2025 in Hindsight and Looking Ahead to 2026

2025 will likely go down as a year that reaffirmed business aviation's resilience and laid the foundation for what promises to be a decade of sustained growth, demand for flexibility, and evolving client demand. Looking ahead to 2026 and it's impossible to contemplate any major change in this trajectory; the evolution of more flexible and demand-driven aviation solutions will continue.

Here are my thoughts on the impact of 2025, and what trends we can expect in 2026.

2025 was a great year for aviation demand, innovations, and industry adaptability. The year saw demand for new jets rise to record levels, especially for midsize and super-midsize jets. The latest Honeywell Global Business Aviation Outlook projects 8,500 new business jet deliveries over the next decade, amounting to roughly US$ 283 billion. That's the highest value in the report’s 34-year history marking 2025 a landmark year. This points to another trend of 2025, rising corporate travel and the adoption of fractional ownership. However, the technology innovations and robust recovery that characterised the year went hand in hand with rising operational costs, supply chain challenges, and crew and technician shortages that impacted operational capacity. Another feature of 2025 was the many new regulatory changes, pushing compliance up the ranks as one of the major operator pain points throughout the year.

2026 will see business aviation demand rise all over the globe and utilization increases with new jet deliveries reported to increase by 5% next year. Over the next decade, 8,500 jets valued at U$283B are scheduled for delivery... Operators are flying more, and according to Honeywell, the majority expect to maintain or increase usage in 2026 compared to 2025. And as fleets expand, so will the demand for maintenance, repair, and upgrades. Many operators will refresh or upgrade their fleets, boosting demand for aircraft management, sales and acquisition support, and aftermarket services. This will create massive strategic opportunities for every facet of our industry.

Here is what I envision for each major market.

The Middle East

One of the most exciting dynamics will be the rise of Saudi Arabia and Syria. The sheer momentum of Saudi's Vision 2030 and Syria's aviation development plans are likely to see demand surge in the Middle East and beyond. Both countries boast excellent strategic advantages, and I believe this coupled with their goals will see both take their places amongst some of the pivotal countries supporting business aviation activity. There is already substantial growth in aviation demand in the region with reports that by the year 2035, about 160 business jets will be added to its fleet. This reflects the economic diversification, infrastructural development, and regulatory reforms underway. It's an exciting time.

Asia Pacific

APAC has been such a growth frontier in recent years, and this will likely continue. It is seeing more demand driven by rising corporate travel, increasing wealth, and new users entering private aviation. Although a smaller share of global jet deliveries compared to North America and Europe, Asia-Pacific will likely steadily grow business jet activity over the coming year as infrastructure and operator confidence improve.

North America

Unsurprisingly, I think North America will likely remain the dominant market for business aviation, it being projected to receive roughly 70% of new business jet deliveries over the next few years. Its strong fractional ownership growth, high corporate travel demand, and mature regulatory and service ecosystem continue to push the region’s leadership in aircraft usage.

Latin America

Latin America is gaining momentum with flight activity growth and a decent share of new jet deliveries over the coming years. Countries like Brazil are contributing to stronger year-over-year flight activity expansion, reflecting broader economic improvement and rising demand for business aviation services in the region.

Europe

I expected Europe to remain a significant market. However, sustainability pressures, regulatory complexity, and alternative transport options will set the trajectory of regional growth. It will surely be an interesting year.

Africa

Emerging markets across the African continent, along with improvements in infrastructure and increasing intra-regional mobility, are supporting the gradual uptake in business aviation usage. Flight activity data suggests notable increases in countries like Nigeria and Morocco, so we're likely to continue to see meaningful growth outside traditional hubs.

2025 has confirmed that business aviation is evolving and becoming more mature, demand-driven, and diversified. At UAS, we see ourselves not as a solutions provider, but as a strategic partner in our clients’ mobility and business success. 2026 will be about redefining value, expanding offerings, and unveiling more technologies. For our industry as a whole, I believe we will continue to align with global trends, double down on service quality, and offer even more flexible, client-centric solutions. So, by the end of 2026, I predict that the former image of business aviation as a luxury niche will be well and truly gone. It will rightly take its place as an increasingly a mainstream tool for global mobility in the public perception.

Here’s to a successful and strategic 2026!