Bombardier’s Strong Q3, Wheels Up’s Factory-New Phenoms and Rising U.S. Jet Fuel Prices

Bombardier’s quarter was services-led

Bombardier reported third-quarter 2026 revenues of $2.4 billion, up 3% year over year, and delivered 33 aircraft. Its Services business set a record at $701 million, up 19%. Adjusted EBITDA rose 7% to $382 million, with the margin at 16.1% against 15.4% a year earlier. The backlog stood at $22.2 billion as at 30 September, on a unit book-to-bill of 1.7x, and free-cash-flow guidance for 2026 was raised again to greater than $1.3 billion. For charter clients, a strong OEM services book usually means parts and maintenance capacity stay available as the fleet flies harder.

Wheels Up buys factory-new Phenoms

Wheels Up signed a definitive agreement with Embraer for six factory-new Phenom 300E premium jets for delivery in the second half of 2027 — its first direct purchase of new aircraft from Embraer. The jets will join the 29 Phenom 300/300E and 15 Bombardier Challenger 300 series aircraft in its premium controlled fleet, arriving with satellite Wi-Fi already installed to match fleets that are 100% satellite Wi-Fi-equipped. The Signature membership program has welcomed more than 1,500 members in its first year. More controlled light-cabin capacity tends to ease peak-day availability for short-haul trips.

U.S. Jet A and avgas keep climbing

The U.S. national average for full-service Jet A reached $8.66 per gallon in October 2026, up 30 cents or 3.6% from September, across 3,367 FBOs and fuel providers in the iFlightPlanner sample. Full-service 100LL averaged $7.85, up 10 cents or 1.3% — the fourth consecutive monthly rise — while self-service 100LL averaged $6.82, up 15 cents or 2.3%. Nationwide, full-service Jet A is up 35.1% since February 2026, and full-service 100LL is up 22.1%. Fuel is a large share of trip cost: ask for an all-in quote that includes fuel, and lock it when you book.

Desk takeaway

OEM results and fractional fleet orders point to continued supply of cabin time, while U.S. fuel prices are still moving up. Compare all-in quotes carefully, and book early for peak weekends. Browse the empty-leg board, set empty-leg alerts for your routes and follow the market in Market Intelligence.

Verified data & source

Every quantitative statement below comes from one of three separately cited sources. The Bombardier figures are from its third-quarter 2026 press release via GlobeNewswire (5 November 2026); the Wheels Up Phenom order and fleet figures are from the Wheels Up press release (5 November 2026); and the U.S. Jet A and 100LL averages are from AVweb (3 November 2026, citing iFlightPlanner data from 3,367 FBOs), with AIN (3 November 2026) corroborating the Jet A move. Figures are reported exactly as published; nothing is blended or derived.

Key verified statements (Bombardier press release via GlobeNewswire, 5 November 2026; Wheels Up press release, 5 November 2026; AVweb, 3 November 2026 (citing iFlightPlanner); AIN, 3 November 2026):

• Bombardier reported third-quarter 2026 revenues of $2.4 billion, up 3% year over year (Bombardier press release via GlobeNewswire, 5 November 2026).
• Bombardier delivered 33 aircraft in the third quarter of 2026 (Bombardier press release, 5 November 2026).
• Bombardier's Services business generated a record $701 million in third-quarter 2026 revenue, up 19% year over year (Bombardier press release, 5 November 2026).
• Bombardier's backlog as at 30 September 2026 reached $22.2 billion, reflecting a unit book-to-bill of 1.7x for the quarter (Bombardier press release, 5 November 2026).
• Bombardier's adjusted EBITDA increased 7% year over year to $382 million in the third quarter of 2026, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.1% compared with 15.4% a year earlier (Bombardier press release, 5 November 2026).
• Bombardier further raised its 2026 free cash flow guidance to greater than $1.3 billion (Bombardier press release, 5 November 2026).
• Wheels Up Experience Inc. signed a definitive agreement with Embraer to purchase six factory-new Phenom 300E premium jets for delivery in the second half of 2027, its first-ever direct purchase of new aircraft from Embraer (Wheels Up press release, 5 November 2026).
• The six newly purchased Phenom 300E aircraft will join the 29 Phenom 300/300E jets and 15 Bombardier Challenger 300 series aircraft that currently comprise Wheels Up's premium controlled fleet; the new aircraft will arrive with satellite Wi-Fi already installed, matching fleets that are 100% satellite Wi-Fi-equipped (Wheels Up press release, 5 November 2026).
• Wheels Up has welcomed more than 1,500 Signature members to the program in its first year since launch (Wheels Up press release, 5 November 2026).
• The U.S. national average for full-service Jet A reached $8.66 per gallon in October 2026, up 30 cents or 3.6% from September, according to iFlightPlanner data compiled from 3,367 FBOs and fuel service providers (AVweb, 3 November 2026; corroborated by AIN, 3 November 2026).
• The U.S. national average for full-service 100LL avgas reached $7.85 per gallon in October 2026, up 10 cents or 1.3% from September, the fourth consecutive monthly increase; self-service 100LL averaged $6.82 per gallon, up 15 cents or 2.3% (AVweb, 3 November 2026, citing iFlightPlanner).
• Nationwide full-service Jet A prices are up 35.1% since February 2026, and full-service 100LL is up 22.1% over the same period (AVweb, 3 November 2026, citing iFlightPlanner).

Frequently asked questions