Story ID: 
European Bizav Flying Levels Out in October
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: Business aviation flight activity in Europe last month was flat year-over-year, with increased charter activity largely offsetting a dip in private flights
Word Count: 256
Business aviation flight activity in Europe last month was flat year-over-year, at 74,420 departures, with increased charter activity largely offsetting a 5 percent dip in private/owner flights, according to data released today by WingX Advance. Traffic in the region is down by 1.4 percent year-to-date, it added.

“October’s flight activity shows some stabilization in demand after several months of decline,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “Business jet charter traffic was up for the first time this year. Heavy and super-midsize jets are flying more, especially in fractional and charter fleets. There is still volatility in the market, with big dips in activity in key hubs.”

Though activity climbed in France last month, the UK and Germany saw declines of 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively. France experienced a surge in turboprop flights, while large-jet activity rose 2.4 percent in the UK but fell between 6 percent and 11 percent in Germany, Italy, and Spain.

In Germany, there was a “big drop” in private missions and, conversely, a resurgence in charter flying. The charter market slumped in Sweden but was “well up” in Russia, where there was 10 percent growth in large-cabin jet charter flying.

Intra-European flights were flat last month from a year ago, with the year-to-date average trend down by 1.5 percent. Flights to North America from Europe ascended 3.7 percent year-to-date.

Traffic fell 9 percent year-over-year at Paris Le Bourget Airport, while that at Farnborough Airport grew by 13 percent, the latter boosted by a rise in small and midsize jet activity.