Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Business aircraft activity last year in Europe fell 0.3 percent from 2015, with 798,000 flights logged in the region, according to the latest data from industry data research and consulting company WingX Advance. The figures for December mirrored that pattern; there were 52,419 business aviation departures in Europe last month, down 0.6 percent year-over-year.


Last month’s decline was due to weaker business turboprop and piston activity, while business jet flights climbed. Notably, the 12-month trend for business jet flying in Europe is now positive, offset by negative trends in propeller aircraft activity.


December activity was held back by more tepid demand in Germany, with departures down 9 percent, including a 3-percent drop in business jet flights. France also saw a slight decline last month, although business jet departures were up 6 percent there. Flight activity rose 1 percent in the UK, 2 percent each in Italy and Spain and 6 percent in Switzerland, WingX said.


Intra-European activity was down 1 percent last month, with a weaker Western Europe bolstered by stronger Southern Europe, according to the report. Arrivals into Europe were “well up” from Middle East and Africa, but down from North America and Russia.


Year-over-year business aviation activity spiked at airports in Geneva and Nice last month, with Vnukovo surging by more than 10 percent and flights from London Stansted booming by more than 30 percent. Nice had most growth in activity for the full year, WingX noted.


“Overall a disappointing finish to 2016, the full year showing no aggregate improvement on a stagnant 2015,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe. “However, much of this is due to the decline in prop activity, especially in Germany. The business jet market is meanwhile evidently recovering.”

European Bizav Flying Fell Short in 2016, Says WingX

Business aircraft activity last year in Europe fell 0.3 percent from 2015, with 798,000 flights logged in the region.

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