WINGX Global Market Tracker

Business aviation activity inching back, still 55% below normal

Global business aviation activity is down by 55% through 19th May, compared to the same period of the month last year, according to WINGX`s weekly Global Market Tracker published today.

113,000 sectors flown worldwide this month compares to 254K sectors operated last year, a deficit of more than 141K sectors over the last 20 days. On average, 2,600 business aviation aircraft have been active globally each day this month, 44% of the average fleet normally employed.

But at least the moving 7-day average daily activity has steadily improved, from 4,800 flights on May 1st to 6,600 flights on May 19th. The low-point in business aviation activity in mid-April dropped below 3,700 daily flights. By contrast, global scheduled aviation activity is still close to trough levels, trending around 85% below normal operations.

Regions

By region, North America has hosted almost 80% of globally tracked business aviation flights in the month-to-date, activity trending 55% below normal. The European area is still further below, flights down by 62% this month, but has seen relatively the strongest regional recovery in the last fortnight. Flight activity in Oceania has improved by most since March, flights trending down by 31% this month, and South America is hovering at 35% below normal in May. Business aviation activity in Asia and Africa is down just over 50%.

The US and Canada are the two busiest countries for business aviation operations in May, with Australia next busiest due to turboprop volume. Excluding props, France, Germany and Mexico make up the top 5 countries in May 2020. Italy, Spain and the UK are the worst affected countries with well over 70% drops in flight activity this month. Compared to May-19, business aviation activity in Norway and Sweden is down by 29% and 19% respectively. Business aviation flights within Germany are down by ‘only’ 21%.

Aircraft

Almost 30% of business aviation activity this month has been operated by PC-12, Cessna 208 Caravan and King Air 200 aircraft. Busiest business jet platform has been the Challenger 300; almost 500 of these active this month, flight sectors 60% below normal. Heavy and Ultra Long-Range jets are still most affected segments, for example Embraer Legacy 600 activity down by 75% this month, although Gulfstream GV/500 flights are down by less than 20%.

Managing Director Richard Koe comments: “The improvement in daily activity levels is encouraging, as is the higher fleet employment, but it’s too early to see if this demand is resilient, or simply reflects the slight relaxation in government lockdown. The trajectory of virus suppression policy seems to indicate that international and especially intercontinental travel will be slowest to recover. This will exaggerate the importance of the already dominant US business aviation market. In Europe, the German and Scandinavian markets look most resilient, with turboprop aircraft in relatively high demand.”

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.

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BlueSky Business Aviation News | 21st May 2020 | Issue #558

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