European business aviation grows for the first time in almost two years

news
0
SHARE:

EBAA reports a 0.2 per cent year-on-year growth for European business aviation movements in August 2013.
EBAA Challenger 300

According to EBAA, European business aviation flights increased in August 2013 for the first time since September 2011.

Business aviation movements within the European Union increased by 0.2 per cent in August 2013, when compared with last year, to end a 22-month streak of negative growth.

Although the growth only translates to an additional 122 movements – up from 56,200 to 56,312 – the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) is relieved to finally report an increase for the industry for the first time since September 2011.

According to Eurocontrol, there were a total of 618,657 business aviation movements in Europe between September 2012 and August 2013, which still reflects a year-on-year decrease of 4.1 per cent.

In August 2013, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Sweden and Norway all saw monthly pick-ups in daily business aviation flights. The latter three have also experienced year-to-date growth, with Norway’s 6.1 per cent increase leading the pack.

Italy has experienced the biggest decreases throughout the year so far. Its daily average of 70.2 internal business aviation flights – only 15 more than Norway – reflects a negative growth of 9.5 per cent. Elsewhere, the number of flights in Germany has remained largely static.

In the UK, there was an average number of 96.9 flights per day throughout August to reflect a 5.9 per cent monthly decrease and a year-to-date drop of 8 per cent. Daily departures at London Luton Airport fell by 19.4 per cent in August while there was a 14.7 per cent decrease at Farnborough Airport. Both airports have small experienced year-to-date decreases.

Airports including: Nice Côte d’Azur (France); Geneva International (Switzerland); Olbia Costa Smeralda (Italy); Ibiza (Spain), Cannes Mandelieu (France) and Palma de Mallorca (Spain) all performed well by increasing their daily departures over August.

The EBAA will host a regional forum from 10-11 October 2013 in Istanbul to look at the opportunities for business aviation in Turkey and address whether the country’s economic potential is reflected in the development of its business aircraft.

SHARE: