With 78,785 departures - up
5.5% YOY - August was the peak month so far in 2017 according to WINGX`s
latest monthly Business Aviation Monitor.
The figure took the YTD trend
to 3.3%, representing an additional 18,047 flights compared to 2016.
Overall, August-2017 was the busiest ever August for flight activity,
exceeding August 2008 by 1.3%.
The four countries adding
most growth this month were France, UK, Italy and Spain. 7% YOY growth in
departures from France was reflected in a 9.5% jump in domestic flights.
France is now trending at +1% YTD, up on average 147 flights per month.
In the UK, Italy, Spain and
Switzerland, activity growth came in double-digit increases in AOC activity.
Private flight activity fell in UK and Switzerland whilst Germany was
Europe’s 2nd busiest market this month, with strongest growth coming in
Private flights.
There was significant growth
in South-East Europe, with flights from Turkey up by 14%, and from Greece,
growth of 19%. YTD-2017, business aviation activity in Greece is up by 15%.
AOC activity was up by 25% YOY in Greece this month.
Whilst flights in Southern
Europe grew more than 10% this month, activity in Eastern Europe was up by
6%, and flights into Europe from Russia increased by 5% YOY. So far this
year, inbound flights from the CIS region are up by 0.1% compared to last
year.
Activity trend by City |
 |
London's 13 airports had 9%
growth. Activity at Athens airport was up by 18% YOY. |
Aircraft
Small Jet activity, which is
trending above 5% on a Last 12 Month basis, was well up this month, +4% in
Super Light segment, +9% in Light Jet, and +15% in Very Light Jet. All but
MSJ and ELJ segments had some growth this month.
Large-cabin and long-range
aircraft activity was well up in August, with the ULR segment gaining 14%,
and the more numerous Heavy Jet activity up by 8%. Heavy Jet AOC activity
was up by 18% YOY. Super Midsize flights are up by 9% YTD-2017.
Private flight activity saw
3% growth this month, the highest so far this year. The most frequently
operated aircraft for Owner flights was the PC-12, activity up by 15% YOY.
The Citation Mustang flew 35% more Private flights YOY.
Airports
Nice was the busiest single
airport this month, with over 9% YOY growth, 16% in AOC traffic. London was
the busiest city for business aviation aircraft activity, with 15% of the
flights from 13 different airports in Medium Jet category, this activity up
by 18% YOY.
Richard Koe,
Managing Director of WINGX Advance, comments: “Business aviation activity in
Europe is finally overhauling its pre-crisis peak, with flight volumes this
month exceeding August 2008 by 1.5%. The growth is clearly focused around
flights in and out of Southern Europe, this activity up by more than 10% YOY.
Heavy Jets such as the Legacy 600 and Light Jets such as Phenom 300 and
Mustang are doing the hard work, with most of the growth coming in demand
from Charter customers.”
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WINGX
Advance is a data research and consulting
company based in Hamburg, Germany. WINGX
analysis provides actionable market intelligence
for the business aviation industry. WINGX
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.