‘Beginning in 2027, the company plans to limit event fees to a very small number of extraordinary-demand event categories,’ Signature said.
After growing pushback from private jet operators and brokers, FBO chain Signature Aviation is limiting special-event fees.
In a detailed report by Private Jet Card Comparisons in March 2025, industry executives expressed displeasure with higher fees for tentpole events.
They also complained that those fees were being extended to regular-season NFL games, conventions like World of Concrete in Las Vegas, and holiday weekends.
The news came as part of a rollout of a new pricing program called Signature Access.
In the release, the world’s largest FBO chain said, “Beginning in 2027, the company plans to limit event fees to a very small number of extraordinary-demand event categories and provide visibility into any applicable locations and pricing at least 30 days in advance, providing guests with greater clarity and consistency.”
Events with the additional fees will include Super Bowl LXI in Los Angeles and the College Football Playoff National Championship in Las Vegas.
The list also includes Art Basel Miami and the US Open Tennis Championships.
Fees will apply during the Nations General Assembly in New York.
Formula 1 race weekends in Miami, Montréal, Austin, and Las Vegas will see extra charges.
“Beyond 2027, Signature will continue to evaluate events based on extraordinary demand levels and will communicate any applicable locations and pricing at least 30 days in advance,” the company said.
Industry officials had complained the fees were often imposed on short notice.
That meant operators and brokers had to communicate the extra cost – a pass-along to customers – after they booked.
Those flights and accommodations are often subject to 100% cancellation fees.
“We are grateful to the guests and operators whose perspectives helped shape Signature Access,” said Chief Commercial Officer Derek DeCross.
He continued, “Their feedback was instrumental in creating a clearer, more predictable pricing approach that gives guests greater visibility, flexibility, and control,” adding, “It also reflects our broader commitment to listening, innovating, and investing in an exceptional guest experience.”
Event fees for large jets at big events have typically risen to more than $20,000.
Smaller jets can expect multi-thousand-dollar fees for regular-season college football games.
Holiday weekends at resort locations fall somewhere in between.
Earlier this year during the NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers conference in Cleveland, when asked about his biggest concerns, Flexjet, Inc. Chairman told attendees, “Private equity. It’s driving up costs—maintenance, FBOs, everything.”
Signature, like rival Atlantic Aviation, is owned by private equity.
Last year, Airshare Vice President Chase Martin posted on LinkedIn:
‘[T]hese fees have gotten completely out of hand. I have no problem with a business charging additional costs to make sure they are able to operate in a safe and responsible manner, but prices for these Special Event fees are out of control. We are now seeing them show up for holiday weekends in the mountains, and I am sure we will continue to see them popping up more and more as time goes on. Flyer, beware!’
Craig Ross of Aviation Portfolio commented at the time, “When I started 25 years ago, there were no special event fees. You had to make a reservation for the Super Bowl or Masters, but there was no extra charge. Then, for the longest time, there were only extra fees for the Super Bowl and the Masters. The fees have expanded in the past two years and become much more expensive.”
Many programmatic contracts now specify that special event charges will be passed on.
READ: 21 extra charges that could be in your jet card contract
NBAA Acting COO Dan Hubbard said, “Having clear, upfront information about pricing and services allows operators to plan ahead and make informed decisions well before an aircraft arrives at an FBO.”
Hubbard continued, “With this new initiative, Signature Aviation appears to be taking a step toward the transparency that our operator members demand,” adding, “We will continue reviewing the program and look forward to additional feedback from operators after it has been fully implemented.”
Find the perfect solution for your private aviation needs
Save Time. Buy Confidently.
Receive an apples-to-apples comparison of programs that meet your needs from more than 500 jet card and fractional options covering 65 points of differentiation and over 75,000 data points.
