European Bizav Traffic Soars 8% in March

The 67,231 business aviation departures reported last month in Europe equates to 8 percent growth year-over year, according to WingX’s latest monthly business aviation monitor. For the first three months, business aviation activity is up 5 percent over the same period last year. “Growth in March rounded off the most positive first quarter for some years,” noted WingX managing director Richard Koe.

Notably, all fleet categories—business jets, turboprops and pistons—experienced increased activity last month compared with the same time frame a year ago. Turborops and pistons had the strongest relative growth, WingX said, but business jets generated almost 60 percent of overall activity, with flights up by 6 percent year-over-year.

Central Europe—namely Germany, Austria and Switzerland—experienced the strongest regional growth last month, according to WingX. In fact, flights from Germany climbed 18 percent from a year ago. France, which saw growth of 4 percent last month, remains the busiest market, accounting for 22 percent of total European activity. Activity out of the UK also continued to increase, with direct connections to EU destinations up by 7 percent year-over-year.

While intra-European activity soared 8 percent last month, flights to the Middle East and CIS regions declined. Flights from Europe to North America and Africa logged double-digit growth, though into Europe from West Africa declined 11 percent.