TAG Farnborough Airport says that is experiencing record growth, based on movement numbers for January and a healthy increase in traffic last year, reaching levels not surpassed since 2007, at around 27,000. The first month of 2018 saw a 17.9 percent traffic increase over January 2017 and a 35 percent increase in movements for larger aircraft such as Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Corporate Jets. TAG Farnborough claims to be “the only dedicated business aviation airport in the UK,” given that it doesn’t have flight training schools.
“It’s quite a remarkable story,” said Brandon O’Reilly during a media brunch at the airport’s distinctive terminal on February 1. “We saw 7 percent movement growth in 2017 over 2016, driven by a number of factors.
“First is the effect of Brexit in June 2016; people are looking for opportunities, and some see Brexit as an opportunity. I think that has driven travel. Secondly RAF Northolt [near Heathrow Airport] occasionally closes for works and is due to close again. This can drive more traffic to us and others [in the London area] as well. Finally, commercial aviation ultimately squeezes out bizav, [for example there were] once 20,000 business aviation movements at Heathrow. Over time we believe business aviation will migrate to airports focused on bizav.
“Wrap that all together and you have a 7percent increase. Asia activity has increased, while the big faller has been Russia. America is about stable. But [Americans] are definitely travelling again. [However] the largest share at Farnborough is European."
Nevertheless, movement numbers at Farnborough have still not reached the heady heights of 2007, before the financial crisis. Back then there were 1,000 more movements in the year, but now, said O’Reilly, the average aircraft is much larger. The demand from operators of such aircraft—BBJs and ACJs predominantly—prompted TAG Farnborough to move its management out of the terminal, where it created a new lounge and new crew facilities.
The airport is nowhere near capacity and can increase to 50,000 movements by 2019. “So we’re essentially half full,” said O’Reilly. “To go forward beyond that, Rushmoor Borough Council asked us to look at airspace.” The airport has submitted an Airspace Change Proposal to the UK CAA, which recently indicated that it would make a determination by the end of March. “Today we don’t even have [standard instrument departures],” said O’Reilly. “We want to get more proscribed flight paths, but not over built-up areas, for example.”
O’Reilly said that activity has grown on weekends and public holidays, accounting for 7,100 movements last year. The cap is 8,900. “That’s still a big percentage increase,” said O’Reilly. The airport operates seven days a week (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends and holidays) and has a luxury hotel, the Aviator, on site.
Asked about London Southend, which opened a new FBO last week (Stobart Jet Centre), O’Reilly said he welcomed such developments at London-area airports as it improves the overall perception of the city and gives visitors more options. “We’ll all benefit,” he said. Other area airports include Luton, Oxford, Biggin Hill, and Stansted.
O’Reilly’s team is be exhibiting at the Schedulers & Dispatchers event in Long Beach, California, this week (February 6-9).