Business Aviation Monitor – June 2018

As anticipated, this summer is seeing strong growth in business aviation activity, with activity levels finally back where they were a decade ago. Demand in Germany is providing much of the momentum, so too is the growth in flights to top Med resorts in Croatia, the Balearics and Cote d´Azur, where the increase in long-range heavy jet activity is conspicuous. Overall, light jets are adding most of the growth in European activity, although Mustang activity is falling away, Phenom 300 flights up by most.

89,289 business aviation departures in Europe this month, 4.4% increase Year-on-Year (YOY). Halfway through 2018, Year-to-Date (YTD) growth stands at 2.7%, compared to 3.3% over the last 12 months. June 2018 was 0.4% less busy than June 2008.

There was growth in activity across all the big markets, fairly modest in France, up to 4% in Italy, 5% in UK, 7% in Germany and Spain, and 9% in Switzerland. After 6 months of the year, Spain and Germany have strongest growth trends, at +5% vs H1-2017.

Elsewhere, June saw 11% growth from Ireland, 12% from Russia, 33% from Portugal. Year to date, flights from Greece are up by 14%. Athens had 22% growth in Large Jet flights this month. There was similarly strong growth in this segment from Vienna and Ibiza.

Large Jets were 3% less active in France this month, but from Paris airports, Large Jet departures increased 7% YOY. From Germany and Italy, Large Jet activity was up around 6%, from Austria, +20%, from Croatia, up 46% YOY.

Growth this month came mainly from flights within Europe, these up by 5% YOY. There were exceptions, with domestic France activity flat, and flights between Germany and France falling more than 10%. Flights to Middle East fell 9%, and to the US, by -1%.

Charter and Fractional activity drove demand this month, with AOC jet sectors up by 7%, growing more than 10% from Switzerland and Russia. Ultra-long range and Light Jet AOC activity was up >10%, with SMJ flights gaining >20% YOY.

Bombardier and Embraer aircraft saw most growth in AOC activity, respectively increasing 11% and 21% YOY. Embraer aircraft also flew more Private flights, these up 16% YOY, compared to an overall trend in Private flights of just 2% YOY.

Gulfstream 650 jet sectors were up almost 50%, and PC-12 activity grew >20% YOY. Phenom 300 and Embraer Legacy had easily the strongest growth in AOC activity, along with the CJ3. Citation Mustang activity declined, particularly in Charter activity.

Le Bourget added the most growth this month, departures up by 14%. Farnborough, Biggin Hill, Malaga and Barcelona all saw growth of around 20% YOY. Luton ranked below Farnborough this month, seeing a 6% YOY decline in activity.