Surprise growth in December, but decline for the full year

December saw some year-on-year (YOY) growth in business aviation activity in Europe according to WINGX`s latest monthly Business Aviation Monitor, with flights up by 2.9%.

Most of that growth came in the business jet sectors which were up by 4.5% - particularly Charter activity, up by 7%. For the full year however, total activity was down 1.6% compared to 2018.

Flight activity out of the UK slipped back by 3% in December, although most of the other larger markets were up - notably Italy and Austria. Spain had the strongest growth in 2019 whilst Germany experienced the biggest decline.

Large Jet activity was the motor for this month´s growth, notably in France, Germany and Italy. Small and Midsize jet traffic was up 15% in Italy, but down by 8% in Sweden. Prop activity was up 16% in Spain.

Italy has stand-out growth of 20% in AOC activity, followed by Germany, Spain, Austria and Russia with >10% growth. UK Charters fell 5%. Private activity was up 20% in the Czech Republic , but down by 13% in Spain.

Activity out of London was flat in December 2019, in contrast to around 15% growth from Paris and Geneva, mostly in Small and Medium Jets. Large Jet flights fell 8% from Zurich but were up 27% from Berlin.

Intra-European flights were up 3% in December, reducing the year-to-date (YTD) deficit to 1.7% vs 2018. Flights to North America were up by 2% this year. Flights to Asia-Pacific fell 9% during 2019.

There were contrasting trends in AOC and Private activity, with Cessna -6% in the former and +10% in the latter. Bombardier also experienced a negative Private trend, but +7% Commercial. Learjet Private activity increased 12% YOY.

Citation Latitude aircraft flew 70% more flights YOY in December 2019 and there were strong gains for Embraer Legacy and Challenger 350. King Air and Citation Mustang activity was down.

Departures were up across almost all the busiest airports, largest gains at Paris Le Bourget (LFPB), Geneva (LSGG) and Farnborough (EGLF); also at Linate Milan (LIML) and Ciampino Rome (LIRA).

For the Full Year 2019, Farnborough (EGLF) was only gainer in the top ten airports.

Richard Koe, Managing Director of WINGX, comments: “December activity was surprisingly positive, up 3% YOY. Partly this is due to December 2018 being particularly weak; this December´s activity was still well below the peak December activity way back in 2007.

"The overall trend for this year is negative, 2% fewer flights than 2018. The growth this month has clearly come from the Super Midsize, Super Light and Ultra Long-Range Jets, reflecting growth in the size of the active fleets in Europe towards the end of last year. For the full year, the UK and Germany were weakest regional markets.”

WINGX is a data research and consulting company based in Hamburg, Germany. WINGX analysis provides actionable market intelligence for the business aviation industry. 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.

WINGX GmbH
Conventstr. 8 - 10 | Building A
D - 22089 Hamburg
Germany.

+49 40 32 84 69 78 phone | +49 40 32 84 69 79 fax

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 9th January 2020 | Issue #539