There was a decline in YOY business aviation flights from Europe in March 2018 according to WINGX`s latest monthly Business Aviation Monitor, with 3.6% fewer departures than in March 2017.

The business jet fleet operated 70% of all sectors with activity up 0.4% YOY; AOC/Charter saw gains of 6% gains, offsetting a 10% drop in Private flights.

Regions

Compared to March 2017, most of the biggest markets were down this month, with Germany, Italy and UK seeing the largest falls. Spain was an exception with 2.6% YOY growth. Apart from the UK, all the top European markets are still up YTD 2018.

In the smaller markets, activity dropped off by 11% in Belgium, by 18% in Turkey and Ireland. Russia’s outbound activity was flat, and there was >10% growth from Greece and Poland. Overall, business aviation flights within Europe were down by 4%.

International activity was largely down this month, with flights from Europe to North America falling 7%, and down 5% for departures to Asia-Pac. Flights from Europe to the Middle East were up by 2% YOY, and to Africa, up by 4%.

At the aggregate level, declines this month came from Private flights, which were down by 10% YOY, the biggest monthly drop since 2016. This heavy decline in owner flying was reflected across Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, France and UK.

AOC/Charter activity was up by 2% YOY, a slowdown in recent growth trend but maintaining monthly increases since 2016. Growth in these flights exceeded 5% in France, Switzerland and Spain, although some decline in Germany and UK.

March 2018: YOY Trend

Aircraft

Declines in business jet activity this month were marked in Large Aircraft categories, with >10% declines in Germany and Italy, although Large Jet departures grew 14% from Spain. Smaller Jet activity was up in Switzerland, Italy and France.

All the OEM fleets saw an overall decline in activity, except for Embraer and Pilatus, with the Phenom 300, Legacy 600 and PC12 all seeing strong YOY growth in activity. Strongest segment growth this month came from SMJ and ELJ, modest increase in SLJ & LJ.

Airports

Paris Le Bourget (LFPB) was the only leading airport to see some decline this month. Most airports were boosted by increase in AOC/Charter activity, offsetting the YOY declines in Private flights. Farnblorough (EGLF) had the stand-out growth this month, departures up by 18% vs March 2017.

Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX Advance, comments: “The fall-off in activity this month bucks the recent growth trend. This may reflect some wavering in the economic outlook, especially in the UK, but it may also be a specific effect such as the earlier Easter holiday this year. This month still had growth in AOC/Charter, especially in business jets, in contrast to the marked fall in Private missions. Some specific aircraft, notably Phenom 300, PC12 and Legacy 600, continue to get very strong growth in demand."

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.

WINGX Advance 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 | 12th April 2018 | Issue #459