Business, page 4
LifestyleSwiss Watch Exports Flipped in a Month: America Down, China Up
Swiss watch exports to the United States fell 19.4 percent in August 2026, a month after taking 26.7 percent of global output, while China rose 15.8 percent. Averaged over two months the American share is about 20 percent, and the UAE grew while its region shrank.
BusinessThe Fleet Is Being Flown Harder Than at Any Point Since 2019
JETNET's August barometer puts global utilisation at 21.4 hours per tail per month, 10.5% above 2019. Maintenance is billed on hours, not on the calendar, so a busier fleet reaches every inspection gate sooner and hands the next buyer a fuller logbook.
BusinessStarlink Doubled the Bill and the Industry Is Still Deciding Who Pays
SpaceX doubled Starlink Aviation pricing with effect from 7 August 2026, taking the unlimited global plan to $20,000 a month and hardware to $200,000 per aircraft. The cheaper regional tier locks coverage to a single continent, which makes it close to useless for an intercontinental fleet.
BusinessApollo Values America's Largest FBO Network at Nearly $10 Billion
Apollo and Singapore's GIC have bought into Atlantic Aviation at a valuation Bloomberg puts near $10 billion, roughly twice what KKR paid in 2021 for a network half the size. The asset being repriced is the ramp, the fuel truck and the hangar lease.
BusinessYour Jet's LLC Just Dropped Off the Federal Register
A FinCEN final rule effective 14 August 2026 removes beneficial ownership reporting for every entity formed under US law, including the special purpose LLCs that hold most N-registered business jets. The exemption turns on where the company was formed, not on who owns it.
SustainabilityWhat Sustainable Aviation Fuel Actually Costs Operators in 2026
SAF carried a premium of $1,139 per tonne over conventional jet fuel in northwest Europe in March 2026, roughly $3.45 on every gallon. What a 30 percent blend adds to a midsize aircraft's fuel bill, and the three policy levers moving the price.
Private AviationWhich UAE Airports Serve Private Aviation
Al Maktoum and Al Bateen are the UAE's purpose-built private aviation airports, Sharjah has just joined them with a new FBO, and Dubai International is steadily moving business jets out. A practical guide to which one to use and why.
BusinessYour Aircraft Manager Just Got Bought. Now What?
Solairus Aviation is buying Clay Lacy's aircraft management and charter divisions, targeting a close at the end of September 2026. Management contracts do not transfer automatically, so every Clay Lacy owner has to sign a new agreement. What to check on fees, crew, charter revenue and maintenance before you do.
BusinessYour Seven Year Old Jet Has Not Depreciated at All
The rule that a business jet sheds 8 percent a year after year two no longer matches the transactions. Several 2016 airframes are worth what they were worth in 2019, while the previous generation sits near half its original price. What changed, and what it means for buyers and sellers.
LifestyleFewer Superyachts Sold in 2026, for a Lot More Money
326 preowned superyachts sold in the first half of 2026, down 8% year on year, yet buyers spent $3.51 billion, up 15%. Business aviation is concentrating value the same way, but its transaction volumes are moving the opposite direction.