Business Aviation Monitor – October 2018

Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX Advance, comments:

“October may have been less busy than the pre-GFC high, but it´s by far the busiest month since then, with 5% growth picking up on the last 12-month trend of 3%. The trend would be much higher but for the collapse in VLJ activity since the demise of Blink. Super Midsize activity was up 12%, and Ultra Long-Range flights were up 9%, with close to 20% growth in AOC flights on these aircraft. Despite this, most of the market growth came on short trips, and small cabin jets had the most overall demand, with Light Jet Charters up almost 10% in the last 12 months.”

77,197 business aviation departures in Europe this month, up by 5% YOY, and up 12% from the post-GFC trough in Oct-16, although still less than back at the peak in Oct-2007. Business jet activity had 60% share of flights this month and is up 4% YOY vs Oct-17.

All the top 6 markets had some growth this month, with Germany adding most, flights up by 8%, taking YTD trend to +6%. Italy was flat, UK departures up 3%, France and Switzerland gaining 5%, and flights from Spain up by 11% YOY.

Some declines this month in Turkey, -4% YOY and now -5% YTD, and Poland, this month´s activity down by 10%. 7% growth in Czech Republic, 9% in Greece, 12% from Netherlands, 24% growth in Finland. Overall, European activity is up by 3.2% YTD 2018.

Small and Medium size jets had most growth this month, sectors up by 5%, +7% from Italy, +8% from France, +9% from Germany. Large Jet activity is up just 1%, down 2% from UK, although strong trends out of Germany, +11%, and Spain, growing 17% YOY.

Robust growth in business aviation flights within Europe, up by 4.9% YOY this month. The transatlantic market is coming back, up 10% this month against a negative YTD trend of -1%. Arrivals from Middle East were down 2%, from Africa, up 15% YOY.

Both AOC and Private activities were up by 5% this month, with a slightly stronger trend in Business Jet owner flights, showing some comeback in Q4. Germany and Spain added most Charter flights YOY, whereas Greece and UK were well up in Private flights.

Strong trends in SLJ and SMJ segments in Oct, with 9% and 12% YOY gains respectively. ULR, Midsize and Light Jet activity is up 7% this month, whereas VLJ activity dropped 18%, mainly in AOC Charter. VLJ and MSJ activity -4% and -6% respectively in L12M.

Of the leading OEM fleets, Dassault and Gulfstream flight activity was down, Cessna aircraft activity slightly up, mostly Private, and Embraer activity well up, mainly in Heavy Jet. Of all aircraft types, Diamond Twin Star had most growth this month.

Nice saw some decline in YOY activity as the summer season tailed off. Le Bourget continues to see very strong growth, movements up 13% YOY on a 9% YTD growth trend. Farnborough maintaining very strong