Writer

Charlotte Bailey

Piaggio Aerospace has launched a mission to revitalize “every single aspect of the business,” as the Italian manufacturer prepares to introduce its new P.180 Avanti NX model. The group's new Turkish owner Baykar is investing to boost its support infrastructure and capabilities.
Speaking to AIN at the Aero Friedrichshafen show last week Piaggio's newly-appointed chief of design and brand Alberto Caruso said Baykar's backing is reenergizing opportunities for its distinctive twin pusherprop aircraft.&nbsp;With the acquisition <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-07-01/baykar-completes-piaggio-aerospace-acquisition">formally completed</a> in July 2025, the challenge ahead now lies in rebuilding customer trust and strengthening not just Piaggio’s product range but for support activities too. 
According to Caruso, “the core issue has been the service,” with Piaggio having “lost trust from the markets” during a six-year administrative restructuring process. This was initiated back in 2018 when its previous major shareholder, the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, withdrew. 
“They invested a lot in facilities, but [regarding] the products, their focus was on the [uncrewed P.1HH HammerHead] military conversion of the P.180,” Caruso explained. While maintaining that&nbsp;the drone derivative of the P.180 was “technically a great product, he acknowledged it had not found its place in the market at a time when the company "really lost the focus on the business aviation and special missions.”&nbsp;
Baykar—a drone specialist—will continue to develop UAVs via a separate joint venture with Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo. However, Caruso believes Piaggio is now better placed to anticipate its civilian market’s needs: focusing on the best trajectory “without jumping on unrealistic products.” 
<h2>P.180 Avanti: Past, Present and Future </h2>
To best support its existing and future customer base, Piaggio is focused on “reactivating fundamental partnerships” to up capacity and build resilience in its supply chain. This includes Rheinland Air Service which was appointed as an authorized service center less than a month ago, having worked on more than 40 aircraft in the last two years alone. In the U.S, Oklahoma-based Intercontinental Jet Services will also serve a market largely comprised of pilot owner-operators. 
While Caruso believes there is a “certain misconception on the [Avanti’s] turboprop,” the P.180’s “jet-like” performance and efficiency – offering in excess of 700 kilometres an hour, and a range of up to 3,150 kilometres (1700 nm) – is nevertheless key to its customer appeal. “It’s really important we educate the market about the product,” he suggested. “I think the P.180 has never really been understood.” 
In February, Piaggio revealed its NX configuration: promising upgraded avionics, enhanced interiors, WiFi connectivity, and potential engine upgrades. An undisclosed European operator placed the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2026-04-23/piaggio-receives-launch-order-avanti-nx">first two orders</a> for the revamped variant during the show, which Caruso suggested could take a conservative time span of around three to four years to bring to market.

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Piaggio Aero Knows It Needs to Up Its Aircraft Product Support Game

Revamped Avanti NX pusherprop just one element of wider Baykar-backed revamp 

Piaggio is on a mission to revitalize maintenance, repair and overhaul provision as the Baykar-backed company launches its updated P.180 Avanti NX. 


Piaggio Knows It Needs to Up Its Product Support Game

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

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.

Execaire Aviation will provide line maintenance in Toronto

Embraer Expands Canadian Authorized Service Network

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Facility expansion adds 1,000 sq m this year

Textron Aviation Plans European Parts Facility Expansion

Charles Alcock

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

JSSI group now includes aviation finance, software and parts distribution

Hourly Mx Specialist Broadens Business Aviation Support 

Approval covers airframe and Rolls-Royce BR725 engines

ExecuJet Malaysia Gets Vietnam G650ER MRO Approval

Kerry Lynch

Agreement valued at $300 million over the next five years

Bombardier, Vista Sign Smart Parts Services Agreement

Matt Thurber

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

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.

First turboshaft MRO capability at the Asia-Pacific base

P&WC Expands Singapore Helicopter, T-prop Support

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

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

European Spotlight with Aero Friedrichshafen 2026

In this article

Piaggio P.180

Piaggio

More In Maintenance and Modifications

Embraer Expands Canadian Authorized Service Network

Execaire Aviation will provide line maintenance in Toronto

Textron Aviation Plans European Parts Facility Expansion

Facility expansion adds 1,000 sq m this year

Hourly Mx Specialist Broadens Business Aviation Support

JSSI group now includes aviation finance, software and parts distribution

ExecuJet Malaysia Gets Vietnam G650ER MRO Approval

Approval covers airframe and Rolls-Royce BR725 engines

Bombardier, Vista Sign Smart Parts Services Agreement

Agreement valued at $300 million over the next five years

P&WC Expands Singapore Helicopter, T-prop Support

First turboshaft MRO capability at the Asia-Pacific base

Texas-based Aviation Company Expands to the Northeast

Purchase of MAC Air Group strengthens Black Forest Ventures’ aircraft maintenance capabilities

Columbia Air Tapped for Daher Kodiak Sales and Service

Company adds utility turboprop to its portfolio

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN