Bizjet Traffic in Europe Climbing

A new Eurocontrol study confirms what those in business aviation have been saying for years – the number of business jets in the sky is growing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. According to the study, released in conjunction with the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition, the number of jets will rise from 1,900 today to around 4,000 by 2017, buoyed by the increase in fractional ownership, world economic growth and emerging international markets. Between 2005 and 2007, the number of business jets on the European register rose from around 1,100 to nearly 1,900, an increase of 70 percent. According to the study, these estimates also suggest in 2017, the number of business flights will be 4,300 a day. However, if air taxi operations based on very light jets grow as expected, then there could be more than 5,000 flights a day. "This study underlines the changing nature of air traffic, with low-cost carriers and business aviation the main contributors to that change. Aircraft availability, airport facilities, air traffic control capacity, technology and the world's economic situation can all have an impact on this booming transport sector. Despite concerns about the world economy, this sector is set for further growth," said David Marsh, manager of forecasting and statistics at Eurocontrol. For related news