Business aviation still waiting recovery to find its wings

Manufacturers of business jets can look forward to climbing sales in the years to come thanks to emerging markets as they gather in Switzerland for an annual air show, having survived the turbulence of the global financial crisis, AFP reports. But "we're still waiting for the real recovery," noted Eric Trappier, chief executive of Dassault Aviation, which will have three versions of its luxurious Falcon jet on display on the tarmac at Geneva at the three-day EBACE show that opens Tuesday. In 2012, the French company sold 58 jets compared to 36 the previous year, to take a 17 percent market share according to analysts at the Teal Group aviation consultancy. "And, after the first quarter which just finished, the trend doesn't differ much for 2013," added Trappier. With 66 deliveries in 2012, Dassault is still off its pre-crisis performance of 72 deliveries in 2008. Deliveries of business jets grew by just 4 percent in the first quarter of this year, estimates Gama, the association which groups manufacturers. "Business aircraft have been hit harder by the economic downturn than any other aerospace market," said Teal Group vice president Richard Aboulafia. He said the $13-billion (10-billion-euro) sector saw the value of deliveries drop by 29.2 percent between 2008 and 2012 as the global financial crisis forced corporations to cut back on executive travel and fewer of the world's super rich splurged on luxury jets. Teal Group expects that the industry will muster 11 percent this year, lifted by higher deliveries of the Gulfstream 650, which is the most expensive business jet with a price tag of around $60 million. For the following four years it sees annual growth of around 12 percent. "Unfortunately, with this growth rate we won't see a recovery to the 2008 peak deliveries level until 2015," added Aboulafia. Not all the elements are in place for a real recovery. On the market for used jets "the number of transactions is increasing, but at still weak prices, in particular for discontinued models," explained Trappier. Moreover, confidence has slow to return to the US market, which is the top for the industry. The US market "is the lungs of business aviation despite the sector having globalised," said the Dassault chief. Some two-thirds of the business aviation fleet in service (around 12,000 jets) are situated in North America "although constructors are today delivering a much greater proportion of planes to the rest of the world," he noted. -- EBACE should be 'much more positive this year' -- However Ernie Edwards, head of the business aviation branch at Brazilian manufacturer Embraer, believes there are reasons to be optimistic. "US corporate profits are at record levels and that means North America will set the pace of recovery," he said. Plus Embraer sees weakness in Europe being balanced out by activity in the Middle East, China and Africa. The number of super-rich individuals is also now back at record levels, with manufacturers eyeing in particular the emerging markets. In China there are some 3,000 individuals with a net worth above $500 million and 130 billionaires, according to the Teal Group. "Only about 150 business jets were registered in China in early 2011, compared with well over 10,000 in the United States," said Aboulafia. "But this is up from fewer than 100 just two years ago and just a few dozen in 2006." Bombardier, which is the leader in the business aviation sector with nearly a third of the market, last year estimated that 2,360 business jets would be delivered to China by 2030. The company unveiled its new 10-seat Challenger 350 in Geneva on the eve of the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition. But even in Europe there are "pockets of growth" emphasised Marine Eugene, European sales director for NetJets, which offers fractional ownership in aircraft as well as charter and management services. NetJets is seeing the London market perking back up. "After three years in sleep mode, it is very active at the moment," she said. EBACE should be "much more positive this year." The highlight of this year's show is expected to be the Legacy 500, Embraer's new midsize entry, which is making its global debut at the show and is expected to enter into service next year. Edwards said Embraer expects the Legacy 500 to be a "game-changing aircraft" that will have the same disruptive influence on business aviation as that experienced by the telecommunications industry with the advent of the smartphone. The midsize jet will offer full fly-wire-technology and a six-foot (1.8 metre) stand-up cabin.