A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Business Aviation Services Editor

Curt Epstein

World Kinect, the parent company of World Fuel Services, announced a blockbuster acquisition today with an agreement to purchase Universal Weather and Aviation’s trip support services (TSS) division. According to the company, the deal—expected to close by year-end—is worth approximately $220 million and will include the Universal Weather and Aviation brand name, as well as the agreements Universal has made with third-party ground handlers around the world.
“We’re excited to announce the agreement to acquire Universal Weather’s TSS division, which will significantly expand our trip support services business,” said World Kinect COO John Rau. “This strategic move complements our fuel business and enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive flight operations support—including flight planning, overflight permits, and ground support services—at more than 3,000 airports worldwide.”
The sale of its trip support division leaves Universal with Universal Aviation, its worldwide FBO and ground-handling supervisory network, as well as the Air Culinaire in-flight catering business.
Rau added that World looks forward to welcoming Universal’s TSS team in the move, which will bring immediate value to World’s customers. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next 60 to 90 days, meaning the two companies will still exhibit as separate entities next month at NBAA-BACE.

World Kinect To Buy Universal Weather and Aviation’s Trip-support Business

Deal is expected to close by the end of the year

World Kinect has acquired Universal Weather and Aviation’s name and trip support division.

World Kinect To Buy Universal Weather’s Trip-support Biz

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charlotte Bailey

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Newly ratified system offers one vote for all members 

EBAA Successfully Reforms Membership Voting Structure

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

NBAA encourages members to read guidance, saying it was heavily revised

FAA Revises GPS/GNSS Interference, Spoofing Guidance

Charles Alcock

New developments at FBOs including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Trip support group says GTMx will eliminate inefficient communications to save time

UAS Launches GTMx Mobile-first Trip Planning Platform

Amy Wilder

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Guide covers eligibility and application submission procedures

Nimbl Guide Explains FAA Streamlined LOA Process

Brokers can request pricing and scheduling from multiple MRO providers

Alpha Wingman PPI Integrates with IADA Broker Portal

BBGA and EBAA have agreed to discontinue dual membership agreement 

British Bizav Group, Now 50, Marks Industry Agility

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

In this article

World Fuel Services

Universal Weather and Aviation

More In Operations

EBAA Successfully Reforms Membership Voting Structure

Newly ratified system offers one vote for all members

FAA Revises GPS/GNSS Interference, Spoofing Guidance

NBAA encourages members to read guidance, saying it was heavily revised

UAS Launches GTMx Mobile-first Trip Planning Platform

Trip support group says GTMx will eliminate inefficient communications to save time

Nimbl Guide Explains FAA Streamlined LOA Process

Guide covers eligibility and application submission procedures

Alpha Wingman PPI Integrates with IADA Broker Portal

Brokers can request pricing and scheduling from multiple MRO providers

British Bizav Group, Now 50, Marks Industry Agility

BBGA and EBAA have agreed to discontinue dual membership agreement

WingX Highlights Variations in European Bizav Resilience

Milan tops the tables of bizav destinations, but post-pandemic recovery unequal across Europe

GGT Unveils Security Platform for Business Aviation

Intelligence monitoring covers 195 countries

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