Pilatus Halts US Business Jet Deliveries Over New Tariffs

Swiss aircraft manufacturer Pilatus has temporarily halted deliveries of its PC-12 and PC-24 business jets to the United States due to steep new U.S. tariffs of 39%, which have created a significant competitive disadvantage. The U.S. is a key market for Pilatus, accounting for around 40% of its annual production, making the tariffs a major disruption to its business and causing uncertainty among customers. Pilatus plans to accelerate local production efforts in the U.S., including expanding its assembly plant in Florida and utilizing its Colorado site, with the goal of manufacturing all U.S.-bound aircraft domestically in the medium term. Existing customer relationships and service activities in the U.S. will continue uninterrupted despite the delivery halt. The company is considering reallocating aircraft to other markets but acknowledges logistical challenges, and it is exploring workforce adjustments to protect jobs amid the uncertainty. Despite the challenges, Pilatus remains financially solid with a robust global order backlog, and it is also focusing on strengthening its military training aircraft segment as an additional revenue source.