Signature Aviation curtails special-event fees after industry pushback

Signature Aviation, the world's largest FBO chain, will curtail special-event fees beginning in 2027 after pushback from private jet operators and brokers.

According to Private Jet Card Comparisons, the company plans to limit event fees to a small number of extraordinary-demand event categories and provide visibility into pricing at least 30 days in advance. The move addresses industry complaints that fees were being imposed on short notice, forcing operators and brokers to pass unexpected costs to customers after bookings were confirmed—often subject to 100% cancellation fees.

The scope of event surcharges

Signature will apply special-event fees to Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles, the College Football Playoff National Championship in Las Vegas, Art Basel Miami, the US Open Tennis Championships, the Nations General Assembly in New York, and Formula 1 race weekends in Miami, Montréal, Austin, and Las Vegas.

Event fees for large jets at big events have typically risen to more than $20,000. Smaller jets can expect multi-thousand-dollar fees for regular-season college football games, and holiday weekends at resort locations fall somewhere in between.

Background and industry dissatisfaction

The reporting does not name the earlier fee structure or say what rates Signature charged before this change. However, Private Jet Card Comparisons reported in March 2025 that industry executives expressed displeasure with the fees. Complaints centred on the extension of surcharges to regular-season NFL games, conventions such as World of Concrete in Las Vegas, and holiday weekends—events that did not command the scarcity pricing of major tentpole occasions.

Signature Chief Commercial Officer Derek DeCross said the company was grateful to guests and operators for their input, stating that their feedback "was instrumental in creating a clearer, more predictable pricing approach that gives guests greater visibility, flexibility, and control."

Going forward

Beyond 2027, Signature will continue to evaluate events based on extraordinary demand levels and will communicate any applicable locations and pricing at least 30 days in advance. The reporting does not say whether this framework applies globally or only to certain regions, or whether the 30-day advance notice applies to all Signature locations.