Business aviation entered May with strong demand signals from Bombardier, Gulfstream, Textron Aviation and Embraer — but also with a clear operational warning. OEM backlogs, fleet deliveries and new certifications point to a resilient market, while Europe’s fuel disruption shows that cost, routing and execution risk are becoming harder to manage.

The UAE’s order for 10 Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft, with options for 10 more, gives Brazil’s military airlifter its first Middle East customer and a major validation point in the global medium-lift market. For Embraer, the deal is not only an export win. It strengthens the C-390’s position as a serious challenger in a replacement cycle shaped by ageing C-130 fleets, lifecycle-cost pressure and demand for faster, flexible, multi-mission airlift.