Eclipse chasing, Monterey Car Week and a taxiway collision: this week in private aviation

Air Charter Service chartered flights for eclipse chasers on August 12, flying passengers to Palma, Mallorca, Valladolid, and Zaragoza to watch the first total solar eclipse visible in Spain since 1905. The broker is already promoting its next eclipse-chasing offering for August 2, 2027.

Flexjet is using Monterey Car Week to showcase a custom Formula 1 car and host clients for exclusive experiences at Pebble Beach Golf Links. LunaJets reported its best month on record in July, crediting 15% year-over-year growth to enhanced coordination and global expansion. FlyUSA made the Inc. 5000 list for the third straight year, with revenue growth from $22 million in 2022 to $73 million in 2025. A ground handling vehicle collided with a taxiing private jet at Milan Linate on August 10, prompting a 40-minute pause in airport operations.

Air Charter Service organises eclipse-chasing flights to Spain

Air Charter Service flew eclipse chasers to locations across Spain on August 12 to view the path of totality. The broker booked the flights more than a year in advance. Before the eclipse, ACS scouted several locations and selected Valladolid as the main site due to clear weather and views. The August 12 eclipse was the first total solar eclipse visible in Spain since 1905. It is unclear from available reporting how many passengers flew or what the flights charged.

ACS is already promoting its next eclipse-chasing offering for August 2, 2027, described as the "Eclipse of the Century".

Flexjet debuts Formula 1 car at Monterey Car Week

Flexjet held a showcase during Monterey Car Week on August 14–16 to debut a custom Formula 1 car at The Quail, Carmel, celebrating its partnership with Formula 1. The company also hosted a private patio overlooking the 18th fairway of the Pebble Beach Golf Links and the 75th Concours d'Elegance.

The activity follows a pattern of Flexjet offering VIP luxury experiences for customers, which have included the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and the Naples Winter Wine Festival.

LunaJets reports best month on record and announces Casablanca office

LunaJets announced that July 2026 was its "best month on record," attributing the performance to 15% year-over-year growth driven by enhanced coordination, improved technology and global expansion. The Dubai office achieved strong results.

The broker plans to open an office in Casablanca in September, with Christelle Candia heading the new location. LunaJets currently has seven offices worldwide across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. The announcement follows the company's Q1 period, which posted 28% year-over-year revenue growth.

FlyUSA makes Inc. 5000 for third consecutive year

FlyUSA has been placed on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for the third consecutive year, ranked #639 with 538% 3-year growth. The company's revenue grew from $22 million in 2022 to $73 million in 2025. Over the same three years, FlyUSA more than doubled its client base to over 2,000 clients and quadrupled its employee count to over 100.

CEO Barry Shevlin credited the achievement to a playbook tested across multiple economic cycles. His strategy during economic downturns is to increase investment in sales and marketing to capture market share. Shevlin acknowledged that informal processes effective for small teams become less viable as the company scales. FlyUSA has set a target of 100 managed aircraft and $500 million in annual revenue by 2032.

Ground vehicle strikes Hawker Beechcraft 400A at Milan Linate

On August 10, a Panda type ground handling vehicle collided with a Hawker Beechcraft 400A (registered I-AERB) that was taxiing towards the runway at Milan Linate Airport in Italy. The vehicle crossed the active taxiway and struck the front of the aircraft. The driver appears to have seen the jet at the last moment and attempted to swerve. Both came to a halt following the impact.

The aircraft is owned and operated by Slam Lavori Aere, an Italian aircraft and helicopter rental company founded in 1974 and listed as an Adler Group company. No serious injuries were reported. According to Corriere Della Sera, airport operations were paused for 40 minutes, and an ITA Airways flight was diverted to Bergamo while a KLM flight was diverted to Milan Malpensa Airport.

What it means

The Milan collision illustrates the operational hazards that remain on airport surfaces even as ground handling becomes more sophisticated. The incident disrupted two carriers' operations and recalls the continuing need for vigilance around taxiway protocols and vehicle management.

The growth figures from LunaJets and FlyUSA reflect different market segments. LunaJets' 15% monthly growth speaks to demand for on-demand charter, while FlyUSA's expansion in managed fleet and client base reflects the charter operator model. Both indicate activity in the charter market, though it is unclear from available reporting whether they are competing directly or serving separate customer bases.

Flexjet's partnerships and experience offerings—from Formula 1 to eclipse chasing with Air Charter Service—show how charter and fractional operators position themselves as lifestyle partners rather than pure flight providers. The reporting does not say whether this strategy differentiates margins or drives utilisation metrics.