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December saw some year-over-year growth in business aviation activity in Europe, according to researcher Wing-X.
Flights were up by 2.9% with most of the growth in business jet sectors, up by 4.5%, particularly charter activity, up by 7%. For the full year, total activity was down 1.6% compared to 2018.
November saw an acceleration in the trending decline in flight activity in Europe this year, with 3.2% fewer business aviation departures compared to the same period a year ago, according to business aviation analyst WingX.
Year-to-date in 2019, flight activity in Europe was down 1.8%, 15,000 fewer flights.
Jet card and on-demand broker Air Charter Service said that in the first half of its financial year the company saw an increase in private jet bookings from its UK office of 8%. This is compared to industry-wide WingX statistics showing that private jet flights into and out of the UK were down by 5.4% over the same six months.
In a press release, Andy Christie, Air Charter Service’s Global Director of Private Jets, said, “We had a very good first half of the year, considering the market is in decline, with more than 1,300 private jet charter flights arranged just from our London HQ over the six month period. The increase of 8% is even more impressive when you take into consideration WingX’s figures for the UK and when compared to the worldwide industry as a whole, which has grown by just 2%.”
The good news was June was the busiest month of the year for business aviation in Europe with 87,236 private flight departures. The bad news was the numbers were still down by 1.7% year-over-year, according to consultancy WingX.
Richard Koe, WingX managing director, said, “All but one month this year so far have seen declines in flight activity compared to last year, with the first half of 2019 some 2% down on 2018. “
Private aviation analyst WINGX is reporting the headwinds are remaining strong in Europe with 77,189 business aviation departures in May, a second successive year-over-year (YOY) monthly decline of 3%. Year to date, European business aviation activity is now down by 1.7% with 5,500 fewer flights than in 2018. The trend over the past 12 months is flat, the company said.
“A second consecutive drop of 3% in YOY business aviation activity confirms an increasing slowdown in the European market in 2019, reflecting the somewhat downbeat sentiment at EBACE,” said Richard Koe, managing director of WINGX.
