Buisness aviation news
In Week 28 (8th – 14th July), total global business jet departures were down 2% compared to Week 28 in 2023, equal to the last 4-week trend of 2% decline. Global Part135 & 91K activity on par with W28 in 2023, the 4-week trend 1% ahead of last year. So far this year the global bizjet fleet has flown just under 3.2 million flight hours, 2% fewer than last year. Across the 15,600 active operators there have 25,000 active business jets flying from January 1st through to July 14th. The global bizjet fleet has had a fair start to July, departures flown just -0.5% behind comparable July last year.
Bombardier is excited to announce the presence of the Challenger 3500 aircraft mockup at the private terminal of the Costa Smeralda Airport in Olbia, Italy. Throughout the summer, business aviation clients will have a firsthand opportunity to experience the award-winning cabin and see the revolutionary seating of the super midsize jet.
Memorial Hermann Life Flight has placed orders for one H160 and four H145s to replace its current fleet of EC145 helicopters. The nationally recognised emergency medical services program will be the first in the world to operate the H160 for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS).
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. announced the official opening of its expanded Customer Support service center at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Savannah Service Center East has added more than 200 new jobs and significantly expands Gulfstream’s maintenance, repair and overhaul facility capabilities in the region.
Textron Aviation today announced the delivery of the first Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine utility turboprop equipped with a Combi interior conversion option. The aircraft was delivered to Everts Air, an Alaskan-based Part 135 operator serving passenger, cargo and charter needs throughout Alaska. Everts also operates Part 121, providing cargo and on-demand charter throughout North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean Islands.
Week 27 2024 almost exactly matched Week 27 2023, with variable geographic trends, the US seeing a bump up, in contrast to declines in June, and was especially strong in Part 135 and 91K operations, most notably in Texas. Europe saw a 3% slide, mainly in private and corporate activity. Germany and the UK are seeing stronger YOY activity, tied directly to the draw of major sporting events.
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. marks 100 days since the all-new Gulfstream G700 received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) type certification on March 29 and subsequently entered into service. Additional certifications, steadily increasing flight hours and deliveries around the world along with continued city-pair speed records demonstrate unparalleled program maturity for the G700.
Pilatus and Synhelion are about to launch a strategic cooperation aimed at accelerating the scaling of solar fuels for the aviation industry. Pilatus intends to use Synhelion’s solar fuels for its own operations and also offer them to its own customers in the medium-term. With that in mind, Pilatus has become a shareholder in Synhelion, underpinning its commitment to proactive defossilization of air traffic.
The new sanctions package approved by the European Union on June 24 for the first time specifically targets Russia’s business aviation sector, but the industry seems to have adapted to the wartime restrictions since 2022.
Airbus Helicopters officially opened its new logistics hub at Albacete, Spain, on Tuesday (2nd July) which is equipped and operated by Daher as the lead logistics partner.
The first half of 2024 shows bizjet utilisation tapering slightly on 2023 but still well up on 2019. The US market is just 1% weaker than last year, with Florida, super midsize jets, and Fractional ops looking robust. European bizjet demand is strengthening this summer, notably in Germany. The Middle East is seeing weaker bizjet usage this year, especially in Saudi.
The Finnish company, Helsinki Citycopter, has been offering helicopters for charter flights for many years and has now added a CJ4 to its fleet at the beginning of 2024.
Air Seychelles is proud to announce its partnership with ExecuJet, a leading global business aviation company, to provide exclusive VIP Fixed-Base Operator (FBO) services in the Seychelles. The Air Seychelles owned FBO is the only full service FBO on the island, offering unparalleled services to meet the needs of discerning travellers.
In Week 25 (17th – 23rd June), total global business jet activity measured by number of sectors flown fell 4% compared to Week 25 in 2023, compared to the last 4-week trend of 2% decline. Part 135 & 91K bizjet activity in week 25 fell 3% compared to last year. Year to date 2024, bizjet sectors have fallen 1.4% compared to last year, with flight hours falling 1.9% behind. Respectively for sectors and hours flown, the market is 2.8% and 3.4% behind comparable 2022. The active bizjet fleet this year is 2.5% larger than in 2023, up 8% on 2022.
EHang Holdings Limited, the world’s leading urban air mobility (“UAM”) technology platform company, announced it has received full payment for the initial batch of 30 units of EH216-S passenger-carrying pilotless aircraft and has delivered 27 units to Wencheng County Transportation Development Group Co., Ltd. in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. It drives Wencheng’s comprehensive layout in the low-altitude economy industry.
Comlux Malta Ltd. has recently achieved EASA Part-145 certification from the Civil Aviation Directorate of Malta.
