Zenith Aviation (United Kingdom) (BZE, London Biggin Hill) entered administration on May 15.

Paul Hargreaves of Nexus Corporate Solutions, a firm specialising in insolvency and restructuring processes, has been appointed administrator. “The company is in an insolvent position due to cashflow issues, unpaid debtors, and historic ownership and management issues,” he told the newspaper The Herald.

A total of 41 jobs have been lost. Hargreaves said Zenith Aviation's position and options are now being evaluated. “We are assessing the assets of the company, assisting employees with claiming their statutory redundancy entitlements, and looking at options to include potential rescue, or buyout should that be appropriate.”

The development follows the company's acquisition by OPUL Jets (London Biggin Hill) in April 2025. OPUL Jets took over the company, its air operator's certificate (AOC), managed fleet, and Part 145 maintenance facility. “Holding a United Kingdom AOC is a vital asset in the current regulatory environment, particularly post-Brexit,” OPUL Jets said at the time.

However, on December 24, OPUL Jets ceased control of Zenith Aviation, with British national Touseef Tariq appointed as director. Following this, OPUL Jets does not hold an AOC. According to the company's website, aircraft available for charter are placed under the AOCs of SaxonAir Charter (SXN, Norwich International) and Av8jet (AJO, Malta International).

A spokesperson of the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority told ch-aviation that Zenith Aviation's AOC #2390 has been suspended. The certificate comprised two aircraft, including a 2004-built, seven-seat Learjet 40, G-UXLA (msn 45-2018), and a 2016-built, nine-seat Learjet 75, G-ZNTH (msn 75-085).

The Learjet 40 entered Zenith Aviation's AOC in September and remained active until October 27, flying between London Biggin Hill and Chester Hawarden. Meanwhile, the Learjet 75 was delivered brand new to the company and was last active on December 13, flying between Altenrhein and London Biggin Hill.

Zenith Aviation further owns a 2001-built, eight-seat Learjet 45, G-OJJP (msn 45-163). The aircraft was added to Zenith Aviation's fleet in mid-2025, but never entered service, having been stored at Biggin Hill since April 2024.

Another 2001-built, nine-seat Learjet 45, G-SOVB (msn 45-138), was operated by Zenith Aviation between late 2013 and September 2025. This aircraft joined the fleet of air ambulance and executive charter specialist 247 Aviation (EMC, Belfast City) in March 2026 and entered service in late April.