Business Aviation

New Delhi, 31st October 2025: Textron Aviation has announced the appointment of Dipti Dadhich as Regional Sales Director for Textron Aviation in India, effective 25 October 2025. Dipti brings over 16 years of experience in the Indian aviation sector, with a strong track record of success supporting customers in both business and general aviation. Her deep market knowledge and customer-centric approach make her ideally positioned to lead our commercial strategy in India. In this role, Dipti will be responsible for driving Textron Aviation’s continued market leadership, working closely with aircraft owners, operators, and channel partners to deliver tailored aircraft solutions and world-class support services. Her appointment reflects our commitment to investing in local leadership and accelerating growth in one of Asia-Pacific’s most dynamic aviation markets. India remains a strategic priority for Textron Aviation, and Dipti’s leadership will be instrumental in strengthening our presence and delivering greater value to customers across the region.

Kuala Lumpur, 30th October 2025: Ascend Airways Malaysia has officially received its AOC and ASP licenses and it will begin operations this November.The airline was first granted its Conditional Air Service Permit (CASP) in 2024. With this part of the process having been successfully completed, Ascend Airways Malaysia is able to start operations with its very first aircraft Boeing 737-800SF. The Kuala Lumpur-based ACMI and charter airline will be offering both passenger and cargo operations in Malaysia and across the broader Southeast Asia region. Subject to additional regulatory approvals, passenger flights are scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026, alongside the further expansion of Ascend Airways Malaysia’s fleet. According to Germal Singh Khera, CEO of Ascend Airways Malaysia, the airline will provide flexible ACMI solutions to support Malaysia’s aviation expansion, with passenger traffic expected to grow between 8.4% and 15.6% year-on-year in 2025, reaching 105.8–112.9 million passengers. “Malaysia is in an essential strategic position as a logistics and aviation hub that connects Southeast Asia, China, and India. We are very grateful for the support we received from the Ministry of Transport, CAAM, MAVCOM, and other local authorities. This cooperation is helping the aviation industry in Malaysia to develop and realise its full potential,” he says. Germal Singh Khera also expressed his hope that ACMI will soon become a vital part of the Asia-Pacific logistics ecosystem, as this model enables airlines to optimize their revenue during peak season as well as scale their operations more efficiently and successfully navigate operational challenges.

Bangkok, 30th October 2025: Thai SmartLynx, an ACMI specialist airline has received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT). This marks a major milestone for Thailand’s aviation industry as Thai SmartLynx becomes the first Thai-based ACMI operator, offering fleet capacity solutions to meet seasonal and operational needs across Thailand and the wider region. Thai SmartLynx is also the first airline in Thailand to obtain an AOC under CAAT’s new Thailand Civil Aviation Regulations on Air Operations (TCAR OPS) framework. Modelled after European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards, TCAR OPS governs key areas such as safety procedures, crew requirements, and operational manuals, designed to align Thailand’s aviation standards with international best practices. Thai SmartLynx will commence operations with an Airbus A320 from its new operations office at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). The airline plans to progressively expand its fleet by adding 15 to 20 aircraft over the next three to four yearsto support both Thai and regional carriers. “Thai SmartLynx brings flexible capacity solutions to Thailand’s aviation sector” said Martynas Grigas, Chairman of Thai SmartLynx. “Our ACMI model offers airlines a fully operational capacity solution for our partners. This enables carriers to scale operations during peak demand periods or test new routes without major investment or long-term commitments.” Through ACMI partnerships, airlines can add temporary capacity or optimise their networks while minimising capital expenditure.The ACMI (wet lease) model enables airlines to increase overall profitability by 2-3% with the right strategy in place. The AOC certification comes ahead of the upcoming peak travel season, as travellers from Europe and across Asia look to the region for winter escapes and school holiday travel.

SAVANNAH, Ga., October 13, 2025: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has announced its fleet of corporate, demonstration and support aircraft has surpassed 3 million nautical miles flown on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) blends. In addition, the Gulfstream G800, Gulfstream G700, Gulfstream G600 and Gulfstream G400 flew to this week’s 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas using SAF blends. Those aircraft and a mock-up of the newly announced Gulfstream G300 will be on display during the exhibition. “Flying more than 3 million nautical miles on SAF blends is a testament to our commitment to sourcing and demonstrating the benefits of SAF,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “We have long been at the forefront of sustainability innovations, and this latest milestone further showcases our leadership and efforts to advance business aviation’s overarching sustainability goals.” Gulfstream continues to maintain a strong supply of SAF at its Savannah headquarters and plans to increase its usage by nearly 50% this year compared to last year. Gulfstream has long been a sustainability leader in business aviation, achieving numerous accomplishments by partnering with fuel developers and engine manufacturers. The company was the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to fly on 100% neat SAF and was also the first OEM to receive National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Sustainable Flight Department Accreditations in all four available categories: flight, operations, ground support and infrastructure. In 2023, Gulfstream made the world’s first trans-Atlantic flight using 100% SAF comprised of 100% Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (neat HEFA) in both engines, and in 2024, successfully completed ground emissions testing of 100% neat SAF containing zero sulfur.

Savannah, GA, October 3, 2025: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. had announced the all-new, super-midsize Gulfstream G300 as the latest aircraft to join its next-generation fleet. The aircraft will replace the Gulfstream G280 and feature signature Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows as well as an all-new Harmony Flight Deck, which includes next-generation avionics to enhance safety and operational efficiency. Gulfstream announced the G300 at its exclusive Discover the Difference customer event in Savannah. During the event, Gulfstream President Mark Burns revealed a full-scale mock-up of the G300 and showed photos of the first aircraft in production. “Fueled by a decade of investment and our future-forward approach, the Gulfstream next-generation fleet offers our customers the most innovative family of aircraft,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “We know how important the super-midsize cabin segment is to our customers, so building on the highly successful G280 program, the G300 will reenergize the category with its heightened technology and safety enhancements, alongside the legendary comfort and styling of a Gulfstream.” The G300 combines trans-Atlantic range with short-field agility, covering 3,600 nautical miles/6,667 kilometers at Mach 0.80 or 3,000 nm/5,556 km at Mach 0.84. The aircraft features a maximum cruise altitude of 45,000 feet/13,716 meters and the lowest cabin altitude in its class at 4,800 ft/1,463 m when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m. This comes alongside 100% fresh air, a plasma ionization air purification system and 10 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows. With the longest cabin in its class and two living areas, the G300 accommodates up to 10 passengers. The G300 Harmony Flight Deck includes six touch screens, paired with Phase-of-Flight intelligence, bringing intuitive technology to pilots. A Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display depicts runways and terrain in 3D imagery to boost pilot situational awareness, and Gulfstream’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System dynamically displays the runway stopping point in real time. With an ideal combination of size, advanced avionics and aerodynamic design, the G300 is primed for fast, efficient flight with its high-thrust Honeywell engines, coupled with the clean, swept Gulfstream wing to support fuel-efficiency. “The G300 program is making great progress and the vision for this aircraft is well on its way to becoming a reality for our customers as they look for an airplane that will exceed their expectations in the super- midsize class,” added Burns. Gulfstream has already accomplished nearly 22,000 hours of testing at its state-of-the-art lab facilities, which includes an Integration Test Facility (ITF) with Iron Bird capability. The facility completed its “first flight” last month. It has also completed nearly 2,000 ground test hours on the first aircraft as well as started manufacturing two additional test aircraft.

Jakarta, 15th Sept 2025: BBN Airlines Indonesia, a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, has received the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Third-Country Operator (TCO) authorisation effective 5 September 2025. This approval enables the wet lease provider to operate in the European Union (EU) and expand its ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) service to airlines operating flights into the EU. All non-European operators seeking to fly to the EU are required to hold a TCO permit, which certifies compliance with EASA safety and operational standards. With this approval, operators may obtain commercial air operations permits across all EASA member states without requiring separate authorisation from individual EU countries. “Securing the EASA TCO marks an important milestone for BBN Airlines Indonesia,” said Martynas Grigas, Chairman of BBN Airlines Indonesia.“It reflects not only our unwavering commitment to global safety and compliance standards but also our readiness to support airlines with scalable ACMI solutions as they expand into and within the EU market.” BBN Airlines Indonesia currently operates a fleet of six Boeing 737 aircraft, with two additional aircraft scheduled to join by October 2025. Earlier this year, the airline also achieved its IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, further demonstrating its dedication to the highest levels of safety and operational performance. The EASA TCO authorisation is a key step in BBN Airlines Indonesia’s growth strategy, strengthening its ability to deliver flexible, safe, and reliable ACMI capacity solutions to its partner airlines in Indonesia, the Asia-Pacific region, and now the EU.The TCO also enables BBN Airlines Indonesia to deploy its aircraft to Europe in summer when capacity is needed most, particularly in response to counter-cyclical seasonal demand patterns. This flexibility enhances the airline’s ability to support European carriers during peak periods while maintaining strong ACMI operations in its home markets.

SAVANNAH, 3rd September, 2025: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the successful completion of its 100th Starlink high-speed internet installation. The system was installed on a Gulfstream G650ER at the company’s Fort Worth Alliance Service Center in Texas. This milestone comes less than a year after Gulfstream received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certification to install Starlink on the award-winning G650 and G650ER, providing customers with the added convenience of working directly with the company to upgrade connectivity for their aircraft. To date, Gulfstream has earned similar certifications from the FAA to install Starlink service on the G800, G700, G600, G500, G550 and GV models with plans to add more. Gulfstream customers also have the option of Starlink installations on in-production G800, G700, G600 and G500 aircraft. “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 vice president, Gulfstream Customer Support. “We value customers’ trust in our team as we continue to deliver a seamless, safe and high-quality service experience.” Starlink gives passengers simultaneous access to a variety of in-flight services, including video calls, cloud-based offerings and data transfers through its high-speed in-flight connectivity, which delivers latency less than 90 milliseconds and download speeds of 100 – 250 Mbps. Gulfstream customers who are interested in having Starlink installed on their aircraft should reach out to their Gulfstream Customer Support sales representative.