The WINGX Report

COVID crisis precipitates record low levels of monthly flight activity

The Covid crisis set off a dramatic fall in business aviation flight activity in March, with 36% fewer flights than in March 2019, some 23K fewer sectors year on year, taking the total Q1 trend down by 12% vs Q1 2019. The last 12-month trend has slipped down to -3%.

According to WINGX`s latest monthly Business Aviation Monitor published today, March 2020 marked the lowest level of monthly activity in Europe in the last 15 years, 32% below the trough level recorded in the wake of the financial crisis back in 2009.

All the leading markets saw a very large drop in departures, with France seeing the largest absolute decline, over 3K sectors, and Italy relatively most affected, flights down 71%.

Across the busiest European cities for business aviation, London airports saw 22% decline, Paris 45% decline, Milan more than 70% decline. The biggest declines across these and other leading airports were felt in large cabin aircraft, these movements down by at least 40% YOY.

The Charter market was affected slightly less than Private flights, but still lost 30% of YOY activity. Sweden, Russia and Greece were the least affected, with the latter actually seeing a YOY increase in flight activity.

The trends in business jet flights between Europe and other regions of the world varied, with at least 30% declines in connections with Middle East and North America, a modest decline in connections with Asia, slightly improved on February, and an increase in flight connections with South America.

Large cabin jet activity declined more than any other segment in March, notably Ultra and Heavy jets. Super Light activity was down by slightly less, 24% fewer flight YOY.

Biggest drops in activity this month showed up on F, OE, N, LN registers, with N Register activity falling 50% or more. OE and D Register activity was down by relatively less than others.

There were very substantial declines at almost all the busiest business aviation airports in Europe in March-20. Top airport LFPB saw departures fall 45% YOY. UUWW, EGKB, LEPA, LEMG were relatively less affected during month.

The declines applied across all aircraft categories, although lighter aircraft were less negatively affected. Large jet activity fell >50% at Le Bourget, Nice, Vienna and Schonefeld.

Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX, comments: “The 30% fall in flights this month marked the lowest monthly level of activity in the last 15 years, and furthermore the full month trend significantly understates the trending decline which was closer to 70% in the second half of March. Indeed, in the first half of March, charter operators benefited from strong growth in repatriation demand, but by the end of the month all operator types were suffering similarly very steep levels of decline. We anticipate continued very high levels of reduction in YOY flights through April.”

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
Kiebitzhof 6 | Building G
22089 Hamburg
Germany.

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

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 9th April 2020 | Issue #552

Share this article