Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix Power 17% Gain In Europe's Private Aviation Flights In May

May saw 77,068 business aviation departures in Europe, the best month this year and a 17% jump over April. Year-to-date private aviation flights are up 3.2% over the same period last year, according to WINGX. 

The aviation tracking firm said in Europe there was an average of 2,486 daily departures with the biggest growth during the Grand Prix in Monaco and Cannes Film Festival.

WINGX said there was strong growth in West and Central Europe, mainly from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria while the UK and Spain also realized “substantial gains.”

Flights arriving into Europe increased from all regions except North Africa. Arrivals from Russia were up 3%, in contrast to 6% decline in the last 12 months. Departures from Europe to North America were up 8%, and flights to Asia-Pacific increased 18% year-over-year.

Paris Le Bourget and Geneva saw modest growth with strongest year-over-year gains at Luton at +6%, and Farnborough + 15%. Biggin Hill and Stuttgart saw YOY increases of 18%. Nice has 8% YTD growth, equivalent to an additional 85 flights each month.

“Following last month´s blip, May 2017 resumed the growth trend in business aviation activity in Europe this year, evident mainly in the largest markets France, Germany, and the UK. Activity growth from the UK is notable, with London´s light jet departures growing 10% YOY. Trends at Farnborough, Biggin Hill, and Stansted partly reflect some migration from Northolt, but also London´s overall increase in business aviation activity, visible during this month´s calendar events such as the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival,” said Richard Koe, WINGX Managing Director in a press release received by Private Jet Card Comparisons.