European business aviation flight departures continued to decline for the eleventh consecutive month in February, according to data from German research company Wingx Advance.
However, February's decline of 0.1% was less dramatic than previous months, it concedes, due to "exceptional growth in Ukraine and Turkey, strong growth in Scandinavia and solid growth in Germany and the UK, compared to February 2012."
During the same period there was a significant increase in business aviation flights into Europe from the Middle East (11%), Brazil, Russia, India and China (each with 16%). Flights from eastern to western Europe increased by 8% compared to February last year, the data showed.
In contrast, Spain, Greece and Italy witnessed a "seemingly intractable decline in business aviation activity," says Hamburg-based Wingx, adding: "The major negative was France, where demand fell [by] 4% year on year."
Long-range jets continue to buck the downward trend, however, with 14 consecutive months of growth, Wingx says.
This is largely due to a climb in charter activity, which saw a 19% climb last month compared to the same period last year.
In contrast, departures of light and mid-size business jets fell overall by 5% and 4% respectively, as demand for aircraft in the bottom half of the business jet sector remains weak.
"February analysis indicates a hybrid European market, with the majority of regions and aircraft segments - western Europe and the mid and light segments - stuck deep in recession, but others in Eastern Europe and across the heavier jet segments demonstrating strong demand," says WingX managing director Richard Koe.
Source: Flight International
