Day one of CJI London 2026 delivered grounded and strategically mature discussions. Across panels, a consistent message emerged: business aviation is professionalising at pace, driven by data, technology, regulation, resilience and a new generation of clients and owners with very different expectations.
With thanks to Ian Petts for his meticulous notetaking below is a roundup across the major themes of the day.
Charter Economics: Scale, Utilisation & Real World Profitability
The opening panel was unflinchingly honest about the economic reality of charter aviation.
Key messages from operators and industry leaders
- Scale drives profitability, not single aircraft economics. One aircraft cannot generate sustainable returns; fleets must be managed like portfolios, not stand‑alone assets.
- Utilisation is the core metric. <600 hours is a struggle; >1,000 hours is where the business model starts to work.
- Fixed costs (75%) dominate the economic profile. Downtime is the biggest value destroyer.
- Seasonality must be engineered out. Geographic balancing, not pricing, determines revenue stability.
- Maintenance, labour, and engine‑related cost inflation remain the primary margin threats.
- Fleet commonality equals operational resilience. Interchangeable crews and parts matter more than ever.
- Return on capital is thin but achievable through disciplined processes, disposition timing and data‑driven fleet planning.
Our takeaway:
Charter aviation is now a precision business requiring industrial grade operational discipline, strong cash flow management, and data anchored decision making.
Political Risk & Aviation Reality: The Tariff and Decertification Debate
One of the most animated sessions tackled recent political rhetoric surrounding tariffs and threats to Canadian built aircraft.
The expert consensus was unequivocal:
- Decertification risk = effectively zero. Certification is technical, not political. A tweet cannot drive regulatory action.
- FAA validates, does not re certify, Transport Canada approvals.
- Tariffs are possible but typically become bargaining tools rather than implemented policy.
- Any tariff regime would hurt US customers, suppliers, and jobs as much as Canadian OEMs.
Our takeaway:
The noise is political; the risk to fleet operations and asset values remains low. Aircraft owners should focus on documentation quality, import/export filings, force majeure positioning, and staying ahead of regulatory formality, not headlines.
AI, Predictive Tech & the New Frontier of Charter
A standout session came from Amalfi Jets, illustrating how AI is reshaping charter far beyond chatbots.
What’s changing:
- Predictive fleet scheduling to optimise empty legs and asset utilisation.
- Forecasting tools that anticipate customer behaviour, preferred routes, and likely retention.
- AI driven safety systems that flag urgency, unsafe statements, weather conflicts, or grey charter risks.
- Data backed revenue insights replacing instinct and anecdote.
Our takeaway:
The winners in the next phase of charter will combine predictive analytics, rigorous safety culture, and personalised service at scale.
Technology doesn’t replace people, it empowers them.
The State of Charter: Human Judgement Still Matters
A panel of leading brokers and tech platforms reinforced a pragmatic view of where automation stops and human experience begins.
Key insights:
- Every charter movement remains a bespoke mission. True commodification remains improbable.
- AI will remove admin, but relationship capital and operational judgement are irreplaceable.
- Clients paying £10k–£250k expect a human expert, not an algorithm, behind their flight.
- The winning broker model blends personalisation, scale, and realistic pricing.
Our takeaway:
The future is hybrid; automation for efficiency, people for trust.
Market Intelligence: Data as a Strategic Asset
WingX delivered a strong reminder that credible, longitudinal data is now non negotiable for strategic aviation decisions.
Market signals:
- Business aviation remains structurally strong, with elevated post COVID baselines.
- The US dominates in utilisation, fleet depth, and financing sophistication.
- Fractional programs are outperforming thanks to consistent ~600 hour utilisation profiles.
- Data is no longer a support tool; it’s a go/no go decision driver.
Our takeaway:
Organisations must invest in trusted data sources and use them to challenge assumptions, quantify risk, and time market entry.
Storytelling, Visibility & the Changing Public Narrative
A powerful panel addressed a long standing industry weakness: how business aviation tells its story.
Key themes:
- The industry has historically been private, opaque, and misunderstood.
- Authentic storytelling, not orchestrated campaigns, builds credibility.
- Social media has become a major gateway to younger, diverse audiences.
- OEMs like Bombardier are leaning into marketing, partnerships, and experiential promotion.
- Market trends include rising costs, constrained supply chains, younger buyers, and shifting geography of demand.
Our takeaway:
If we do not shape the narrative around business aviation, others will.
Brand visibility and authenticity are strategic assets, not luxuries.
Aircraft Registration: Neutrality, Credibility & Jurisdiction Strategy
A highly technical yet important session explored why certain registries continue to dominate.
Why Aruba, Bermuda, and Cayman succeed:
- Long standing regulatory maturity and lender trust.
- Commercial agility mixed with deep institutional memory.
- Strong local ecosystems (lawyers, financiers, operators, tax advisers).
- Consistent neutrality; essential in a geopolitically tense world.
- Registries have evolved into active enablers, not passive record keepers.
Our takeaway:
Registration strategy should be board level.
It influences financing, risk, operational flexibility, tax alignment and long‑term asset value.
Summary: The Industry is at an Inflection Point
Across all sessions, the signal was clear:
Business aviation is evolving from a relationship driven craft into a data driven, tech enabled, globally regulated industry without losing its human core.
Day one themes reveal an industry:
- Becoming more professionalised
- More transparent
- More predictive
- More resilient
- And more strategically complex than at any point in its history
The organisations that will lead the next decade will be those that:
- Invest in data
- Harness predictive technology
- Tell a clear, authentic story
- Navigate regulation and politics with precision
- Value fleet discipline and operational excellence
- And continue to deliver human expertise where it matters most
We are looking forward to the rest of the event and if you are attending feel free to reach out to Ian Petts, Barbara Shaw or Greta Kemper to learn how Martyn Fiddler can help you.
