AIN Editor-in-chief Matt Thurber To Retire in October

Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief of AIN Media Group for the past nine years, is retiring at the end of October. His career as a widely respected aviation journalist spans four decades, including three spells with the AIN team. Previously, Thurber served as editor of Aviation Maintenance magazine and as an associate editor at Flying magazine.

At AIN, Thurber has been an exceptionally prolific journalist, contributing widely to all AIN Media Group publications. In addition to the day-to-day business aviation news beat, his work includes in-depth coverage of avionics, maintenance, training, safety, operations, rotorcraft, and myriad other topics.

Thurber is also an experienced pilot, holding an ATP pilot certificate as well as airplane and helicopter commercial pilot certificates. He is an instrument flight instructor and holds type ratings in the Gulfstream G550 and Cessna Citation 500 series. Additionally, Thurber holds an A&P mechanic certificate.

These qualifications have opened doors for Thurber to file expert pilot reports on multiple aircraft types. He has also been a frequent contributor to AIN Media Group’s Business Jet Traveler publication for private aviation consumers. Thurber has been honored with the NBAA Gold Wing Award for Journalism and multiple Aerospace Media Awards.

Thurber’s aviation pedigree dates to 1975, when he first started flying. He subsequently trained and worked as an A&P mechanic, as well as acting as an instructor at a flight school in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the early 1980s. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

“Matt is a true legend of aviation journalism, and his contributions as AIN’s editor-in-chief have been foundational to its ongoing reputation for high-quality, independent coverage of the industry,” said AIN Media Group chairman emeritus Wilson Leach. “He has always preserved the editorial principles established by our founding editor Jim Holahan—prioritizing insight, discernment, and background knowledge to serve our readers with objective news coverage clearly presented. We will most miss his insightful advice and commentary, camaraderie, and wry sense of humor.”

In retirement, Thurber intends to spend more time with his wife, Esther, and their two children, as well as working on three aircraft projects near his home in Vancouver, Washington. He also plans to keep flying whatever aircraft he can get his hands on.

“Covering the aviation industry, and especially the vibrant business aviation community, has been the highlight of my career,” Thurber commented. “I so appreciate the many kindnesses that everyone has shown me over the years, helping me learn and understand more than I ever thought possible about safety, flying various types of aircraft, and maintaining the highest levels of quality, both in writing and aviating.” 

At NBAA-BACE 2026 in Las Vegas on Wednesday, October 21, the AIN team will mark Thurber’s impending retirement with an open-to-all reception at the company’s booth (1925, West Hall) from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.