The milestone was completed on May 16 from Bombardier’s  Aircraft Assembly Centre in Mississauga, Ont., and the aircraft executed a series of tests, part of the production flight test procedures during the flight.

The jet landed under the command of pilot Sandro Novelli, assisted by co-pilot Charlie Honey and flight engineer Bhargav Bhavsar. All flight controls were exercised on the aircraft, and the systems and aircraft performed as expected.

This marks the latest milestone for Bombardier’s Global 8000 programme. The Global 8000 flight test vehicle (FTV) has exceeded expectations in flight testing and the first production aircraft will soon travel to Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montreal where interior completions will take place ahead of its planned entry-into-service (EIS) in the second half of 2025.

“This first production flight marks yet another successful milestone for Bombardier’s Global 8000 program and we are very pleased with how the aircraft performed on its maiden journey,” said Stephen McCullough, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Product Development, Bombardier. “Having this first production aircraft take to the skies is another important step in this journey that will redefine the business aviation landscape. With its low cabin altitude, luxurious and healthy cabin, signature smooth ride and unparalleled performance capabilities, the Global 8000 is the clear choice for discerning owners and operators who prioritise convenience and flexibility.”  

“This is a very special accomplishment for our Global 8000 aircraft, the latest highlight for this transformational business jet,” said David Murray, Executive Vice President, Manufacturing, IT and Bombardier Operational Excellence System. “This first flight is a reflection of the dedication and high skill level of our engineering, production and flight teams to follow through and execute with precision and mastery at all stages of the manufacturing and flight-testing process.”

The Global 8000 unlocks more routes than ever before including Dubai to Houston, as well as introducing a first ever ultra-high cruise speed of Mach 0.92. At this average cruise speed, the Global 8000 can have a range of up to 4,200 nautical miles, getting you to your destinations in less time.

Since its founding in 2000 in Dubai, UAS has built a reputation for supporting high-profile international clientele and setting the standard in business aviation.

UAS has expanded rapidly with regional headquarters in Houston, Johannesburg, and Hong Kong, regional offices in Beijing, Lagos, and Nairobi, and a ground presence in over 30 countries. The company has made a lasting impact on the BizAv industry by setting new benchmarks in trip support, flight planning, ground handling, fuel services, and luxury charter experiences.

In 2024 alone, UAS completed over 111,000 service set-ups and arranged 20,000 trips across six continents, achieving an impressive 95% client satisfaction rating—a testament to its consistent performance and trusted partnership in the ever-demanding world of business aviation.

“We set out to pioneer in business aviation. Our 25-year journey has been defined by innovation, trust, and an unrelenting commitment to excellence,” said Omar Hosari, Founder and CEO of UAS. “We are proud of our global footprint and the strength of our relationships with our partners and our clients who rely on us to deliver flawlessly, no matter the complexity or urgency.”

“Our clients demand excellence at every level, and we make it our mission to exceed those expectations,” added Mohammed Husary, Founder and Executive President. “Our success is grounded in our people, our technology, and our relentless focus on proactive, anticipatory service solutions.”

These Awards are the most prestigious award a UK company can receive. His Majesty The King approves the winners, which recognises companies of all sizes.

Signum has also been active in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, located at the General Aviation private terminal since January this year, identifying the Kingdom as a ripe and expanding market.  Awais Babar leads Signum Aviation in the Middle East as Regional Vice President.  He has led a number of projects in the region and is now based in Riyadh.

“We are honoured to have been chosen for this special award,” said Jonathan Gill, managing director and founder, Signum Aviation. “It is a terrific achievement and underscores our commitment to our valued clients across the globe. I would like to thank our dedicated and proactive team who continue to work tirelessly and with the upmost professionalism every day to make our business successful.”

Signum specialises in providing a personalised service offering tailored and flexible support to its customers on a 24/7 basis. Its service portfolio consists of providing flight planning, handling setup, overflight and landing permits, weather briefings and runway analysis, as well as airfield performance, flight watch services and third-party charters.

The conventional, three‑year facility was significantly oversubscribed, attracting commitments from 20 leading banks across the globe, including 8 new banking partners from Europe, Asia and North America.

Edward O'Byrne, CEO of AviLease, said: "We are pleased to close this facility, noting the strong international demand. Together with our existing revolver of $750mn, it brings our immediately‑available committed facilities to $2.25 billion, spanning 25 local and global lenders. This enhanced liquidity positions us to continue our expansion, investing in latest‑technology, fuel‑efficient aircraft while maintaining the conservative financial policy that underpins our strategy.”

Embraer delivered 30 aircraft in 1Q25. The result was 20% higher than in the first quarter of last year (1Q24), when 25 aircraft were delivered. 1Q25 deliveries corresponded to 13% of the midpoint (231 aircraft) of the company's full year guidance (between 222 and 240 in 2025) for the combined Executive and Commercial Aviation business units versus an 11% 5-year historical average for the period.

In February, the Phenom 300 series was again recognised as the world's best-selling and most delivered light jet for the 13th consecutive year, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). In the same announcement, the institution confirmed the light jet as the most delivered twin-engine jet for the fifth year in a row in 2024.

In Services & Support, Embraer said the backlog remained stable at US$4.6 billion in 1Q25, with the company reporting Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier carrier, was the highlight of the period with a spare parts inventory support agreement covering its all-Embraer 68 aircraft fleet. The airline will become the first African customer for the customised Embraer Collaborative Inventory Planning (ECIP) management system, which will optimise inventory levels and reduce operational costs for its fleet.

Since 2024, beOnd has flown guests in the airline’s signature luxury leisure cabin between Munich and the Maldives. Today’s news is an expansion of service connecting customers in Germany and the United Arab Emirates.

“Linking Munich with Dubai aligns perfectly with our strategic vision, driven by significant customer demand. Munich residents seek Dubai's luxurious resorts and vibrant tourism, while Dubai residents look forward to Munich's cultural heritage and scenic beauty," said Tero Taskila, CEO and Chairman of beOnd.

beOnd offers all-lie-flat seating and private jet–inspired service curated for today’s discerning leisure traveller. This elevated experience reflects beOnd’s global brand campaign, Redefining Travel, which places wellness, design, and destination-inspired hospitality at the heart of the journey.

Initially, the airline will operate twice-weekly flights from Munich Airport Franz Josef Strauss (MUC) to Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Additional destinations in Germany may follow in 2025. beOnd will operate the flights under "fifth freedom" rights.

This approval—granted by the Maldives Civil Aviation Authority and Germany’s Luftfahrt-Bundesamt—underscores the strong regulatory support beOnd continues to receive.

“We extend our sincere gratitude to the MCAA and Luftfahrt-Bundesamt for their confidence in beOnd. We also thank Velana International Airport in Malé and Munich Airport for their collaboration,” said Taskila.

RoyalJet said Raj will play a ‘pivotal role’ in advancing the brand’s ambition to become a global leader in private aviation. His focus will be on fostering sustainable growth and driving innovation to elevate RoyalJet’s position in the industry.

Embraer said it is actively seeking new suppliers and partners around the world to meet the growing demand for Embraer’s products. Turkish Aerospace aims to leverage its strategic capabilities in manufacturing and assembling metallic and composite structures, final assembly of fuselages, components, test and production flights, and painting. 

The agreement outlines the collaborative phase between Embraer and Turkish Aerospace to discuss a potential comprehensive industrial partnership involving R&D.

Mehmet Demiroğlu, CEO of Turkish Aerospace said: “This memorandum marks a significant milestone for the Turkish defense and aerospace industry. Through our collaboration with Embraer, we aim to further enhance our technological capabilities and shape the future of aviation. By combining our strengths, we are not only building for today but also laying the foundation for the aviation ecosystem of tomorrow.”

Francisco Gomes Neto, President and CEO of Embraer, added: “Embraer is excited about these significant opportunities with Turkish Aerospace. Their expertise in aerospace manufacturing and assembly aligns perfectly with our strategic goals. This MoU marks a significant step towards exploring innovative solutions and expanding our global footprint."

XINATIS completed the sale and delivery of the BBJ2 to Ethiopian Airlines Group to support the airline’s entry into the VIP and charter market.

“The XINATIS team offers a broad spectrum of aviation transaction and financing experience that can be customised to all types of aviation operations. This transaction is a unique opportunity to bring together the commercial airline and executive jet sectors where traditionally, the two are very different business environments. Ethiopian Airlines had been evaluating the possibility of a VIP aircraft for some time before approaching XINATIS to lend our expertise. Our team presented our experience from different facets of the aviation industry to bring together the first transaction of this kind in Africa. It is our great pleasure to support Ethiopian Airlines in embarking on a new trajectory of aviation opportunity development and to assist them on a plan for commercial airline operators to develop VIP charter opportunities with true executive configured aircraft.” said Sameer Adam, President & CEO, XINATIS.

He added: “This is just the beginning for African operators and governments to consider aligning resources and operations between airlines and the developing business aviation market on the continent.”

Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tasew said: “This newly introduced Boeing 737-800 Business Jet is designed to offers a spacious and luxurious cabin, featuring premium seating. Its customised seating arrangement with 19 for commercial operation and 32 for private operation ensures an exclusive and intimate atmosphere, accommodating a select number of passengers. Additionally, with its extended range and efficiency, the Boeing 737-800 VIP guarantees a seamless and reliable journey for short- and medium-haul charter operations.

"As Africa’s leading carrier, we are always looking for ways to enhance our offerings and meet the unique demands of our diverse clientele. With the addition of this Boeing 737-800 Business Jet, we are elevating our charter service to new heights, ensuring that our customers enjoy unparalleled luxury, convenience, and world-class service. This is yet another step in our commitment to fostering business and investment opportunities across Africa and beyond.”

The check included additional work, such as removing and reinstalling the wing’s outermost surface and modifying the wing’s dry bay.

The major modification which adds a sealed boundary area in the wing structural fuel tank, acts as a safety buffer and an extra layer of protection to the aircraft in case of damage.

The process required extensive labour hours and involved the removal and reinstallation of around 2,000 screws.

A cabin interior refurbishment and the overhaul of the landing gear were done additionally during the scheduled 2C check to minimise aircraft downtime.

The aircraft owner is a repeat customer of the Johannesburg’s Lanseria International Airport centre. Vince Goncalves, Regional VP Africa for ExecuJet MRO Services, said: “Falcon operators prefer to send their aircraft to us because we are a factory-owned Falcon service centre that has an experienced local workforce trained by Dassault,” says Goncalves.

“We support all in-production Falcon models at our facility. With the growing number of Falcons in the region, we look forward to more line and base maintenance work coming to the facility,” he adds.

Dassault’s three-engine Falcons are popular with African operators due to their range and airport runway performance, particularly in ‘hot and high’ flying conditions.

Separately, ExecuJet MRO Services South Africa has also concluded 1C inspection on a South African-registered Falcon 50B.