FLUG REVUE January 2006: Business Aviation booms again

January 2006

BUSINESS AVIATION ON GROWTH PATH

By Volker K. Thomalla

It was with mixed feelings that the Business Aviation community set off for Orlando for its annual international convention, the NBAA. In a show of strength the venue for this mammoth event had been changed only a few weeks earlier from hurricane-stricken New Orleans to Florida. But the scepticism had already evaporated before the start of the convention. Business Aviation presented itself as stronger and healthier than it had been for some time, as you can read in the show report starting on page 34 of this issue of FLUG REVUE.

Once again the manufacturers took the opportunity to unveil new aircraft and new versions of old types to the industry and the public. The new business jets perform better than their predecessors and offer more to the customer in several respects: more comfort, more performance, better equipment. And these extras come without a higher price tag or higher fuel consumption.

The manufacturers in Business Aviation have listened closely to their existing and potential customers. The result is that against the background of an economic situation which is improving in many parts of the world, demand is solid. Nearly all the manufacturers of business jets are sold out for 2006 and already have firm orders for some years to come. Order books are fatter than they have been for a long time, even though the diversity of models in this market segment has never been as great in the history of aviation. Meanwhile the retirement of older business jets, which will generate further demand, is just beginning. The equation, “More value through innovation equals demand”, certainly seems to apply to Business Aviation. Everyone is benefiting from this: customers are getting better aircraft which consume less fuel and are more economic to maintain, suppliers are able to operate more efficiently and increase their revenue thanks to larger orders and finally the manufacturers are able to offer their shareholders a higher return. In Europe too, Business Aviation has rarely been so strong. For example, the Austrian Jetalliance Flugbetriebs AG company from Oberwaltersdorf, announced an order for 28 jets from Cessna's Citation family during the NBAA convention.

2006 is a special year for FLUG REVUE: for half a century it has competently followed the exciting developments in aerospace. Ever since it was founded in 1956, FLUG REVUE has been the aerospace magazine with the largest circulation in continental Europe. We would like to extend a big thank you to you, our readers. In this our anniversary year we have a few surprises in store for you. Thus, amongst other things, we are planning this year to run a series in which we review the history of the most outstanding jets of the last 50 years. The aerospace section of Motor Presse Stuttgart will be celebrating a second anniversary this year: the January edition of FLUG REVUE's sister magazine, “Klassiker der Luftfahrt”, will be its 25th issue. It too is the market leader in its segment. The fact that you have made us Number One is both an honour and a obligation. We too have every intention of offering you more value through innovation.

From FLUG REVUE 1/2006

Last updated 9 December 2005

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