Avinode, the online marketplace for buying and selling air charter, had a record June in which it surpassed half a million charter requests in a month for the first time.
In June, Avinode recorded a total of more than 532,000 charter requests worldwide. The number of requested flights in EMEAA increased by 27% compared to June 2016, while in the USA alone requests increased by 112% versus the same month last year.
Oliver King, acting CEO at Avinode Group, said, “Across the business aviation industry, operators are reporting a hike in business for June 2017 compared with last year – great news for the industry. There has also been much discussion regarding an upturn in the economic outlook for the eurozone countries. In the Avinode Marketplace, in the eurozone countries alone, we have seen an increase of 30% in June 2017 compared with June 2016.
“Within the eurozone, France is the number one country for business aviation demand, up 10% this year in the Avinode Marketplace versus June 2016. Malta has also seen a significant increase in bookings – up 300% versus June 2016, driven largely by operators relocating under the Maltese registry. And Spain of course, up 76% versus June 2016, showing that the green shoots which appeared last summer have taken root.
“For the summer months, leisure demand to the Mediterranean is really driving the increase this year. Popular destinations such as the Cote d’Azur, Ibiza and Mykonos are all up on last year. Business aviation has not yet returned to its highest levels recorded pre-recession, but the Avinode Marketplace has seen strong growth in the USA, now being matched by a positive upturn in Europe, leaving us excited about the foreseeable future for the industry.”
