WINGX Advance: Some recovery in Eurozone jet movements

There are some signs that demand for business jet flights in the Eurozone is recovering says Richard Koe, co-founder of WINGX.

There were 62,968 business aviation flight departures in Europe in April 2015, 519 fewer than in April 2014; a 0.8 per cent decline. Total flights for the first four months of 2015 are down 2.7 per cent on the same period in 2014.

Koe says France and Germany propped up the market, gaining 4 per cent. However this was largely driven by piston and turboprop aircraft. Business jets flew 57 per cent of all non-airline flights in Europe, with jet charters falling 3 per cent YOY.

“The trend so far in 2015 appears to indicate that 2014 was a false dawn on a generalized recovery in business aviation activity in Europe.”

The recent growth trend in the UK came off in April, with a 1 per cent slowdown. This was evident in diminished activity at Luton and Farnborough, although Biggin Hill was one of Europe´s faster growing airports for the month.

Collapse in business aviation activity in Eastern Europe and Russia continues, with flights inbound from the CIS down 26 per cent. Flights from Europe to Russia were down 20 per cent compared with 20 per cent in April. Since January traffic from Russia has been down by one quarter compared to 2014.

Flights were up in Turkey, the Czech Republic and Austria (where charter increased 8% compared to April 2014.) Inbound flights from North America were up 6%, from North Africa up 14%, from Asia-Pacific, up 18%.

Ultra long range aircraft continued to gain activity, maintaining a 6% rise in the last 12 months. Falcon 7X ULR jets flew 14% more YOY. Gulfstream ULR jets flew less, for example Gulfstream V/500 activity was down 6% this month.

Very light jet activity slumped in April, down 11% in flight hours, mostly due to fewer Owner flights. Overall, the light jet segment flew less, but there were strong gains for certain types, including CJ1 and Phenom 300.

Richard Koe, managing director of WINGX Advance said: “The trend so far in 2015 appears to indicate that 2014 was a false dawn on a generalized recovery in business aviation activity in Europe. The CIS market´s collapse is the main factor, although it´s clear that business jet activity has also weakened in the Eurozone.”

“There has been a resurgence in turboprop and piston activity, which flatters the picture in Germany and France. There are other growth pockets, with the ultra-long range segment resilient, Embraer aircraft usage still climbing, and a strong rebound in super midsize charter activity,“ added Koe.

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