Online private jet marketplace Victor has revealed London Luton as the most popular UK airport for private jet charter so far this year.
According to Victor, Luton is over twice as popular as runner-up London Biggin Hill Airport so far this year, with TAG Farnborough placing third and RAF Northolt coming fourth.
Victor’s Q1 2017 data also shows a growing trend for private charter via airports further afield from London in the UK. Manchester and Exeter, which come in at fifth and eighth respectively, have seen both arrivals and departures more than double year-on-year.
Exeter is proving especially popular for business, and confirms the flexibility that on-demand charter provides to UK businesses that need to oversee regional operations.
Victor’s latest research shows that the UK is the busiest European country for charter specifically, with 9,814 departures between January and March this year. France follows in second place with 9,262 departures, Germany comes third with 8,160 departures, and Switzerland is fourth with 6,153 departures.
UK private jet charter movements in Q1 2017 are up 12.7% year-on-year. Across Europe, charter activity has risen year-on-year in nine of the 10 busiest countries for private aviation, with over 10% growth in the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy and Switzerland.
So far this year, 59.5% of all UK jet movements have been chartered, versus just 39% attributed to owned private aircraft.
Clive Jackson, CEO and founder at Victor, said, “Our data reflects a strong start to the year for UK private jet charter. The economic climate remains unstable. As a result, Victor is seeing the shift away from jet ownership, which is costly and inflexible, toward transparent, on-demand, pay-as-you-go charter, which allows customers to fly when and how they want.
“Luton Airport’s popularity with Victor’s high-profile leisure and business customers is testament to the high-quality service it offers 24 hours a day, seven days a week – it perfectly complements flexible on-demand jet charter.
“Other regional hubs are also growing quickly – we are seeing an increased number of HNWIs (high net worth individuals) traveling from more local, convenient departure points for both business and pleasure.”
