According to WINGX’s latest Business Aviation Monitor report, August 2017 was the busiest-ever August for flight activity, exceeding August 2008 by 1.3%. The month saw 78,785 departures, up 5.5% year-on-year, taking the year-to-date trend to 3.3%, an additional 18,047 flights compared to 2016.
The four countries adding the most growth this month were France, the UK, Italy and Spain. A 7% year-on-year growth in departures from France was reflected in a 9.5% jump in domestic flights. France is now trending at +1% year-to-date, up on average 147 flights per month.
In the UK, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, activity growth came in double-digit increases in AOC activity. Private flight activity fell in the UK and Switzerland. Germany was Europe’s second busiest market in August, with the strongest growth coming in private flights.
There was significant growth in southeast Europe, with flights from Turkey up by 14%, and from Greece, where there was growth of 19%. Year-to-date 2017, business aviation activity in Greece is up by 15% and AOC activity was up by 25% year-on-year in Greece.
While flights in southern Europe grew more than 10% in August, activity in eastern Europe was up by 6%, and flights into Europe from Russia increased by 5% year-on-year. So far this year, inbound flights from the CIS region are up by 0.1% compared to last year.
Richard Koe, managing director, WINGX, said, “Business aviation activity in Europe is finally overhauling its pre-crisis peak, with flight volumes this month exceeding August 2008 by 1.5%. The growth is clearly focused around flights in and out of Southern Europe, this activity up by more than 10% year-on-year. Heavy jets such as the Legacy 600 and light jets are doing the hard work, with most of the growth coming in demand from charter customers.”
