A consortium of private equity and institutional investors has reached an agreement to acquire AirSprint Inc., a prominent provider of fractional jet ownership in North America. The lead investors are Onex Partners and TriWest Capital Partners, alongside co-investors. The current management team is staying in place to continue growing the company.

The private aviation sector has experienced sustained growth over the past several years, with global disruptions and commercial airline challenges prompting many travelers to reassess how they value time, flexibility, and reliability.

SherpaReport spoke to Alan Walsh, President of Sentient Jet, who describes a steady increase in demand across the industry and discusses changing demographics, customer preferences and trends. Here are the highlights of the discussion.

Flexjet announced its acquisition of the London-based aircraft brokerage and advisory firm, The Jet Business. By incorporating an established whole-aircraft brokerage into its existing portfolio, Flexjet positions itself to provide a more comprehensive suite of aircraft management, procurement, and disposition services to its global aviation clientele.

FlyEpic has introduced a fractional ownership and card program on the 4-passenger Epic E1000 turboprop. Launching with a specific geographic focus in the Western United States and Mountain time zones, the company provides a more economical alternative to larger turboprops and light-cabin business jets. SherpaReport talked with FlyEpic CEO, Toby Woods, to discuss the launch, service and vision for this new fractional provider.

Northern Jet has expanded its heavy jet fleet with the addition of two Bombardier Challenger 604s and a Bombardier Challenger 650 aircraft. It has also earned the Wyvern Wingman PRO certification.

Textron Aviation just delivered the first three Cessna Citation Ascend business jets to NetJets, their fleet launch customer. NetJets is the first private fleet operator to take delivery of and begin operations with the Citation Ascend, and plans to have 15 Ascends in total by the end of 2026.

Bombardier marked a significant delivery milestone as fleet operator Vista took possession of its first Global 8000 aircraft at the Bombardier London Biggin Hill Service Centre. The event signals the start of a phased transition for Vista's existing Global 7500 fleet, with two aircraft per month scheduled for upgrade and the full complement of 18 jets expected to be operational as Global 8000s by the end of the year.

The large private aviation operator, flyExclusive (NYSE American: FLYX), has relaunched its Jet Club - a fixed-rate jet card type product. The redesigned membership eliminates monthly fees, simplifies pricing, and locks in rates for 24 months - providing cost certainty as fuel prices rise.

For owners of private aircraft, some downtime is an unavoidable reality — and historically, an expensive one. Whether a scheduled inspection or an unexpected Aircraft on Ground (AOG) event, any period during which an aircraft is unavailable can leave an owner paying retail charter rates for a replacement, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars per day.

Jet Linx Aviation has introduced a structured solution to this problem. The company's new Owner Aircraft Exchange, launching May 1, 2026, provides managed-fleet owners with access to supplemental aircraft during maintenance periods at rates far below those typically charged in the open charter market.

Fractional aircraft ownership offers a convenient and cost-effective solution for anyone who needs access to a private jet without the full responsibility of whole aircraft ownership. Agreements typically span five years, with options to exit on a shorter timeframe.

At the time of signing, most buyers are confident they will utilize their share for the full term. But life is unpredictable — businesses are sold, family needs evolve, or travel patterns shift — meaning that a share may not be needed for the full five years. And even at the end of an agreement, there are potential options to consider.

Northern Jet has launched a new jet card, the Summer Advantage Card, a limited-release private jet card designed for travelers seeking summer travel at lowered summer rates in June, July and August.

Bombardier has celebrated the delivery of the first Global 8000 ultra-long-range jet to fleet launch customer NetJets. The delivery took place at Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre in Montreal.