BEATING THE LAST-QUARTER BLUES
THERE ARE THREE types of people when it comes to submitting homework. A small group, when given an assignment, start work on it straight away and hand it in early. The second group fails to hand it on time.
The rest procrastinate. They then get annoyed with themselves for not starting it earlier but still get it done.
The business jet transaction market follows a similar pattern. When bonus depreciation is available, there is a last-quarter rush to close deals (so aircraft can fly at least one business trip) before the end of December. OEMs also typically deliver more aircraft in the final three months guaranteeing a busy quarter.
This means that you can already confidently predict that 2026 is going to be strong.
Aircraft manufacturers are continuing to sell more aircraft than they are delivering to customers. Bombardier’s 1.5x book-to-bill ratio drove its June backlog up 24.6% year-on-year to $21.8bn. Gulfstream’s 1.5-to-1 ratio has contributed to its backlog being up 20.5% compared with June 2025 to $23.97bn. Gulfstream has had the strongest first half for orders for aerospace since 2022.
Pre-owned transactions were down in the first quarter, but this is because of a shortage of aircraft. Business jet flights in the first nine months of 2026 are up 3.4%, according to WINGX.
It is going to be a busy end of year for us. We will be in Miami in November for Corporate Jet Investor Miami and are also very excited to be launching CJI Africa in Cape Town (where I grew up) in December.
We hope you have a great end to 2026 and look forward to seeing you soon.
LOUISA WHYTE, Publisher
Our next events
Aircraft Investor Miami
November 16th 2026 Fontainebleau, Miami Beach
Superyacht Investor Miami
November 16th 2026 Fontainebleau, Miami Beach
Corporate Jet Investor Miami
November 16th-18th 2026 Fontainebleau, Miami Beach
Corporate Jet Investor Africa
December 2nd-3rd 2026 Mount Nelson, Cape Town
Corporate Jet Investor London
February 1st-3rd 2027 London
Please email [email protected] to register or if you would like more information.
Front cover image courtesy of Dassault.
Contents
EVERY ISSUE
Life in six questions: Leona Qi, VistaJet US – How the top exec stumbled into a career in business aviation and stayed for the job satisfaction of helping entrepreneurs travel.
AIRCRAFT
Jet Data: Latest intel at a glance – All the newest information on business jet performance and prices available in one place. Plus, recent maiden flights and smashed speed records.
AOGs: Planning pain relief – Ways to stop aircraft on ground events plaguing flight operations and client relationships.
COVER STORY
First Look: Dassault Falcon 10X – Worth the wait? As entry into service of the world’s largest purpose-built business jet slips to 2029, we gauge the aircraft’s impact on the ultra-long-range market.
FEATURES
Sino Jet: It takes a book to build – From a single office to overseeing nearly $8bn in assets, Sino Jet has rapidly become a leading force in Asian business aviation.
Deal or no deal: How to succeed selling aircraft – Leading brokers offer advice to their younger selves on how to succeed in the highly competitive world of jet sales.
Auxillary power units: Don’t look back in anger – Sometimes overlooked, always vital, APUs play a key role in jet operations. Should they be on maintenance programmes?
Out of Office: Surf’s up for this CEO – Catching a wave on his surfboard helps Jason Middleton unwind from all the pressures of running Silver Air Private Jets.
JSSI Investment: How the firm invests – Growing rental pools, deepening inventories and strengthening programmes.
India: Unlocking vast potential – Boom times always seem five years in the future. But could dreams be coming true faster?
Bombardier: The $10bn debt we don’t owe – How a decade of disciple pulled Bombardier back from the brink of restructuring.
Luminair: Lights up European charter – How the firm has developed into one of Europe’s fastest growing operators.
Yingling Aviation: Scaling new heights – Parachute enthusiast and CEO Gregg Fahrenbruch plans to lift the business.
Russell W Meyer: An appreciation – We remember the many achievements of the late business leader, pilot, philanthropist and golfer in the words of friends and colleagues.
MAF International: On a wing and a prayer – We strap into the right-hand seat of a Cessna Caravan bush plane for one of the faith-based charity’s live-saving missions in the far north of Australia.
EVENTS
Visitors to five CJI events on three continents came for the latest news and views and stayed for the many networking opportunities.
Report: CJI London 2026
Report: CJI India 2026
Report: CJI Latin America 2026
Report: CJI Malta 2026
Report: CJI Asia 2026
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Corporate Jet Investor magazine is a long-form print and digital publication read by more than 23,000 dealmakers and decision-makers; people who buy, sell, operate, maintain, finance and advise on aircraft sales. We aim to always be insightful, international and independent – and occasionally we are a little irreverent. If you would like to be added to the distribution list please click here.
Our next events
Corporate Jet Investor
London 2023
February 6th to 8th
The Landmark London
Please email [email protected] to register or if you would like more information.
