Battle lines are being drawn by Europe's business aviation community over its constant shunning from major European airports. The likes of Amsterdam Schiphol, Madrid, Frankfurt and the UK's London Gatwick and Heathrow airports now appear to be making life intolerable for the business aircraft operator and the only option now is to get a professional "fighting force" together to reverse the trend.
The momentum for the campaign for the rights of business aviation in Europe by the new BAFF (Business Aviation Fighting Force) pressure group is being fuelled by the seemingly relentless stream of attacks on the sector from all fronts.
In the UK, new procedures have just been published by the airport slot co-ordinator, Airports Coordination (ACL), for controlling ad hoc charters at Europe's largest airport, London Heathrow. Executive jet operators are convinced that the slots will be cut right back and they will lose out again to the airlines. ACL, which is dominated by airline interests, has already been tasked with co-ordinating slots at a number of prominent UK-based airports, including Gatwick and London Stansted, and has also now been drafted to sort out the slot problem at London Luton Airport, which is becoming increasingly congested.
It appears that the airports which previously embraced business aviation traffic are also now turning their backs on the sector. Recently, London City Airport, based in the heart of London's financial district, banned business aircraft from operating during peak hours. The prima facie reasons for this are clear. Airport owners, especially those answerable to their shareholders, have to make a healthy profit. A corporate aircraft carrying four high-ranking business people is far less lucrative to an airport than a commercial airliner carrying 300 passengers with pockets of money to spend on duty free and other goods. Moreover, airports make greater sums of money in landing and departure fees. At Heathrow, for example, a typical Boeing 747 movement would generate 200 times as much revenue as a business jet. Fixed base operators (FBOs) would also take up valuable space at the airport, where land is often at a premium. BAA chief executive Sir John Egan has admitted that there is no capacity for business aviation at London Heathrow despite additional room for 7,000 movements a year planned under the proposed Terminal 5.
The frustration is now turning to anger as the situation at an increasing number of European airports worsens, and the growing BAFF army is readying itself for a potentially bitter conflict. The struggle has already been taken to Brussels by the organisation (which so far includes the European Business Aviation Association, UK General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association (GAMTA), Heathrow Executive Jet Operators Association and UK Business Aircraft Users Operation).
BAFF believes airports have a duty to give access to aircraft users that fit in with the normal traffic mix and is pushing for assured rights under European Union regulations. European politicians are beginning to sit up and take notice, persuaded that business aviation is a good source of inward investment. Good business aviation access is a deciding factor for many large companies exploring business operations in Europe.
In fighting for continued access to major European airports plus a suitable range of alternatives, including reliever and satellite airports, BAFF is raising the stakes for Europe's aviation community on grounds of principle - and, ultimately, law. If the airports cannot accommodate business operator interests the onus could be put on the airport operators to guarantee them reasonable access. One way to achieve that goal, on pure grounds of fairness, would be to give the FBOs the same slot bidding rights as an airline and building in significant price differentials on user fees to prevent revenue loss. For BAFF's commanders to make headway, they need their infantry. It is time for the influential business aircraft users to take up the fight publicly and emerge from the unbranded, unliveried, shadows.
Source: Flight International