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

Luxaviation subsidiary ExecuJet has forged a partnership with Azerbaijan-based aviation services provider Silk Way AFEZCO to develop a new FBO at Alat International Airport, under development just south of the Azerbaijani capital Baku. The Silk Way Group division is tasked with developing sustainable aviation and logistics infrastructure in the Alat Free Economic Zone.
For ExecuJet, which operates a global FBO network, this will mark its first presence in Azerbaijan, a strategic crossroads between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The country is also experiencing rapid growth in its energy, commerce, and tourism sectors, driving demand for private aviation solutions.
Construction of the facility—which draws design inspiration from ExecuJet’s flagship FBO at Dubai Al Maktoum International Airport (OMDW)—is expected to begin by year-end, with an anticipated opening in early 2027.
The two companies have also signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a joint venture in the economic zone to create a comprehensive aviation services hub to elevate the country's role in global business aviation.
“This is a milestone partnership for Luxaviation and Execujet as we expand into the Azerbaijan market,” said Luxaviation Group CEO Patrick Hansen. “By combining Silk Way AFEZCO’s strong regional expertise with our global experience in premium FBO and aircraft management services, we are setting new benchmarks for quality, efficiency, and customer hospitality in the Caspian region.”
As part of the agreement, Luxaviation Group will manage Silk Way AFEZCO’s new Gulfstream G500, the first of its kind in the country.
"The FBO at Alat International Airport and the joint venture at AFEZ will provide unmatched services for operators and passengers alike," noted Silk Way AFEZCO CEO Jawad Dbila. "Alongside the introduction of our new Gulfstream G500 under ExecuJet's management, we are investing in the future of aviation in our country."

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