✈️ Flexjet Acquires The Jet Business, Embedding Brokerage Capability into Fleet Decisions
On June 12, 2026, Flexjet acquired The Jet Business, London's top business aviation broker, with founder Steve Varsano taking the role of President to directly lead fleet additions and reductions as well as product direction. This means pricing and execution capabilities for new aircraft procurement and pre-owned aircraft disposal are directly embedded into the operational decision-making chain. Avi-Go data shows that Flexjet recorded 165,634 total global takeoffs and landings from January 1 to June 25, 2026, peaking at 30,366 in March, with the U.S. market accounting for approximately 89.13%. Its fleet now exceeds 340 aircraft, and it holds AOCs in the UK, Ireland, Malta, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia. Combined with the order for 300 Phantom 3500s placed at the end of 2025, the procurement of G700s, and the sale of 20 Challenger 300s to Baker Aviation, the entry of a veteran broker will strengthen bargaining power on both the procurement and disposal ends.
Impact: Internalizing brokerage capability will enhance Flexjet's pricing initiative on both new aircraft procurement and pre-owned retirement, accelerating its international expansion with Saudi Arabia as a pivot point. For independent brokers, leading operators building their own trading capabilities may compress the intermediary market space.
Recommendation: Competing operators should assess building their own trading capabilities or binding leading brokerage resources within Q3 2026 to avoid being passive in pre-owned aircraft disposal pricing. Independent brokers should lock in long-term partnerships with mid-sized operators as soon as possible to hedge against the risk of losing top clients.