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

World Kinect, the parent company of World Fuel Services, has completed the purchase of Universal Weather and Aviation’s trip-support services division. The deal was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2025-09-03/world-kinect-makes-major-deal-universal-weather-aviation">announced</a> in early September.
Universal is one of the pioneers in the trip-support market, with a global network of content specialists in international travel regulations, logistics, and supply-chain management, coordinated through the company’s Houston headquarters. It has helped thousands of business and general aviation operators navigate the challenges of international travel and operational logistics.
“Trip Support Services is highly complementary to our core fuel offering,” explained World Kinect president and CEO&nbsp;Ira Birns. “With this acquisition, we are now able to serve a larger, more diverse base of aviation customers, creating new opportunities to deliver broader solutions to drive future growth.”&nbsp;
According to the terms of the approximately $220 million deal, the sale included the Universal Weather and Aviation brand name, as well as the agreements that Universal has made with third-party ground handlers worldwide.
“We are excited to welcome Universal Weather’s [trip support services] team to World Kinect,” added World Kinect COO John Rau. “By expanding our service capabilities, we’re making it even easier for our aviation customers—whether World Kinect or those joining from Universal—to plan, fuel, and fly with confidence, anywhere in the world.”&nbsp;

World Kinect Completes Universal Weather's Trip Support Division Purchase

The $220 million deal was first announced in September

World Kinect completes a major acquisition to expand its trip support services portfolio.

World Kinect Completes Trip Support Business Purchase

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

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.

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.

Customers can view and analyze historical information back to 2011. 

FlightAware Deepens Data Access for AeroAPI Users

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

SAF use at company headquarters in Savannah is set to grow 50% this year

Gulfstream’s Fleet Flies More than 3 Million Miles on SAF

Charles Alcock

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

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

Travel management specialist launches new service for Part 91 operators

MyFlight Advisor Handles Flight Department Scheduling 

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.

Keynote celebrated aviation’s people and purpose

NBAA-BACE Keynote Highlights Safety, Unity

Company describes it as the “future of aviation intelligence”

JetNet Unveils AI-driven Data Platform

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

FL3XX’s Crew App now features Slack-style chat function

Chat Function Rolled Out to Streamline Bizav Comms

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

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.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

More In Operations

FlightAware Deepens Data Access for AeroAPI Users

Customers can view and analyze historical information back to 2011.

Gulfstream’s Fleet Flies More than 3 Million Miles on SAF

SAF use at company headquarters in Savannah is set to grow 50% this year

MyFlight Advisor Handles Flight Department Scheduling

Travel management specialist launches new service for Part 91 operators

NBAA-BACE Keynote Highlights Safety, Unity

Keynote celebrated aviation’s people and purpose

JetNet Unveils AI-driven Data Platform

Company describes it as the “future of aviation intelligence”

Chat Function Rolled Out to Streamline Bizav Comms

FL3XX’s Crew App now features Slack-style chat function

Aircraft Owner Groups Deliver Many Benefits for Members

Recent developments include new insurance underwriters targeting safety-minded owners

Universal Wx Evolves Trip Support Communications

The company's new uvGO Tasks promises to cut through endless emails

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