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

In a move that aims to strengthen its presence in the high-end European travel market, car rental provider Sixt has formed an agreement with Signature Aviation to introduce its services directly into its FBOs, starting with more than 30 locations in the region.
Signature’s customers will gain access to Sixt’s premium fleet, which includes luxury sedans and SUVs, including ramp-side delivery where permitted. To ensure a seamless transition from air to ground, vehicle reservations will be coordinated primarily through Signature Aviation. At the participating locations, Sixt will deliver vehicles to the respective location, with Signature staff managing the final handover to the customer.
Also available are one-way rentals between private aviation terminals and commercial airports, with dedicated handling and priority service for repeat guests.
“Our guests expect a consistent, high-quality experience at every touchpoint of their journey,” said Rick Elieson, Signature’s senior v-p for commercial strategy and guest experience. “By aligning our European network of private aviation terminals with Sixt’s premium rental services, we are enhancing the continuity between air and ground travel. This partnership strengthens our ability to provide reliable, service-driven solutions that meet the expectations of private aviation guests in EMEA.”
The partnership launches at 31 Signature locations across Europe. It includes key private aviation hubs in the UK (such as London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, and Edinburgh), Italy (including Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, Rome Ciampino, Venice, and Naples), France (Paris Le Bourget and Nice), Germany (Munich), Greece (Athens, Heraklion, and Thessaloniki), Switzerland (Geneva and Sion), and Ireland (Dublin and Shannon).
“Partnering with Signature Aviation expands our international presence within the private aviation sector,” explained Vinzenz Pflanz, Sixt’s chief business officer at SIXT. “This collaboration reflects our continued focus on further international growth and on connecting ground mobility more closely with established aviation infrastructures.”

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

Signature Aviation, Sixt Car Rental Partner in Europe

New service will debut at 31 locations

Signature Aviation and car rental provider Sixt have formed a partnership to integrate European operations.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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