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September activity shows more erosion in the small and mid-cabin market

There were 80,113 business aviation departures in Europe during September 2019 according to WINGX`s latest monthly Business Aviation Monitor published today.

The figure is slightly up on August, but 2% down YOY, with a 2.3% decline in business jet sectors - especially in Private sectors. Three quarters of the way through 2019, market activity is down by 2%.

There was some growth in flight activity in France, but big YOY drops in departures from Germany and Spain. Flight activity was well up out of Greece. YTD 2019, the market is flat in the top market - France - and declining most in Germany.

Some growth in flight activity in France, but big drops in Germany, Spain. Flight activity was well up out of Greece. YTD, the market is flat in top market France, declining most in Germany.

Aircraft

Small and Mid activity slipped by 3% this month, with sizeable declines in Germany and also Austria. There was some growth in the UK for business jets. In France the growth came in turboprop flights. Large jet activity was down 1% this month.

Charter activity saw robust growth in France, Greece and Norway, and 2% growth in the UK. Charters in Germany fell 5%. Private flights up >35% in Greece, but down by 12% in Spain.

Airports

Flight activity out of London was just 1% down, and only in Small-Mid jets. In contrast, there were sizeable declines from Paris. Zurich and especially Cannes had growth in Large Jet departures.

Flights within Europe are down by 2% in September. In contrast, flights from Europe to North America increased by 9% YOY and were up 3% YTD. Departures to Asia-Pacific are down 11% YTD.

78% of SMJ flights in September were Charter/AOC and these were up by 10% YOY. Private flights were down in all segments, most notably in VLJ, ELJ and Bizliner.

Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) activity was down by 9%, taking the YTD trend to -8%. Nice Cote D'Azur (LFMN) had a slight decline, with Geneva (LSGG) and London Luton (EGGW) gaining some flights. Farnborough (EGLF) activity was up by 15% YOY.

Charter/AOC traffic is trending down by 5% and more at LFPB, LFMN, LSGG this year, but last 12-month trends are up 4% at EGLF. Ibiza (LEIB) Charters are down 8% in 2019. Ruzyne, Czech Republic (LKPR) trends +6% in the last 12-months.

Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX, comments: “September’s flight activity shows the continuation in steady erosion in business aviation demand compared to 2018. Across the fleet, the pattern is uneven, with Small and Midsize jet activity taking a battering, especially from the largest markets in Western and Central Europe. This drop-off appears to align with the manufacturing slump in the Eurozone. There are still some bright sparks in the flight activity analysis, not least Farnborough’s continued stellar growth as its ownership passes to new hands.”

WINGX is a data research and consulting company based in Hamburg, Germany. WINGX analysis provides actionable market intelligence for the business aviation industry. Services include: Market Intelligence Briefings, Customised Research, Strategic Consulting, Market Surveys. WINGX customers range from aircraft operators, OEMs, airlines, maintenance providers, airports, fixed base operators, fuel providers, regulators, legal advisors, leasing companies, banks, investors and private jet users.

WINGX GmbH
Conventstr. 8 - 10 | Building A
D - 22089 Hamburg
Germany.

+49 40 32 84 69 78 phone | +49 40 32 84 69 79 fax

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 3rd October 2019 | Issue #527