Stabilisation, with charter recovering in Western Europe

WINGX`s latest monthly Business Aviation Monitor published this week reports that there were there were 63,917 business aviation flights in March, a 0.6% decline year-on-year (YOY).

This is an improvement on the Jan-Feb trend. March activity also indicates a slight YOY pick-up in charter flights.

There was growth in Western Europe, with strong performance in France, UK and Spain offsetting declines in Switzerland, Germany and Italy. Activity continues to drain out of Ukraine and Russia, weighing down the Eastern European market. Charter activity bounced back in some markets, with AOC flights up in France by 13%; in Spain by 9% and 15% in the UK. Most of the growth in France came in Piston activity, whereas in UK and Spain, business jet flights increased most.

The standoff with Russia explains the 35% fall in flights from Europe to the CIS so far this year. Elsewhere, flight connections with the Middle East have wobbled, with regional insecurity also hampering Turkey´s business aviation market.

Transatlantic flights picked up again in March, mostly with the burgeoning US market. Flights between Europe and Africa remain on a strong growth trend. Further afield, flights to/from China continue to slow down this year.

Aircraft

The Ultra Long Range jet segment gained most flights this month. Even in flight sectors of 1.5 hours or less, which comprise half its flights, the ULR jet increased activity by 7%. By comparison, for these flight sectors, Super Light jet activity was down 5%.

The aircraft type with most YOY increase in charter activity was the Challenger 300. Embraer was the only jet OEM fleet with increased charter and private flights. Phenom 100 flights increased by 23% YOY.

Airports

The airports with most growth were clustered in the UK and south of France, Farnborough standing out. Nice was an exception, losing significant activity. Decline in Swiss airport activity is corresponding to the fall in the Russian market.

Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX Advance, comments: "The resurgence of charter activity in France, UK and Spain is an encouraging sign, although the overall picture after one Quarter of 2015 is a depressing 5% deficit on last year´s activity. The top end of the market seems to be holding up despite the collapse in flights to and from the CIS. And the Light Jet segment is flying more, no doubt needing to hold prices very low to compete with the VLJs and turboprops, which are taking the larger share of the recovery in demand.”

 

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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.

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©BlueSky Business Aviation News | 9th April 2015 | Issue #315
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