areas throughout the U.S.

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN