European Bizav Flying Recovers in April

Business aircraft flying in Europe eked out a gain of just 0.1 percent last month, with 63,602 departures recorded in the region, according to data released today by WingX Advance. The overall improvement stems from 2-percent growth in business jet activity; business turboprop and piston activity dragged down the results, declining between 2 and 3 percent. Year-to-date, flying in the region is trailing 2015 by 1.6 percent.

“The declining trend in the first quarter did not extend into April, with stabilization in the UK market and growing activity in Germany making for a small recovery,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe.

Western Europe recorded growth of 1.6 percent last month, with flight activity up in all markets except Switzerland. Germany and Spain were the strongest markets, WingX said. Several smaller markets also saw some growth last month, with flights from Norway up 8 percent; Czech Republic, 10 percent; and Belgium, 15 percent.

Flights from southern and eastern Europe fell 2 percent, deteriorating on the 12-month trends. Arrivals from Russia into Europe fell by 11 percent, though this is an improvement on recent trends. Transatlantic flights were up 5 percent, while Middle East connections climbed 2 percent.

In the jet category, very light jets led the pack as activity ascended 22 percent year-over-year last month. This was followed by an 8-percent increase in ultra-long-range flying and 2.5-percent growth in light jet activity. Turboprop flying in the region struggled last month, falling 2.4 percent.

Two of Europe’s busiest business aviation airports, Paris Le Bourget and Geneva, each saw slight year-over-year declines last month. The next busiest airports—London Luton, Farnborough and Nice—all recorded modest gains in activity. Of the 25 busiest European business airports tracked by WingX, Munich logged the largest growth, with activity soaring 25.4 percent.