FINN Partners Named PR Agency of Record for Textron Aviation's 2026 Special Olympics Airlift
Why It MattersThe appointment underscores how business aviation manufacturers use community-focused campaigns to build public visibility for general aviation beyond commercial channels.
FINN Partners has been selected by Textron Aviation Inc. as its public relations agency of record for the 2026 Special Olympics Airlift and other key company initiatives, the firms announced on September 4, 2026. FINN Partners will provide media relations support and strategic counsel aimed at raising awareness of general aviation's impact on everyday life.
The Special Olympics Airlift is described as the world's largest peacetime airlift. In June 2026, the effort brought together the Cessna and Beechcraft business aviation communities to transport more than 800 athletes and coaches to the 2026 Special Olympics Games at no cost to participants, with volunteer pilots and aircraft owners donating their time, fuel and aircraft to cover travel costs and remove logistical barriers.
FINN Partners supported the campaign through targeted tier-1 media relations efforts, generating nearly 120 stories and nearly 2 billion media impressions in June alone, with coverage including features in USA TODAY and from The Associated Press. Karli Barokas, Managing Partner at FINN Partners, said the firm built its aviation practice on the principle that behind every flight there is a human story that connects us all, adding that Textron Aviation's commitment to community offers an incredible canvas for meaningful storytelling.
Textron Aviation Inc. is a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) and operates under the Beechcraft, Cessna, Hawker and Pipistrel brands. FINN Partners, founded in 2011, has grown to nearly $200 million in fees and operates more than 1,300 professionals across 38 offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
