Pilatus Resumes U.S. Deliveries Despite Tariff Penalty

After previously announcing a temporary halt to U.S. deliveries of its PC-12 single-engine turboprop and PC-24 twinjet in August, due to 39% tariffs imposed on Swiss products by the U.S. government, Pilatus has committed to resuming deliveries to U.S. customers. Earlier this week, Pilatus handed over the first PC-12 Pro for a U.S. customer.

A Pilatus spokesman told AIN, “For the time being, Pilatus will honor its contractual responsibilities towards its U.S. clients and dealers by ensuring deliveries to the USA until the end of 2025. PC-12 and PC-24 ferry flights to the USA have therefore resumed. Intensive discussions have been held with U.S. sales partners and end customers to seek transition solutions with regard to handling trade tariffs.”

“In addition, the Pilatus final assembly plant in Colorado and the subsidiaries in the USA, which employ around 400 employees, need to be kept working at full capacity. The decision was therefore taken for this reason as well. Overall, however, this move will result in a considerable loss of earnings for Pilatus.”

Next year, Pilatus will open a new service center at Florida’s Sarasota International Airport (KSRQ). Eventually, the company plans to build a final assembly plant there for aircraft slated to go to buyers in North and South America.