N E W S
During 2019 European business
EUROPEAN BUSINESS
AVIATION…IN NUMBERS
aviation traffic was down almost 2%
compared to 2018, after rising by
2% 2017 to 2018 according to air
traffic organization Eurocontrol. This follows the
relatively flat trend that has characterized the
sector’s growth for the last 15 years.
Correspondingly, the top 20 airports in
Europe has changed with only incremental shifts.
Notable exceptions to this include London Biggin
Hill which has grown steadily over the past few
years and Ataturk International, which is now
dedicated to business and private aviation after
the new commercial airport in Istanbul opened.
Meanwhile 2019 showed a decrease in traffic for
Milano Linate, which was closed for three months
while its runway was renovated.
The majority of business aviation traffic is
heavy, light and mid-sized jet aircraft in the top
20 airports. Another trend is the rising number of
airports that are exclusively for business aviation
in the top 20: Le Bourget, Farnborough, Cannes
Mandelieu and Atatruk International.
Speaking at the EBAA’s AirOps event earlier
this year, Richard Koe, managing director of
WINGX Advance said that there had been strong
growth at London airports from 2013 to 2019.
“At Biggin Hill there has been a 10% growth rate
over the last ten months, with larger business
jets standing out, from 6% in January 2015 to
10% at the end of last year.”
“In ultra-long range jets, Luton and
Farnborough are key airports. That represents
demand for ultra-long range jets and the influx of
aircraft in this category in the last few years.
“In very light jets there has been strong
growth at Le Bourget.”
Ataturk and Le Bourget have the most
aircraft based at their airports. Aircraft parked at
European airports are mostly made by Textron,
Bombardier and Gulfstream. “Textron is the
most represented with its large fleet of aircraft.
Farnborough, Luton and Prague have the largest
amount of Gulfstream aircraft, with strong growth
over the 2013-2019. Bombardier has also had a
strong uplift in numbers,” said Koe.
Top 20 Business aviation airports in Europe*
Ranking change Airport Movements Change compared to 2018
Paris Le Bourget (France) 50,295 -6%
Nice Cote d’Azur (France) 33,688 -4%
Geneva International (Switzerland) 31,794 -5%
Farnborough (UK) 29,591 6%
London Luton (UK) 27,218 -2%
Zurich (Switzerland) 22,360 -3%
+1% London Biggin Hill (UK) 16,057 0%
+2% Munich International (Germany) 14,877 0%
Roma Ciampino (Italy) 14,770 -4%
+1% Vienna International (Austria) 14,428 -3%
-4% Milano Linate (Italy) 14,319 -26%
Palma De Mallorca (Spain) 12,648 -3%
+1% Madrid Barajas (Spain) 12,601 +1%
-1% Berlin Schonefeld (Germany) 12,063 -5%
+1% Cannes Mandelieu (France) 11,914 +1%
-1% Ibiza (Spain) 11,174 -8%
+3% Amsterdam Schiphol (Netherlands) 11,049 +5%
Prague International (Czech Republic) 10,744 -2%
Barcelona International (Spain) 10,578 -3%
+7% Ataturk International (Turkey) 9,969 +15%
*ranked according to aircraft movements. Changes compared to last year. Data from the EBAA
16 | BU S INE S S A I R P O RT INT E RNAT I ONA L A P R I L 2 0 2 0
900
Out of the 1400 airports in
Europe are only open to
business and general
aviation (EBAA)