Business aviation demand hits three-year low in first half

Global demand for fixed-wing business and general aircraft dropped to a three-year low through the first half of 2016, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported on 5 August.

The value of shipments in the first half dropped to $9.3 billion, an 8.9% year-on-year decline and $1.6 billion off the peak level set in 2014, the GAMA data show.

Overall business jet and turboprop deliveries are almost flat compared in the first half last year, but the mix of shipments has shifted to smaller and less valuable models. The biggest year-on-year decline was seen by single-engine piston deliveries, according to GAMA.

In the second quarter, manufacturers delivered 170 business jets, 126 turboprops and 252 piston-driven aircraft.

“In a challenging global climate, every segment of the fixed-wing and rotorcraft market showed declines for the first half of 2016,” GAMA president and chief executive Pete Bunce says in a news release.

Rotorcraft shipments also declined by 16.1% in the second quarter last year to 392 units, as the value of shipments plunged 32.5% to $1.4 billion.