DC Aviation Al-Futtaim (DCF, Dubai World Central) has added an ACJ318-100, which will commence charter services shortly.

“The addition of the Airbus ACJ318 Elite+ builds upon DC Aviation Group's proud legacy of operating ACJ charter aircraft for more than 25 years,” said Holger Ostheimer, managing director of DC Aviation Al-Futtaim.

The 2010-built aircraft, registered in San Marino as T7-ELSA (msn 4211), was ferried between Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH and Dubai World Central on May 7, with a stop at Tirana. Certified for 19 passengers with seating for up to 21, the jet will be based and maintained at DC Aviation Al-Futtaim's hangar, FBO, and MRO complex at Dubai World Central.

This ACJ318-100 had been parked at Basel since January 2022, where AMAC Aerospace carried out a full interior and exterior refurbishment. Previously registered in the United Arab Emirates as A6-CAS, the jet was managed by currently inactive charter and management firm Constellation Aviation Services.

DC Aviation Al-Futtaim cited shifting client demand patterns as a key driver behind the induction of the corporate airliner. “Over the past 12 to 18 months, a growing preference has been noted for larger-cabin aircraft capable of undertaking non-stop intercontinental journeys. This trend is predominantly driven by family offices, government entities and corporate executives requiring enhanced flexibility, privacy, and time efficiency.”

Beyond the newly added ACJ318-100, DC Aviation Al-Futtaim manages a Challenger 650, a Global 5000, a Falcon 6X, a Falcon 7X, and a PC-12. Only the Challenger 650 and the Pilatus Aircraft turboprop are registered in the United Arab Emirates, while the Falcon 6X is registered in San Marino, the Global 5000 in Bermuda, and the Falcon 7X in the Isle of Man.

Other DC Aviation divisions manage ACJs, including Germany-based DC Aviation, which operates an ACJ319-100 and an ACJ320-200N, as well as DC Aviation Malta, which manages an ACJ319-100. DC Aviation San Marino does not operate any ACJ.

The group's wider fleet further comprises several aircraft manufactured by Bombardier Business Aircraft, Dassault Aviation, Embraer Executive Jets, Gulfstream Aerospace, and Textron Aviation.

The United States Department of Transportation has granted Elevate Jet (LVT, Bedford, MA) a six-month extension to commence operations under a certificate of public convenience awarded on July 2, 2025, as the company awaits the delivery of engines for a VIP-configured B757-200, N107TV (msn 24527), acquired in the first half of 2026.

Elevate Jet's certificate of public convenience, which permits interstate charter operations, would have remained valid only if the company commenced such services within one year of issuance. The extension, now running until January 4, 2027, allows Elevate Jet to complete FAA certification requirements for the VIP-configured B757-200 ahead of entry into service.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced it has awarded air operators' certificates (AOCs) to Fly-Pyatic and Rocket Aviation Services, authorising both companies to begin non-scheduled commercial flight operations in the country.

The certificates were presented in Abuja on June 23 after both operators completed the NCAA's certification process, the regulator said in separate statements posted on social media.

Fly-Pyatic is the aviation arm of Pyatic Group, an Abuja-based, multidisciplinary Pan-African conglomerate with investments spanning aviation, oil and gas, real estate, construction, and transportation.

According to numerous local media reports, Fly-Pyatic plans to provide executive charter and other non-scheduled flights while also offering aircraft management services.

Group managing director and CEO Aliyu Ahmad Yakubu said the certification would support the group's broader strategy of using aviation to drive business growth and improve connectivity.

The pilot-turned-entrepreneur acknowledged challenges facing Nigeria's aviation sector, including infrastructure constraints, high operating costs, and limited access to financing, but said opportunities remained for innovative operators.

According to ch-aviation data, Fly-Pyatic operates a fleet of two aircraft, comprising one Hawker 800XPi and one Hawker 800XPi(2).

In an earlier milestone, Pyatic Group in 2024 secured an air operator's permit (AOP) from the NCAA under the brand Pyatic Flying, according to a statement issued by the company at the time.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement with the NCAA, Rocket Aviation Services accounts manager Bisola Yejide thanked the authority for its support during the nearly two-year certification process.

Rocket Aviation Services specialises in aircraft maintenance and management, crew management, ground handling, training, and aviation support services, according to the company website.

The firm serves a diverse portfolio of private and public sector clients, including multinational organisations, and positions itself as a provider of integrated aviation services.